2 Samuel 21:2

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn an oath to them, but Saul had tried to kill them in his zeal for Israel and Judah.)

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּקְרָ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ לַגִּבְעֹנִ֖ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְהַגִּבְעֹנִ֞ים לֹ֣א מִבְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הֵ֗מָּה כִּ֚י אִם־מִיֶּ֣תֶר הָאֱמֹרִ֔י וּבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נִשְׁבְּע֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם וַיְבַקֵּ֤שׁ שָׁאוּל֙ לְהַכֹּתָ֔ם בְּקַנֹּאת֥וֹ לִבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וִיהוּדָֽה

Transliteration

And wayyiqrāʾ the-melek to-the-Gibʿōnîm and wayyōʾmer to-them; and-the-Gibʿōnîm not from-bĕnê Yiśrāʾēl hēmmâ, but if-from-yeter the-ʾĔmōrî, and-bĕnê Yiśrāʾēl had-nišbĕʿû to-them, and-wayĕbaqqêš Šāʾûl to-hakōtām in-qannōʾtô for-bĕnê-Yiśrāʾēl and-Yĕhûdâ.

Grammar Details

• *wayyiqrāʾ*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and he called
• *melek*: noun, masculine singular - king
• *Gibʿōnîm*: proper noun, plural - Gibeonites
• *wayyōʾmer*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and he said
• *hēmmâ*: pronoun 3mp - they
• *bĕnê*: noun, masculine plural construct - sons of
• *Yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *yeter*: noun, masculine singular construct - remainder of
• *ʾĔmōrî*: proper noun - Amorites
• *nišbĕʿû*: niphal perfect 3cp - they swore/had sworn
• *wayĕbaqqêš*: waw-consecutive + piel imperfect 3ms - and he sought
• *Šāʾûl*: proper noun - Saul
• *hakōtām*: hiphil infinitive construct + 3mp suffix - to strike them
• *qannōʾtô*: piel infinitive construct + 3ms suffix - his being zealous
• *Yĕhûdâ*: proper noun - Judah

Word Meanings

• *yeter* *ʾĔmōrî*: remnant of the Amorites/remaining Amorites
• *qannōʾtô*: his zeal/jealousy/rage
• *hakōtām*: to strike/kill/destroy them

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites; and the Israelites had sworn to them. Yet Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for Israel and Judah.)

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the king{H4428} called{H7121} the Gibeonites,{H1393} and said{H559} unto them (now the Gibeonites{H1393} were not of the children{H1121} of Israel,{H3478} but of the remnant{H3499} of the Amorites;{H567} and the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} had sworn{H7650} unto them: and Saul{H7586} sought{H1245} to slay{H5221} them in his zeal{H7065} for the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} and Judah);{H3063}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the king{H4428} called{H7121}{(H8799)} the Gibeonites{H1393}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them;(now the Gibeonites{H1393} were not of the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, but of the remnant{H3499} of the Amorites{H567}; and the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} had sworn{H7650}{(H8738)} unto them: and Saul{H7586} sought{H1245}{(H8762)} to slay{H5221}{(H8687)} them in his zeal{H7065}{(H8763)} to the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} and Judah{H3063}.)

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Then the kynge caused for to call the Gibeonites, and spake vnto them. (As for the Gibeonites, they were not of ye children of Israel, but a remnaunt of the Amorites: howbeit the children of Israel had sworne vnto the, and Saul soughte for to smyte them in his gelousy, for the childre of Israel and Iuda.)

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then ye King called the Gibeonites and said vnto them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites, vnto whom ye children of Israel had sworne: but Saul sought to slay them for his zeale toward the children of Israel and Iudah)

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the king called the Gibeonites, and saide vnto them: (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but a remnaunt of the Amorites, and the children of Israel sware vnto them: And Saul sought to slay them, for a zeale that he had to the children of Israel and of Iuda.)

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites [were] not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the king calleth for the Gibeonites, and saith unto them -- as to the Gibeonites, they `are' not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorite, and the sons of Israel had sworn to them, and Saul seeketh to smite them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah --

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then the king sent for the Gibeonites; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but were the last of the Amorites, to whom the children of Israel had given an oath; but Saul, in his passion for the children of Israel and Judah, had made an attempt on their lives:)

• World English Bible (2000)

  The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them.(Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)

Referenced Verses

• Gen 15:16 : 16 In the fourth generation, your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.
• Deut 7:16 : 16 You shall destroy all the nations the LORD your God is giving over to you. Do not look on them with pity, and do not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.
• Josh 9:3-9 : 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they also acted with cunning. They disguised themselves as messengers, taking worn-out sacks for their donkeys, old and torn wineskins that had been mended. 5 They wore patched and worn-out sandals and clothes, and all the bread they carried as provisions was dry and crumbled. 6 They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel: “We have come from a distant land; now make a treaty with us.” 7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living among us. How then can we make a treaty with you?” 8 They replied to Joshua, “We are your servants.” But Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” 9 They answered him, “Your servants have come from a very distant land because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard of His fame and all He did in Egypt, 10 and all He did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for the journey and go to meet them. Tell them: We are your servants; now make a treaty with us.’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we took it as provisions from our houses on the day we set out to come to you, but now it is dry and crumbled. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but see how they have burst. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the very long journey.” 14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly swore an oath to them. 16 After three days, once they had made a treaty with them, the Israelites learned that these people were actually their neighbors, living among them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day they arrived at the cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole assembly grumbled against the leaders. 19 But all the leaders said to the assembly, 'We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.' 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live so that no wrath will fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them. 21 They also said, 'Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire assembly,' just as the leaders had directed.
• 1 Sam 14:44 : 44 Saul said, 'May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not surely die, Jonathan.'
• 1 Sam 15:8-9 : 8 He captured Agag, king of Amalek, alive, but he utterly destroyed all the people with the sword. 9 Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, cattle, fatlings, and lambs, and all that was good. They refused to utterly destroy them, but everything despised and worthless, they completely destroyed.
• 2 Kgs 10:16 : 16 Then Jehu said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD." So he had him ride in his chariot.
• 2 Kgs 10:31 : 31 But Jehu did not walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
• Luke 9:54-55 : 54 When James and John, his disciples, saw this, they said, 'Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them, as Elijah did?' 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them.
• John 16:2 : 2 They will ban you from the synagogue. But the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.
• Rom 10:2 : 2 I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on true knowledge.
• Gal 4:17 : 17 They are zealous for you, but not in a good way. They want to exclude you, so that you might be zealous for them.