2 Samuel 10 · Verse 4

2 Samuel 10:4

Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
2 Samuel 10:4, King James Version

2 Samuel 10:4 in other translations

BSBSo Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.
WEBSo Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
ASVSo Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
YLTAnd Hanun taketh the servants of David, and shaveth off the half of their beard, and cutteth off their long robes in the midst--unto their buttocks, and sendeth them away;
DARBYAnd Hanun took David's servants, and had the one half of their beards shaved off, and their raiment cut off in the midst, as far as their buttocks, and sent them away.
BBESo Hanun took David's servants, and after cutting off half the hair on their chins, and cutting off the skirts of their robes up to the middle, he sent them away.
WebsterWherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

What does 2 Samuel 10:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards--From the long flowing dress of the Hebrews and other Orientals, the curtailment of their garments must have given them an aspect of gross indelicacy and ludicrousness. Besides, a knowledge of the extraordinary respect and value which has always been attached, and the gross insult that is implied in any indignity offered, to the beard in the East, will account for the shame which the deputies felt, and the determined spirit of revenge which burst out in all Israel on learning the outrage. Two instances are related in the modern history of Persia, of similar insults by kings of haughty and imperious temper, involving the nation in war; and we need not, therefore, be surprised that David vowed revenge for this wanton and public outrage.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Shaved off the one half of their beards - The beard is held in high respect in the East: the possessor considers it his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it. Nothing can be more secure than a pledge of this kind; its owner will redeem it at the hazard of his life. The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. Cutting off half of the beard and the clothes rendered the men ridiculous, and made them look like slaves: what was done to these men was an accumulation of insult.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 10:1-5

Chapter Outline David's messengers ill-treated by Hanun. (1-5) The Ammonites defeated. (6-14) The Syrians defeated. (15-19) Verses 1-5 Nahash had been an enemy to Israel, yet had showed kindness to David. David therefore resolves gratefully to return it. If a Pharisee gives alms in pride, though God will not reward it, yet he that receives the alms ought to return thanks for it. Those who bear ill-will to their…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 10:1-5 →

2 Samuel 10:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.Kachand he tookH3947
חָנ֜וּןcha.NunHanunH2586
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
עַבְדֵ֣י'av.Dei[the] servants ofH5650
דָוִ֗דda.VidDavidH1732
וַיְגַלַּח֙vay.ga.Lachand he shavedH1548
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
חֲצִ֣יcha.Tzi<the> half ofH2677
זְקָנָ֔םze.ka.Nambeard theirH2206
וַיִּכְרֹ֧תvai.yikh.Rotand he cut offH3772
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
מַדְוֵיהֶ֛םmad.vei.Hemrobes theirH4063
בַּחֵ֖צִיba.Che.tziat the middleH2677
עַ֣ד'adtoH5704
שְׁתֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑םshe.to.tei.Hembuttocks theirH8357
וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽם\׃Vay.sha.le.Chemand he sent away themH7971

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 10:4

  • Isaiah 20:4

    So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

  • Jeremiah 41:5

    That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord.

  • 1 Chronicles 19:3-4

    But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

  • Isaiah 15:2

    He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.

  • Psalms 109:4-5

    For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

  • Leviticus 19:27

    Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and shaved.The beard is held in high respect and greatly valued in the East: the possessor considers it as his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it; and nothing can be more secure than such a pledge; for its owner will redeem it at the hazard of his life. The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. It is customary to shave the Ottoman princes, as a mark of their subjection to the reigning emperor. The beard is a mark of authority and liberty among the Mohammedans. The Persians who clip the beard, and shave above the jaw, are reputed heretics. They who serve in the {seraglios} have their beards shaven, as a sign of servitude; nor do they suffer them to grow till the sultan has set them at liberty. Among the Arabians, it is more infamous for anyone to appear with his beard cut off, than among us to be publicly whipped or branded; and many would prefer death to such a punishment.
Le 19:27; 1Ch 19:3,4; Ps 109:4,5; Isa 15:2
cut off.
Isa 20:4; 47:2,3; Jer 41:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 10:3

    And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

  • 2 Samuel 10:4

    Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

  • 2 Samuel 10:5

    When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

Read all of 2 Samuel 10

2 Samuel 10:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Hanún tomó los siervos de David, y rapóles la mitad de la barba, y cortóles los vestidos por la mitad hasta las nalgas, y despachólos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Hanun prit les serviteurs de David, et fit raser la moitié de leur barbe, et fit couper leurs vêtements par le milieu jusqu’au bas des reins, et les renvoya.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da nahm Hanun die Knechte Davids und ließ ihnen die Hälfte des Bartes abscheren und ihre Oberkleider zur Hälfte abschneiden, bis an ihre Gesäße; und er entließ sie.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tulit itaque Hanon servos David, rasitque dimidiam partem barbæ eorum et præscidit vestes eorum medias usque ad nates, et dimisit eos.