2 Samuel 16:23

KJV1611 – Modern English

And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַעֲצַ֣ת אֲחִיתֹ֗פֶל אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָעַץ֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁאַל־**אִ֖ישׁ בִּדְבַ֣ר הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כֵּ֚ן כָּל־עֲצַ֣ת אֲחִיתֹ֔פֶל גַּם־לְדָוִ֖ד גַּ֥ם לְאַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃ ס

Transliteration

And waʿăṣaṯ ʾĂḥîṯōpel which he yāʿaṣ in those bayyāmîm was as if one yišʾal ʾîš in bidbar hāʾĕlōhîm. So was all ʿăṣaṯ ʾĂḥîṯōpel both to Dāwid and also to ʾAbšālōm.

Grammar Details

• *waʿăṣaṯ*: waw conjunctive + noun, feminine singular construct - and the counsel of
• *ʾĂḥîṯōpel*: proper noun - Ahithophel
• *yāʿaṣ*: qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - advised/counseled
• *bayyāmîm*: preposition + definite article + noun, masculine plural - in the days
• *yišʾal*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - would inquire
• *ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - a man
• *bidbar*: preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - in the word of
• *hāʾĕlōhîm*: definite article + noun, masculine plural - God
• *ʿăṣaṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - counsel of
• *Dāwid*: proper noun - David
• *ʾAbšālōm*: proper noun - Absalom

Word Meanings

• *waʿăṣaṯ*: counsel/advice/plan
• *yāʿaṣ*: advised/counseled/gave advice
• *yišʾal*: would inquire/would ask/would consult
• *bidbar*: in the word/in the matter/by the oracle
• *hāʾĕlōhîm*: God/the divine being/the deity

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone inquiring of God. Such was all of Ahithophel’s advice to both David and Absalom.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  At that tyme whan Achitophel gaue a councell, that was euen as yf a man axed councell at God: So were all the councels of Achitophel both with Dauid and with Absalom.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And the counsell of Ahithophel which he counseled in those dayes, was like as one had asked counsell at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with Dauid and with Absalom.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the counsel of Ahithophel whiche he counseled in those dayes, was as a man had asked counsel at the oracle of God: euen so was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both with Dauid and with Absalom.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the counsel of Ahithophel which he counselled in those days `is' as `when' one inquireth at the word of God; so `is' all the counsel of Ahithophel both to David and to Absalom.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  In those days the opinions of Ahithophel were valued as highly as if through him a man might get direction from God; so were they valued by David as much as by Absalom.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  In those days Ahithophel’s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel.

Referenced Verses

• 2 Sam 15:12 : 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
• 2 Sam 17:14 : 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
• 2 Sam 17:23 : 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in his father's sepulchre.
• Job 5:12 : 12 He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands cannot accomplish their schemes.
• Job 28:28 : 28 And to man he said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'
• Ps 19:7 : 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
• Ps 28:2 : 2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
• Eccl 10:1 : 1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking aroma: so does a little folly him who is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
• Jer 4:22 : 22 For my people are foolish, they have not known me; they are senseless children, and they have no understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
• Jer 8:9 : 9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
• Matt 11:25 : 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.
• Luke 16:8 : 8 And the master commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
• Rom 1:22 : 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
• 1 Cor 3:19-20 : 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
• Jas 3:13-18 : 13 Who is wise and endowed with knowledge among you? Let him show by good conduct his works with the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
• 1 Pet 4:11 : 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if anyone serves, let him do so with the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
• Num 27:21 : 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask for him the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him, the entire congregation.
• 1 Sam 30:8 : 8 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue: for you shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.