2 Samuel 18 · Verse 21

2 Samuel 18:21

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
2 Samuel 18:21, King James Version

2 Samuel 18:21 in other translations

BSBSo Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
WEBThen Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen!” The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
ASVThen said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
YLTAnd Joab saith to Cushi, ‘Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;' and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.
DARBYThen said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
BBEThen Joab said to the Cushite, Go and give the king word of what you have seen. And the Cushite, making a sign of respect to Joab, went off running.
WebsterThen said Joab to Cushi, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

What does 2 Samuel 18:21 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Tell the king what thou hast seen - At this time the death of Absalom was not publicly known; but Joab had given Cushi private information of it. This Ahimaaz had not, for he could not tell the king whether Absalom were dead. To this Joab seems to refer, 2Sam 18:22 : "Thou hast no tidings ready.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:19-33

By directing David to give God thanks for his victory, Ahimaaz prepared him for the news of his son's death. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. Some think David's wish arose from concern about Absalom's everlasting state; but he rather seems to have spoken without due thought. He is…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 18:19-33 →

2 Samuel 18:21 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.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יוֹאָב֙yo.'AvJoabH3097
לַכּוּשִׁ֔יla.ku.Shito the CushiteH3569
לֵ֛ךְlekhgoH1980
הַגֵּ֥דha.GedtellH5046
לַמֶּ֖לֶךְla.Me.lekhto the kingH4428
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher[that] whichH834
רָאִ֑יתָהra.'I.tahyou have seenH7200
וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuand he bowed downH7812
כוּשִׁ֛יkhu.Shi[the] CushiteH3569
לְיוֹאָ֖בle.yo.'Avto JoabH3097
וַיָּרֹֽץ\׃vai.ya.Rotzand he ranH7323

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 18:20

    And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.

  • 2 Samuel 18:21

    Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

  • 2 Samuel 18:22

    Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

Read all of 2 Samuel 18

2 Samuel 18:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Joab dijo á Cusi: Ve tú, y di al rey lo que has visto. Y Cusi hizo reverencia á Joab, y corrió.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Joab dit au Cushite: Va, rapporte au roi ce que tu as vu. Et le Cushite se prosterna devant Joab, et courut.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Joab sprach zu dem Kuschiten: Gehe hin, berichte dem König, was du gesehen hast. Und der Kuschit beugte sich nieder vor Joab und lief hin.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait Joab Chusi: Vade, et nuntia regi quæ vidisti. Adoravit Chusi Joab, et cucurrit.