2 Samuel 23:25 — Word Study
WLCשַׁמָּה֙ הַֽחֲרֹדִ֔י אֱלִיקָ֖א הַחֲרֹדִֽי׃ ס
BSAShammahShammâh [a man of renown] the HaroditeChărôdîy [from Harod, a place of trembling] ElikaʼĔlîyqâʼ△ [my God rejects, a mighty warrior] the HaroditeChărôdîy [of the same clan]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שַׁמָּה֙ | Shammah | Noun proper masculine |
| הַֽחֲרֹדִ֔י | the Harodite | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| אֱלִיקָ֖א | Elika | Noun proper masculine |
| הַחֲרֹדִֽי׃ ס | the Harodite | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
| KJV | Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
| ASV | Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
| YLT | Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
| WEB | Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
| BBE | Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, |
Where they part company is in the inclusion of additional context or commentary, but the names remain consistent across translations.
The sentence consists of a simple list of names, emphasizing their equal importance as warriors.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 4 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Samuel 23:25
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — David's Mighty Warriorsgenerated
2 Samuel 23:25 lists Shammah and Elika among the mighty warriors who served King David. This passage highlights the bravery and loyalty of these men, emphasizing their roles within David's elite group of fighters. The context of this verse is a broader account of David's thirty mighty men, showcasing their significance in the history of Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 11:27–28 | Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שַׁמָּה, sha.Mahgenerated
The name שַׁמָּה (Shammah) means "astonishment" and is associated with several figures in the Old Testament. The parsing shows it as a masculine proper noun, indicating a specific individual, Shammah, who was a warrior in the tribe of Judah and brother of King David.
Shammah is noted for his valor and is part of the list of David's mighty men, reflecting his importance in the narrative of David's reign. The lexicons consistently identify him as a significant figure among David's warriors.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, with a noun phrase as the subject: שַׁמָּה Shammah and אֱלִיקָא Elika. The two names are presented in a simple list format, emphasizing their equal status as warriors.
The sentence is built around the identification of these two individuals, with each name followed by their designation as Harodites, linking them to their place of origin and clan.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שַׁמָּה as σαμαι, maintaining the name's integrity. This choice reflects a direct transliteration rather than a translation, preserving the identity of the individual.
The rendering of הַחֲרֹדִי as αρουδαῖος indicates a similar approach, focusing on the clan affiliation of these warriors, which is essential for understanding their background.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 23:25 tells us about Shammah and Elika, two warriors who served King David. They are identified as Harodites, meaning they came from a place called Harod, which signifies trembling. Both men are recognized for their bravery and are part of David's elite group of fighters.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Shammah was a warrior from the tribe of Judah and the brother of King David, known for his valor.
Harodite refers to someone from Harod, a place meaning trembling, and indicates their clan affiliation.
Elika was one of David's mighty warriors, and his name means 'my God rejects,' indicating a strong character.
They are part of the elite group of warriors who served King David, highlighting their importance in his reign.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do you think made Shammah and Elika effective warriors?
- How does understanding the backgrounds of these men enhance your view of David's leadership?
- In what ways can we draw inspiration from the bravery of David's mighty men in our own lives?
- How does the meaning of names in this passage reflect the character of these warriors?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 23:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleShammah the Harodite,.... Called Shammah the Harorite in 1 Chronicles 11:27; by a change of the letters ר "R" and ד "D", which is frequent: Elika the Harodite; or who was of Harod, as the Targum;
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryShammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Shammah , [ Shamaah (H8048), astonishment] - or Shammoth (1 Chronicles 11:27), or Shamhuth (1 Chronicles 27:8). The genuine form of the name, according to Kennicott ('Dissertation,' p.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 23 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn , Shammoth the Harorite; concerning which and such-like alterations, and other changes of the names, which will be observed by comparing this catalogue with that, it will be sufficient to suggest, 1. That the same names of persons or places are differently pronounced, according to the different dialects used by men of divers places or ages. 2. That one man had oft two names. 3. That David had more worthies than those here mentioned; and as some of these were slain in the former part of David’ s reign, as Asahel was; so others came up in their steads; and some were added to this number, as appears from 1Ch 11, where they are named, but not numbered, as they were here; and where there is a…
Read Matthew Poole on 2 Samuel 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(25) Shammah the Harodite.—In 1 Chronicles 11:27 Shammoth the Harorite. He may be the same with “Shamhuth the Izrahite,” captain of the fifth division of the army (1 Chronicles 27:8). The next name is omitted in Chronicles.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 23 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 25. Shammah the Harodite] There are several varieties in the names of the following shalishim; which may be seen by comparing these verses with 1 Chronicles 11:27.
Read AdamClarke on 2 Samuel 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges25. Shammah the Harodite] Of Harod, perhaps the place mentioned in Judges 7:1, which may be either Ain Jâlûd near Jezreel, or Ain el Jemmaîn near Beth-shan. He is probably to be identified with Shamhuth the Izrahite, general of the fifth division of the army (1 Chronicles 27:8), Izrahite being his family name. Elika] Omitted in Chr., probably by accident, owing to the repetition of Harodite.
Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Tyndale line
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite;
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite: Elika ye Harodite:
Strictly literal
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Charodite, Elika the Charodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
From the Latin
Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi,
Simplified
Shammoth the Harorite; Elika the Harodite,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the names and designations of Shammah and Elika, with no differences noted in the core elements of the verse. Both texts confirm their identities as warriors from Harod.
