2 Samuel 14 · Verse 5

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.
2 Samuel 14:5, King James Version

2 Samuel 14:5 in other translations

BSB“What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead.
WEBThe king said to her, “What ails you?” She answered, “Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
ASVAnd the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
YLTAnd the king saith to her, ‘What--to thee?' and she saith, ‘Truly a widow woman am I, and my husband dieth,
DARBYAnd the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she said, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.
BBEAnd the king said to her, What is your trouble? And her answer was, Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
WebsterAnd the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.

What does 2 Samuel 14:5 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 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 I am indeed a widow woman - It is very possible that the principal facts mentioned here were real, and that Joab found out a person whose circumstances bore a near resemblance to that which he wished to represent.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

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 14:5 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.

וַיֹּֽאמֶר\־vai.yo.mer-and he saidH559
לָ֥הּlahto <the> her
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
מַה\־mah-what?H4100
לָּ֑ךְLakh[is] to <the> you
וַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merand she saidH559
אֲבָ֛ל'a.ValindeedH61
אִשָּֽׁה\־'i.shah-[am] a womanH802
אַלְמָנָ֥ה'al.ma.Naha widowH490
אָ֖נִי'A.niIH589
וַיָּ֥מָתvai.Ya.motand he has diedH4191
אִישִֽׁי\׃'i.Shihusband myH376

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 14:5

  • 2 Samuel 12:1-3

    And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

  • Judges 9:8-15

    The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I am indeed.It is very possible that the principal incidents mentioned here were real; and that Joab found out a person whose circumstances bore a near resemblance to that which he wished to represent. She did not make the similitude too plain and visible, lest the king should see her intention before she had obtained a grant of pardon; and thus her circumstances, her mournful tale, her widow's dress, her aged person, (for Josephus says she was advanced in years,) and her impressive manner, all combined to make one united irresistible impression on the heart of the aged monarch.
12:1-3; Jud 9:8-15

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Samuel 14:6

    And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

Read all of 2 Samuel 14

2 Samuel 14:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el rey le dijo: ¿Qué tienes? Y ella respondió: Yo á la verdad soy una mujer viuda y mi marido es muerto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le roi lui dit: Qu’as-tu? Et elle dit: Certainement, je suis une femme veuve, et mon mari est mort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der König sprach zu ihr: Was ist dir? Und sie sprach: Fürwahr, ich bin eine Witwe, und mein Mann ist gestorben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait ad eam rex: Quid causæ habes? Quæ respondit: Heu, mulier vidua ego sum: mortuus est enim vir meus.