2 Samuel 16 · Verse 20

2 Samuel 16:20

Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
2 Samuel 16:20, King James Version

2 Samuel 16:20 in other translations

BSBThen Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”
WEBThen Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel what we shall do.”
ASVThen said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.
YLTAnd Absalom saith unto Ahithophel, ‘Give for you counsel what we do.'
DARBYAnd Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
BBEThen Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your opinion now, what are we to do?
WebsterThen said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

What does 2 Samuel 16:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Give counsel among you what we shall do--This is the first cabinet council on record, although the deference paid to Ahithophel gave him the entire direction of the proceedings.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 16:15-23

The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 16:15-23 →

2 Samuel 16:20 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.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם'av.sha.LomAbsalomH53
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל'a.chi.To.felAhithophelH302
הָב֥וּha.VugiveH3051
לָכֶ֛םla.Khemfor <the> yourselves
עֵצָ֖ה'e.TzahcounselH6098
מַֽה\־mah-what?H4100
נַּעֲשֶֽׂה\׃na.'a.Sehwill we doH6213

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 16:20

  • Psalms 2:2

    The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

  • Acts 4:23-28

    And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. …

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

  • Isaiah 29:15

    Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

  • Psalms 37:12-13

    The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

  • Exodus 1:10

    Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

  • Matthew 27:1

    When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

  • Isaiah 8:10

    Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Give counsel.
Ex 1:10; Ps 2:2; 37:12,13; Pr 21:30; Isa 8:10; 29:15; Mt 27:1
Ac 4:23-28

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 16:19

    And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.

  • 2 Samuel 16:20

    Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

  • 2 Samuel 16:21

    And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

Read all of 2 Samuel 16

2 Samuel 16:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces dijo Absalom á Achitophel: Consultad qué haremos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Absalom dit à Akhitophel: Donnez un conseil sur ce que nous ferons.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Absalom sprach zu Ahitophel: Schaffet Rat, was wir tun sollen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit autem Absalom ad Achitophel: Inite consilium quid agere debeamus.