2 Samuel 4:8 net — They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king,“Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul,…

NET Bible

"They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king,“Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against Saul and his descendants!”"

— 2 Samuel 4:8, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

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2 Samuel 4:8 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “And they brought the head of Ish–bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish–bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.”

  • ASV

    “And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, who sought thy life; and Jehovah hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. ”

  • WEB

    “They brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, "Behold, the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life! Yahweh has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed."”

  • DRB

    “And they brought the head of Isboseth to David to Hebron: and they said to the king: Behold the head of Isboseth the son of Saul thy enemy who sought thy life: and the Lord hath revenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.”

  • BBE

    “And they took the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, and said to the king, Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul your hater, who would have taken your life; the Lord has taken payment for the wrongs of my lord the king from Saul and his seed today.”

  • KJVA

    “And they brought the head of Ish–bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish–bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.”

2 Samuel 4 — Context

5

Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite– Recab and Baanah– went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest.

6

They entered the house under the pretense of getting wheat and mortally wounded him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah escaped.

7

They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was resting on his bed in his bedroom. They mortally wounded him and then cut off his head. Taking his head, they traveled on the way of the rift valley all that night.

8

They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king,“Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against Saul and his descendants!”

9

David replied to Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite,“As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered my life from all adversity,

10

when someone told me that Saul was dead– even though he thought he was bringing good news– I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him!

11

Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?”

2 Samuel 4:8 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 4:8 say?
2 Samuel 4:8 in the NET Bible reads: “They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king,“Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against Saul and his descendants!””
Where is 2 Samuel 4:8 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 4:8 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 4, verse 8.
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 4:8.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 4:8 in?
2 Samuel 4:8 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 4:8?
2 Samuel 4:8 reads (NET): “They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king,“Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against Saul and his descendants!”” 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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