2 Samuel 21:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

In the days of David, there was a famine for three years, year after year, and David sought the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he killed the Gibeonites.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֣י רָעָב֩ בִּימֵ֨י דָוִ֜ד שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים שָׁנָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י שָׁנָ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ דָּוִ֖ד אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה ס וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה אֶל־שָׁאוּל֙ וְאֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַדָּמִ֔ים עַֽל־אֲשֶׁר־הֵמִ֖ית אֶת־הַגִּבְעֹנִֽים

Transliteration

And wayĕhî rāʿāb in yĕmê Dāwid three šānîm, šānâ after šānâ, and wayĕbaqqêš Dāwid ʾet-face of YHWH; and wayyōʾmer YHWH, "To-Šāʾûl and to-bêt the-dāmîm, because that-he-hēmît ʾet-the-Gibʿōnîm."

Grammar Details

• *wayĕhî*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and it was/came to pass
• *rāʿāb*: noun, masculine singular - famine/hunger
• *yĕmê*: construct plural of *yôm* - days of
• *Dāwid*: proper noun - David
• *šānîm*: noun, feminine plural - years
• *šānâ*: noun, feminine singular - year
• *wayĕbaqqêš*: waw-consecutive + piel imperfect 3ms - and he sought
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *YHWH*: proper noun - divine name
• *wayyōʾmer*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and he said
• *Šāʾûl*: proper noun - Saul
• *bêt*: noun, masculine singular construct - house of
• *dāmîm*: noun, masculine plural - bloods
• *hēmît*: hiphil perfect 3ms - he killed/caused to die
• *Gibʿōnîm*: proper noun, plural - Gibeonites

Word Meanings

• *wayĕhî*: it happened/there was/came to pass
• *rāʿāb*: famine/hunger
• *bêt* *dāmîm*: house of blood/bloodshed/bloodguilt
• *wayĕbaqqêš*: sought/inquired of/consulted

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  During the days of David, there was a famine for three years, year after year. David sought the presence of the Lord, and the Lord said, "It concerns Saul and his house, who are guilty of bloodshed, for he killed the Gibeonites."

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  There was a derth also in Dauids tyme thre yeares together. And Dauid soughte the face of ye LORDE. And the LORDE sayde: Because of Saul and because of that bloudy housholde yt he slewe the Gibeonites.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then there was a famine in the dayes of Dauid, three yeeres together: and Dauid asked counsell of the Lorde, and the Lorde answered, It is for Saul, & for his bloodie house, because hee slewe the Gibeonites.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then there was an hunger in the dayes of Dauid three yeres together: And Dauid enquired of ye Lorde. And the Lorde aunswered: It is for Saul, and the house of blood, because he slue the Gibeonites.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And there is a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David seeketh the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah saith, `For Saul and for the bloody house, because that he put to death the Gibeonites.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  In the days of David they were short of food for three years, year after year; and David went before the Lord for directions. And the Lord said, On Saul and on his family there is blood, because he put the Gibeonites to death.

• World English Bible (2000)

  There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Gibeonites Demand Revenge During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the LORD. The LORD said,“It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites.”

Referenced Verses

• 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.
• Gen 12:10 : 10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to stay there; for the famine was severe in the land.
• Gen 26:1 : 1 And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines to Gerar.
• Gen 41:57-42:1 : 57 All countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was so severe in all the lands. 1 Now when Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, Why do you look at one another?
• Gen 43:1 : 1 And the famine was severe in the land.
• Lev 26:19-20 : 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as bronze: 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield its increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
• Lev 26:26 : 26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and you shall eat, and not be satisfied.
• Josh 7:1 : 1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
• Josh 7:11-12 : 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and deceived also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you anymore, except you destroy the accursed from among you.
• 1 Sam 22:17-19 : 17 And the king said to the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to attack the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn you, and attack the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five persons that wore a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, and oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
• 1 Sam 23:2 : 2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and strike these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go and strike the Philistines, and save Keilah.
• 1 Sam 23:4 : 4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.
• 1 Sam 23:11 : 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
• 2 Sam 5:19 : 19 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said to David, Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.
• 2 Sam 5:23 : 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come upon them opposite the mulberry trees.
• 1 Kgs 17:1 : 1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was one of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain for these years, except by my word.
• 1 Kgs 18:2 : 2 And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And there was a severe famine in Samaria.
• 2 Kgs 6:25 : 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a quarter of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
• 2 Kgs 8:1 : 1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise, and go you and your household, and stay wherever you can stay: for the LORD has called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land for seven years."
• Job 5:8-9 : 8 I would seek to God, and to God I would commit my cause: 9 Who does great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number: 10 Who gives rain upon the earth, and sends waters upon the fields:
• Job 10:2 : 2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me.
• Ps 50:15 : 15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
• Ps 91:15 : 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
• Jer 14:1-9 : 1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. 2 Judah mourns, and its gates languish; they are in mourning on the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem has gone up. 3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the water; they came to the wells and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. 4 Because the ground is cracked, for there was no rain on the earth, the farmers were ashamed, they covered their heads. 5 Even the deer gave birth in the field, and abandoned it, because there was no grass. 6 And the wild donkeys stood on the high places, they sniffed the wind like jackals; their eyes failed because there was no grass. 7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, act for Your name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against You. 8 O Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of trouble, why should You be as a stranger in the land, and as a traveler who turns aside to stay for a night? 9 Why should You be as a man astonished, as a mighty man who cannot save? Yet You, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by Your name; do not leave us. 10 Thus says the LORD to this people, 'Thus they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish their sins.' 11 Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not pray for the good of this people.' 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. 13 Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.'' 14 Then the LORD said to me, 'The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.' 15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, and I have not sent them, yet they say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'—by sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; they will have no one to bury them—neither them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters—for I will pour their wickedness upon them. 17 Therefore, you shall speak this word to them: 'Let my eyes flow with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.' 18 If I go out to the field, then behold, those slain with the sword; and if I enter the city, then behold, those sick from famine! Yes, both prophet and priest roam about in a land they do not know.