2 Samuel 2 · Verse 16

2 Samuel 2:16

And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath–hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
2 Samuel 2:16, King James Version

2 Samuel 2:16 in other translations

BSBThen each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.
WEBThey each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.
ASVAnd they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
YLTAnd they lay hold, each on the head of his companion, and his sword is in the side of his companion, and they fall together, and one calleth that place Helkath-Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon,
DARBYAnd they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side, and they fell down together. And that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is by Gibeon.
BBEAnd every one got the other by the head, driving his sword into the other's side, so they all went down together: and that place was named the Field of Sides, and it is in Gibeon.
WebsterAnd they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side: so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

What does 2 Samuel 2:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 2:8-17

8-17. Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host took Ish-bosheth--Here was the establishment of a rival kingdom, which, however, would probably have had no existence but for Abner. Ish-bosheth--or "Esh-baal" (1Ch 8:33; 9:39). The Hebrews usually changed names ending with Baal into Bosheth ("shame") (compare Jud 9:53 with 2Sa 11:21). This prince was so called from his imbecility. Abner--was first cousin of Saul…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 2:8-17 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Caught every one his fellow by the head - Probably by the beard, if these persons were not too young to have one, or by the hair of the head. Alexander ordered all the Macedonians to shave their beards; and being asked by Parmenio why they should do so, answered, "Dost thou not know that in battle there is no better hold than the beard?" Helkath-hazzurim - "The portion of the mighty;" or, "The inheritance of those who were slain," according to the Targum.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:8-17

The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honour and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behaviour while passing through various difficulties. David was herein a type of Christ, whom Israel would not submit to, though anointed of the Father to be a Prince and a Saviour to them. Abner meant, Let the young men fight before us, when he said, Let…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 2:8-17 →

2 Samuel 2:16 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.

וַֽיַּחֲזִ֜קוּvai.ya.cha.Zi.kuand they took holdH2388
אִ֣ישׁ\׀'isheachH376
בְּרֹ֣אשׁbe.Roshon [the] head ofH7218
רֵעֵ֗הוּre.'E.huneighbor hisH7453
וְחַרְבּוֹ֙ve.char.Boand sword hisH2719
בְּצַ֣דbe.Tzad[was] in [the] side ofH6654
רֵעֵ֔הוּre.'E.huneighbor hisH7453
וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּvai.yi.pe.Luand they fellH5307
יַחְדָּ֑וyach.DavtogetherH3162
וַיִּקְרָא֙vai.yik.Ra'and someone calledH7121
לַמָּק֣וֹםla.ma.Kom<to> the placeH4725
הַה֔וּאha.Hu'<the> thatH1931
חֶלְקַ֥תchel.KatHelkathH2521
הַצֻּרִ֖יםha.tzu.RimHazzurimH2521
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhichH834
בְּגִבְעֽוֹן\׃be.giv.'on[is] in GibeonH1391

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
by the head.Probably by the beard or hair of the head. Plutarch, in his Apophthegms, informs us, that all things being ready for a battle, Alexander's captains asked him whether he had any thing else to command them. "Nothing," said he, "but that the Macedonians shave their beards." Parmenio wondering what he meant, "Dost thou not know," said he, "that in fight, there is no better hold than the beard?"
Helkath-hazzurim. that is, the field of strong men.
16

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 2:15

    Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

  • 2 Samuel 2:16

    And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath–hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

  • 2 Samuel 2:17

    And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

Read all of 2 Samuel 2

2 Samuel 2:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y cada uno echó mano de la cabeza de su compañero, y metióle su espada por el costado, cayendo así á una; por lo que fué llamado aquel lugar, Helcath-assurim, el cual está en Gabaón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et chacun saisit son adversaire par la tête, et passa son épée dans le flanc de son adversaire, et ils tombèrent tous ensemble. Et on appela ce lieu-là Helkath-Hatsurim, qui est en Gabaon.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie ergriffen einer den anderen beim Kopfe, und jeder stieß sein Schwert dem anderen in die Seite, und sie fielen zusammen. Und man nannte selbigen Ort Helkath-Hazzurim, der bei Gibeon ist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Apprehensoque unusquisque capite comparis sui, defixit gladium in latus contrarii, et ceciderunt simul: vocatumque est nomen loci illius: Ager robustorum, in Gabaon.