2 Samuel 22:38

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אֶרְדְּפָ֥ה אֹיְבַ֖י וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָשׁ֖וּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃

Transliteration

ʾerdepâ ʾōyebay and wāʾašmîdēm; and not ʾāšûb until-kallôtām.

Grammar Details

• *ʾerdepâ*: Qal imperfect 1cs cohortative - I pursue
• *ʾōyebay*: masculine plural noun with 1cs suffix - my enemies
• *wāʾašmîdēm*: Hiphil imperfect 1cs with 3mp suffix with waw-consecutive - and I destroy them
• *ʾāšûb*: Qal imperfect 1cs - I return
• *kallôtām*: Piel infinitive construct with 3mp suffix - destroying them

Word Meanings

• *ʾerdepâ*: pursue, chase, follow after
• *wāʾašmîdēm*: destroy them, annihilate them, exterminate them
• *ʾāšûb*: return, turn back, go back
• *kallôtām*: finishing them, completing them, consuming them

Referenced Verses

• 2 Sam 5:18-25 : 18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. 21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. 25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
• 2 Sam 8:1-2 : 1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
• 2 Sam 8:13-14 : 13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
• 2 Sam 10:14 : 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
• Ps 21:8-9 : 8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. 9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
• Rom 8:37 : 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.