2 Samuel 18:25 net — So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said,“If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner…

NET Bible

"So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said,“If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer."

— 2 Samuel 18:25, NET Bible

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2 Samuel 18:25 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 18 — Context

22

Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab,“Whatever happens, let me go after the Cushite.” But Joab said,“Why is it that you want to go, my son? You have no good news that will bring you a reward.”

23

But he said,“Whatever happens, I want to go!” So Joab said to him,“Then go!” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite.

24

Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall. When he looked, he saw a man running by himself.

25

So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said,“If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer.

26

Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called out to the gatekeeper,“There is another man running by himself.” The king said,“This one also is bringing good news.”

27

The watchman said,“It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said,“He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”

28

Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king,“Greetings!” He bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and said,“May the LORD your God be praised because he has defeated the men who opposed my lord the king!”

2 Samuel 18:25 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 18:25 say?
2 Samuel 18:25 in the NET Bible reads: “So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said,“If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer.”
Where is 2 Samuel 18:25 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 18:25 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 18, verse 25.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 18:25.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 18:25 in?
2 Samuel 18:25 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 18:25?
2 Samuel 18:25 reads (NET): “So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said,“If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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