2 Samuel 5:3

“So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before YHWH; and they anointed David as king over Israel.”

2 Samuel 5:3 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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2 Samuel 5:3, word by word

the eldersזִקְנֵיzikne

elder

The senior men who led a city or the people.

Where else “zikne” appears
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael

Israel

Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.

Where else “yisrael” appears
cameיָּבֹאוּyavou

come

To come, arrive: "days are coming".

Where else “yavou” appears
the kingמֶּלֶךְmelech

king

A king who rules a people.

Where else “melech” appears
at Hebronחֶבְרוֹנָchevrona

Hebron

See it on the mapWhere else “chevrona” appears
Davidדָּוִדdavid

David

David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."

Where else “david” appears
madeיִּכְרֹתyichrot

make a covenant

Literally "cut": to seal a solemn agreement, splitting animals.

Where else “yichrot” appears
a covenantבְּרִיתberit

covenant

The commitment God makes with his people, with promises and commands.

Where else “berit” appears
beforeפְנֵיfene

before

Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.

Where else “fene” appears
YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
and they anointedיִּמְשְׁחוּyimshchu

anoint

To pour oil on someone to set them apart for God.

Where else “yimshchu” appears

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

David king over all Israel

1 Chronicles 11:1-3

See them side by side

2 Samuel 5:1-5

1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Look at us: we are your bone and your flesh. 2For some time now, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and YHWH said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be leader over Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before YHWH; and they anointed David as king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign; forty years he reigned. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

1 Chronicles 11:1-3

1Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, “Look, we are your bone and your flesh. 2For some time now, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and YHWH your Elohim said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people, Israel, and you will be leader over my people Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before YHWH; and they anointed David as king over Israel, according to the word of YHWH by the hand of Samuel.

Places in this verse

JerusalemDead SeaHebron
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Hebron

    Today: Hebron (Al-Khalil), West Bank

    A city in the hills of Judea, about 19 miles (30 km) south of Jerusalem.

    Abraham lived nearby and bought the cave there where he buried Sarah (Gen 23:2). David was anointed king of Judah at Hebron (2 Sam 2:1-4).

    Genesis 23:2Genesis 13:182 Samuel 2:12 Samuel 5:3

The context

2For some time now, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and YHWH said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be leader over Israel.’”

3 · This verse (above)

4David was thirty years old when he began to reign; forty years he reigned.

Read all of 2 Samuel 5

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