2 Samuel 14 · Verse 4

2 Samuel 14:4

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
2 Samuel 14:4, King James Version

2 Samuel 14:4 in other translations

BSBWhen the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”
WEBWhen the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showed respect, and said, “Help, O king!”
ASVAnd when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
YLTAnd the woman of Tekoah speaketh unto the king, and falleth on her face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith, ‘Save, O king.'
DARBYAnd the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, and she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, Save, O king!
BBEAnd the woman of Tekoa came to the king, and falling on her face, gave him honour and said, Give me help, O king.
WebsterAnd when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

What does 2 Samuel 14:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 14:2-21

2Sa 14:1-21. Joab Instructs a Woman of Tekoah. 2-21. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman--The king was strongly attached to Absalom; and having now got over his sorrow for the violent death of Amnon, he was desirous of again enjoying the society of his favorite son, who had now been three long years absent. But a dread of public opinion and a regard to the public interests made him hesitate…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 14:2-21 →

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:1-20

We may notice here, how this widow pleads God's mercy, and his clemency toward poor guilty sinners. The state of sinners is a state of banishment from God. God pardons none to the dishonour of his law and justice, nor any who are impenitent; nor to the encouragement of crimes, or the hurt of others.

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 14:1-20 →

2 Samuel 14:4 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.

וַ֠תֹּאמֶרVa.to.merand she saidH559
הָאִשָּׁ֤הha.'i.Shahthe womanH802
הַתְּקֹעִית֙ha.te.ko.'It<the> TekoiteH8621
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
וַתִּפֹּ֧לva.ti.Poland she fellH5307
עַל\־'al-onH5921
אַפֶּ֛יהָ'a.Pei.haface herH639
אַ֖רְצָה'Ar.tzah[the] ground towardsH776
וַתִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּva.tish.Ta.chuand she bowed downH7812
וַתֹּ֖אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559
הוֹשִׁ֥עָהho.Shi.'ahsave !H3467
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ\׃\ \סha.Me.lekhO kingH4428

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 14:4

  • 1 Samuel 25:23

    And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

  • 2 Kings 6:26-28

    And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

  • 2 Samuel 1:2

    It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

  • Luke 18:3-5

    And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

  • Job 29:12-14

    Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

  • 1 Samuel 20:41

    And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
fell on her.
1:2; 1Sa 20:41; 25:23
Help. Heb. Save.
2Ki 6:26-28; Job 29:12-14; Lu 18:3-5

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 14:3

    And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

  • 2 Samuel 14:4

    And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

  • 2 Samuel 14:5

    And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

Read all of 2 Samuel 14

2 Samuel 14:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entró pues aquella mujer de Tecoa al rey, y postrándose en tierra sobre su rostro hizo reverencia, y dijo: Oh rey, salva.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et la femme thekohite parla au roi, et tomba sur son visage contre terre et se prosterna, et dit: Sauve-moi, ô roi!
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und das tekoitische Weib sprach zu dem König; und sie fiel auf ihr Antlitz zur Erde und beugte sich nieder und sprach: Hilf, o König!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Itaque cum ingressa fuisset mulier Thecuitis ad regem, cecidit coram eo super terram, et adoravit, et dixit: Serva me, rex.