2 Samuel 21:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

During the days of David, there was a famine for three years, year after year. David sought the presence of the Lord, and the Lord said, "It concerns Saul and his house, who are guilty of bloodshed, for he killed the Gibeonites."

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֣י רָעָב֩ בִּימֵ֨י דָוִ֜ד שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים שָׁנָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י שָׁנָ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ דָּוִ֖ד אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה ס וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה אֶל־שָׁאוּל֙ וְאֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַדָּמִ֔ים עַֽל־אֲשֶׁר־הֵמִ֖ית אֶת־הַגִּבְעֹנִֽים

Transliteration

And wayĕhî rāʿāb in yĕmê Dāwid three šānîm, šānâ after šānâ, and wayĕbaqqêš Dāwid ʾet-face of YHWH; and wayyōʾmer YHWH, "To-Šāʾûl and to-bêt the-dāmîm, because that-he-hēmît ʾet-the-Gibʿōnîm."

Grammar Details

• *wayĕhî*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and it was/came to pass
• *rāʿāb*: noun, masculine singular - famine/hunger
• *yĕmê*: construct plural of *yôm* - days of
• *Dāwid*: proper noun - David
• *šānîm*: noun, feminine plural - years
• *šānâ*: noun, feminine singular - year
• *wayĕbaqqêš*: waw-consecutive + piel imperfect 3ms - and he sought
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *YHWH*: proper noun - divine name
• *wayyōʾmer*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and he said
• *Šāʾûl*: proper noun - Saul
• *bêt*: noun, masculine singular construct - house of
• *dāmîm*: noun, masculine plural - bloods
• *hēmît*: hiphil perfect 3ms - he killed/caused to die
• *Gibʿōnîm*: proper noun, plural - Gibeonites

Word Meanings

• *wayĕhî*: it happened/there was/came to pass
• *rāʿāb*: famine/hunger
• *bêt* *dāmîm*: house of blood/bloodshed/bloodguilt
• *wayĕbaqqêš*: sought/inquired of/consulted

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  In the days of David, there was a famine for three years, year after year, and David sought the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he killed the Gibeonites.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  There was a derth also in Dauids tyme thre yeares together. And Dauid soughte the face of ye LORDE. And the LORDE sayde: Because of Saul and because of that bloudy housholde yt he slewe the Gibeonites.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then there was a famine in the dayes of Dauid, three yeeres together: and Dauid asked counsell of the Lorde, and the Lorde answered, It is for Saul, & for his bloodie house, because hee slewe the Gibeonites.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then there was an hunger in the dayes of Dauid three yeres together: And Dauid enquired of ye Lorde. And the Lorde aunswered: It is for Saul, and the house of blood, because he slue the Gibeonites.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And there is a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David seeketh the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah saith, `For Saul and for the bloody house, because that he put to death the Gibeonites.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  In the days of David they were short of food for three years, year after year; and David went before the Lord for directions. And the Lord said, On Saul and on his family there is blood, because he put the Gibeonites to death.

• World English Bible (2000)

  There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Gibeonites Demand Revenge During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the LORD. The LORD said,“It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites.”

Referenced Verses

• Num 27:21 : 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him by the decision of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, the entire assembly.
• Gen 12:10 : 10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
• Gen 26:1 : 1 Now there was a famine in the land, apart from the earlier famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
• Gen 41:57-42:1 : 57 And people from all the surrounding lands came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the lands. 1 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, 'Why are you standing around looking at each other?'
• Gen 43:1 : 1 Now the famine was severe in the land.
• Lev 26:19-20 : 19 I will break your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your land will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit.
• Lev 26:26 : 26 When I break your staff of bread, ten women will bake your bread in one oven and dole out your bread by weight, and you will eat but not be satisfied.
• Josh 7:1 : 1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully with the things designated for destruction. Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things, and the anger of the Lord burned against the Israelites.
• Josh 7:11-12 : 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, and they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
• 1 Sam 22:17-19 : 17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, 'Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they are allies of David. They knew he was fleeing but didn’t inform me.' But the king's servants were unwilling to raise their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 The king then commanded Doeg, 'Turn and strike down the priests!' So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, killing its men and women, children and infants, and also its oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
• 1 Sam 23:2 : 2 So David asked the LORD, saying, "Should I go and attack these Philistines?" The LORD answered David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah."
• 1 Sam 23:4 : 4 So David inquired of the LORD again, and the LORD answered him, "Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand."
• 1 Sam 23:11 : 11 Will the leaders of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? LORD, God of Israel, please tell your servant." And the LORD answered, "He will come down."
• 2 Sam 5:19 : 19 David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Should I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?" The LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand."
• 2 Sam 5:23 : 23 When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
• 1 Kgs 17:1 : 1 Elijah, the Tishbite from the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years, except by my word."
• 1 Kgs 18:2 : 2 So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. The famine in Samaria was severe.
• 2 Kgs 6:25 : 25 There was a great famine in Samaria, and it lasted until a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a quarter of a kab of dove's dung went for five pieces of silver.
• 2 Kgs 8:1 : 1 Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise, take your household, and go live in whatever place you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years."
• Job 5:8-9 : 8 But I would seek God and place my cause before the Almighty. 9 He performs great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. 10 He gives rain to the earth and sends water to the fields.
• Job 10:2 : 2 I will say to God: Do not condemn me; tell me why You contend with me.
• Ps 50:15 : 15 Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me.
• Ps 91:15 : 15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.
• Jer 14:1-9 : 1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts. 2 Judah mourns, and her gates languish; they sit on the ground in mourning, and the cry of Jerusalem rises up. 3 The nobles sent their servants for water; they went to the cisterns but found no water. They returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and humiliated, covering their heads. 4 Because the ground is cracked due to the lack of rain in the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. 5 Even the doe in the field abandons her newborn because there is no grass. 6 Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights, panting like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation. 7 Though our iniquities testify against us, LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our backslidings are many; we have sinned against You. 8 O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only for a night? 9 Why are You like a man stunned, like a warrior unable to save? Yet You are in our midst, LORD, and Your name is called upon us. Do not abandon us! 10 This is what the LORD says about this people: They love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; now He will remember their guilt and punish their sins. 11 Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for the well-being of this people." 12 Even if they fast, I will not listen to their cry; even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will consume them by sword, famine, and plague. 13 But I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets are telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.'" 14 The LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I did not send them, command them, or speak to them. They are seeing false visions, giving worthless divinations and deceitful messages from their own hearts. 15 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name, though I did not send them, and who declare, 'No sword or famine will touch this land': By sword and famine, those prophets will meet their end. 16 And the people to whom they are prophesying will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters. I will pour out their wickedness upon them. 17 You are to speak this word to them: 'Let my eyes flow with tears night and day without ceasing, for the virgin daughter of my people has suffered a great shattering—a crushing blow, a grievous wound.' 18 If I go out into the field, I see those slain by the sword. If I enter the city, I see the agonies of famine. Even the prophet and the priest wander aimlessly in the land and have no understanding.