2 Samuel 15:4

KJV1611 – Modern English

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would grant him justice!

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִי־יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְעָלַ֗י יָב֛וֹא כָּל־אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לּוֹ־רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃

Transliteration

wa-yōʾmer ʾAbšālôm, who-yəśîmēnî šōpēṭ in-hā-ʾāreṣ, and to me yābôʾ all-ʾîš who-yihyê-to-him-rîb and mišpāṭ and wə-hiṣdaqtîw.

Grammar Details

• *wa-yōʾmer*: conjunction + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *yəśîmēnî*: Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular + 1st common singular suffix - would appoint me
• *šōpēṭ*: Qal participle, masculine singular - judge
• *hā-ʾāreṣ*: definite article + noun, feminine singular - the land
• *yābôʾ*: Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - would come
• *ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - man
• *yihyê*: Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - would have
• *rîb*: noun, masculine singular - dispute
• *mišpāṭ*: noun, masculine singular - legal case
• *wə-hiṣdaqtîw*: conjunction + Hiphil perfect, 1st common singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - and I would give him justice

Word Meanings

• *yəśîmēnî*: would appoint me/would set me/would make me
• *šōpēṭ*: judge/ruler/governor
• *hā-ʾāreṣ*: the land/the country/the earth
• *rîb*: dispute/lawsuit/legal case
• *hiṣdaqtîw*: would give him justice/would vindicate him/would declare him right

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  And Absalom would add, 'If only I were appointed judge in the land, then every man who has a dispute or case could come to me, and I would ensure he receives justice.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And Absalom sayde: O who setteth me to be iudge in ye londe, that euery man which hath a plee or matter to do in ye lawe, might come to me, that I might helpe him to right

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Absalom sayd moreouer, Oh that I were made Iudge in the lande, that euery man which hath any matter of controuersie, might come to me, that I might do him iustice.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Absalom sayde moreouer: Oh, that I were made iudge in the land, that euery man which hath any plea and matter in the lawe, might come to me, and that I might do him iustice.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Absalom saith, `Who doth make me a judge in the land, that unto me doth come every man who hath a plea and judgment? -- then I have declared him righteous.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And more than this, Absalom said, If only I was made judge in the land, so that every man who has any cause or question might come to me, and I would give a right decision for him!

• World English Bible (2000)

  Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Absalom would then say,“If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

Referenced Verses

• Judg 9:29 : 29 If only this people were under my command! Then I would remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase your army and come out!
• Prov 25:6 : 6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
• Prov 27:2 : 2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
• Luke 14:8-9 : 8 When you are invited by any man to a wedding, do not sit down in the highest place; lest a more honorable man than you be invited by him; 9 And he who invited you and him come and say to you, Give this man your place; and you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher: then you will have honor in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
• 2 Pet 2:19 : 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
• Judg 9:1-5 : 1 And Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem, to his mother's relatives, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, 2 Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, asking, Which is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rules over you? Remember also that I am your own flesh and bone. 3 And his mother's relatives spoke about him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother. 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, who followed him. 5 And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons, on one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, for he hid himself.