2 Samuel 18 · Verse 15

2 Samuel 18:15

And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
2 Samuel 18:15, King James Version

2 Samuel 18:15 in other translations

BSBAnd ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
WEBTen young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
ASVAnd ten young men that bare Joab’s armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
YLTAnd they go round--ten youths bearing weapons of Joab--and smite Absalom, and put him to death.
DARBYAnd ten young men that bore Joab's armour surrounded and smote Absalom, and killed him.
BBEAnd ten young men, servants of Joab, came round Absalom and put an end to him.
WebsterAnd ten young men that bore Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

What does 2 Samuel 18:15 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Ten young men - smote Absalom and slew him - That is, they all pierced the body; but there could be no life in it after three darts had been thrust through the heart: but they added as much as would have killed him had he been alive.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:9-18

Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed, forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrence of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery and contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 18:9-18 →

2 Samuel 18:15 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.

וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙vai.ya.So.buand they surrounded [him]H5437
עֲשָׂרָ֣ה'a.sa.RahtenH6235
נְעָרִ֔יםne.'a.Rimyoung menH5288
נֹשְׂאֵ֖יno.se.'Ei[the] bearers ofH5375
כְּלֵ֣יke.Lei[the] armor<s> ofH3627
יוֹאָ֑בyo.'AvJoabH3097
וַיַּכּ֥וּvai.ya.Kuand they struckH5221
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם'av.sha.LomAbsalomH53
וַיְמִיתֻֽהוּ\׃vay.mi.Tu.huand they killed himH4191

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 18:14

    Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

  • 2 Samuel 18:15

    And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

  • 2 Samuel 18:16

    And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

Read all of 2 Samuel 18

2 Samuel 18:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cercándolo luego diez mancebos escuderos de Joab, hirieron á Absalom, y acabáronle.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et dix jeunes hommes qui portaient les armes de Joab entourèrent et frappèrent Absalom, et le mirent à mort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und zehn Knaben, Waffenträger Joabs, umgaben und erschlugen Absalom und töteten ihn.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		cucurrerunt decem juvenes armigeri Joab, et percutientes interfecerunt eum.