2 Samuel 5:23

KJV1611 – Modern English

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל דָּוִד֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֣א תַעֲלֶ֑ה הָסֵב֙ אֶל־אַ֣חֲרֵיהֶ֔ם וּבָ֥אתָ לָהֶ֖ם מִמּ֥וּל בְּכָאִֽים׃

Transliteration

wə-yišʾal dāwid in-YHWH wə-yōʾmer not taʿăleh hāsēḇ to-behind-them and-ḇāʾtā to-them from-opposite bəḵāʾîm

Grammar Details

• *wə-yišʾal*: conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he inquired
• *dāwid*: proper noun - David
• *YHWH*: proper noun with preposition - in/of YHWH
• *wə-yōʾmer*: conjunction + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *taʿăleh*: Qal imperfect 2nd masculine singular - you shall go up
• *hāsēḇ*: Hiphil imperative masculine singular - go around
• *ʾaḥărêhem*: preposition + 3rd masculine plural suffix - behind them
• *ḇāʾtā*: Qal perfect 2nd masculine singular - you shall come
• *lāhem*: preposition + 3rd masculine plural suffix - to them
• *mimmûl*: preposition - opposite from
• *bəḵāʾîm*: proper noun - Baca trees/mulberry trees

Word Meanings

• *hāsēḇ*: circle around/go around/make a detour
• *bəḵāʾîm*: balsam trees/mulberry trees/baca trees

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And when David inquired 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And Dauid axed at the LORDE. The LORDE sayde: Thou shalt go vp, but compase them behinde, that thou mayest be vpon them ouer agaynst the Peertrees:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when Dauid asked counsell of the Lorde, hee answered, Thou shalt not goe vp, but turne about behinde them, and come vpon them ouer against the mulberie trees.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when Dauid asked counsel of the Lorde, he aunswered, Thou shalt not go vp: but compasse them on the backsyde, and come vpon them ouer against the Mulbery trees.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, You shall not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come on them over against the mulberry trees.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and David asketh of Jehovah, and He saith, `Thou dost not go up, turn round unto their rear, and thou hast come to them over-against the mulberries,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.

• World English Bible (2000)

  When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, "You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them over against the mulberry trees.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So David asked the LORD what he should do. This time the LORD said to him,“Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees.

Referenced Verses

• Josh 8:2 : 2 And you shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king, only the spoil and the cattle shall you take for a prey for yourselves; lay an ambush for the city behind it.
• Josh 8:7 : 7 Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
• 1 Chr 14:14 : 14 David inquired again of God; and God said to him, Do not go up after them; turn away from them and come upon them opposite the mulberry trees.
• Matt 8:23-25 : 23 And when he entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we are perishing.
• Matt 9:29-30 : 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus sternly charged them, saying, See that no man knows it.
• John 9:6-7 : 6 When he had spoken thus, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spit, and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is translated, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came back seeing.