1 Kings 20:18

KJV1611 – Modern English

And he said, Whether they come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they come out for war, take them alive.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אִם־לְשָׁל֥וֹם יָצָ֖אוּ תִּפְשׂ֣וּם חַיִּ֑ים וְאִ֧ם לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה יָצָ֖אוּ חַיִּ֥ים תִּפְשֽׂוּם׃

Transliteration

And wayyōʾmer [he said], if for lᵊšālôm [peace] yāṣāʾû [they have come out], tip̄śûm [seize them] ḥayyîm [alive]; and if for lᵊmilḥāmâ [war] yāṣāʾû [they have come out], ḥayyîm [alive] tip̄śûm [seize them].

Grammar Details

• *wayyōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he said
• *lᵊšālôm*: preposition + masculine singular noun - for peace
• *yāṣāʾû*: qal perfect 3rd masculine plural - they have come out/gone out
• *tip̄śûm*: qal imperative masculine plural + 3rd masculine plural suffix - seize them
• *ḥayyîm*: masculine plural adjective - alive/living
• *lᵊmilḥāmâ*: preposition + feminine singular noun - for war/battle

Word Meanings

• *lᵊšālôm*: for peace/with peaceful intent
• *tip̄śûm*: seize them/capture them/take them
• *ḥayyîm*: alive/living
• *lᵊmilḥāmâ*: for war/battle/combat

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  He said, 'If they have come out for peace, capture them alive; and if they have come out for war, capture them alive.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said,{H559} Whether they are come out{H3318} for peace,{H7965} take{H8610} them alive,{H2416} or whether they are come out{H3318} for war,{H4421} take{H8610} them alive.{H2416}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Whether they be come out{H3318}{(H8804)} for peace{H7965}, take{H8610}{(H8798)} them alive{H2416}; or whether they be come out{H3318}{(H8804)} for war{H4421}, take{H8610}{(H8798)} them alive{H2416}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  He sayde: Take them alyue, whether they be come forth for peace, or for warre.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he sayde, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue: or whether they bee come out to fight, take them yet aliue.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  He sayde: Whether they be come out for peace, take them alyue: or whether they be come out to fight, take them yet alyue.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he saith, `If for peace they have come out -- catch them alive; and if for battle they have come out -- alive catch them.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, take them alive.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  He ordered,“Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.”

Referenced Verses

• 2 Kgs 14:8-9 : 8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us meet face to face. 9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife, and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thistle. 10 You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up; boast of this, and stay at home, for why should you meddle to your hurt, that you should fall, you and Judah with you? 11 But Amaziah would not listen. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah met face to face at Bethshemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated before Israel, and they fled every man to their tents.
• Prov 18:12 : 12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
• 1 Sam 2:3-4 : 3 Talk no more so proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength.
• 1 Sam 14:11-12 : 11 Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves." 12 The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armorbearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel."
• 1 Sam 17:44 : 44 The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the field.