שַׁמָּה֙ הַֽחֲרֹדִ֔י אֱלִיקָ֖א הַחֲרֹדִֽי׃ ס
4 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Samuel 23:25
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שַׁמָּה (Shammah) refers to a name meaning "astonishment" and is associated with several figures in the Old Testament. It includes an Edomite chief, the third son of Jesse (father of David), and multiple warriors among David's mighty men. The entries highlight the name's usage in various contexts, but they do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.
שַׁמָּה n.pr.m.
in Edom
third son of Jesse
heroes of David
base
H8048 שַׁמָּה . in Edom
. third son of Jesse
. heroes of David
8048 Shammah sham-maw'
the same as 8047; Shammah, the name of an Edomite and four
Israelites:--Shammah.
see HEBREW for 08047
שַׁמָּה (sham.mah) — Shammah.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.13;
son of: Reuel (H7467);
brother of: Nahath (H5184), Zerah (H2226) and Mizzah (H4199)
§ Shammah = "astonishment"
1) son of Reuel, grandson of Esau, and a chief of Edom
2) the 3rd son of Jesse and a brother of David
3) son of Agee the Hararite and one of the 30 of David's mighty warriors
4) the Harodite, one of the 30 of David's mighty warriors
5) another Hararite, one of the 30 of David's mighty warriors
שַׁמָּה (sham.mah) — Shammah.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.23.25; also called Shammoth at 1Ch.11.27;
Also named: sham.mot (שַׁמּוֹת "Shammoth" H8054)
§ Shammah = "astonishment"
1) son of Reuel, grandson of Esau, and a chief of Edom
2) the 3rd son of Jesse and a brother of David
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
sham'-a (shammah):
(1) The son of Reuel, the son of Esau, a tribal chief of Edom (Ge 36:13,17; 1Ch 1:37, Some).
(2) The third son of Jesse and brother of David. Together with his two other brothers he fought under Saul in the campaign against the Philistines and was with the army in the valley of Elah when David slew Goliath (1Sa 17:13). One redactor states that he was a witness of the anointing of David by Samuel (1Sa 16:1-13). He was the father of Jonadab, the friend of Amnon (2Sa 13:3), and that Jonathan whose victory over a Philistine giant is narrated in 2Sa…
Shammah
Desert. (1.) One of the “dukes” of Edom (Gen. 36:13, 17).
(2.) One of the sons of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:9). He is also called Shimeah (2 Sam. 13:3) and Shimma (1 Chr. 2:13).
(3.) One of David’s three mighty men (2 Sam. 23:11, 12).
(4.) One of David’s mighties (2 Sam. 23:25); called also Shammoth (1 Chr. 11:27) and Shamhuth (27:8).
(astonishment). The son of Reuel the son of Esau. (Genesis 36:13,17; 1 Chronicles 1:37) (B.C. about 1700.) The third son of Jesse, and brother of David. (1 Samuel 16:9; 17:13) Called also Shimea., Shimeah and Shimma. One of the three greatest of David’s mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:11-17) (B.C. 1061.) The Harodite, one of David’s mighties. (2 Samuel 23:25) He is called "SHAMMOTH the Harorite" in (1 Chronicles 11:27) and "SHAMHUTH the Izrahite" ibid. (1 Chronicles 27:8) In the list of David’s mighty men in (
1. One of the three chiefs of David’s thirty heroes, who shared with David and Eleazar the honor of the exploit recorded in 2Sa 23:11,12; 1Ch 11:12-14. Another feast is described in 2Sa 23:13- 17.
2. A brother of David, 1Sa 16:9; 17:13; elsewhere called Shimeah, 2Sa 13:3,22; 1Ch 2:13.
Others of this name are mentioned, Ge 36:13,17; 2Sa 23:25,33; 1Ch 11:27; 27:8.
חֲרֹדִי (Charodiy) refers to a Harodite, an inhabitant or descendant of Harod, a location meaning 'trembling.' The term is derived from a root associated with the place name עֵין חֲרֹד (Ein Charod). It appears in the context of two of David's guards, Shammah and Elika, who are identified as Harodites.
חֲרֹדִי adj.loc. only c. art., of Harod
base
H2733 חֲרֹדִי
2733 Charodiy khar-o-dee'
patrial from a derivative of 2729 (compare 5878); a
Charodite, or inhabitant of Charod:--Harodite.
see HEBREW for 02729
see HEBREW for 05878
חֲרֹדִי (cha.ro.di) — Harodite.
Group of en cha.rod (עֵין חֲרֹד "Harod" H5878)
§ Harodite , of Harod "trembling"
a resident or descendant of Harod otherwise unknown; two of David's 37 guards, Shammah and Elika, called Harodites
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
ha'-rod-it (charodhi): Two of David's heroes, Shamma and Elika, are so called (2Sa 23:25). Septuagint omits the second name. In 1Ch 11:27, the first is called "Shammoth the Harorite," while the second is omitted. "Harorite" is a clerical error for "Harodite," the Hebrew letter daleth ("d") being taken for the Hebrew letter resh ("r"). Possibly Harodite may be connected with the well of HAROD (which see).
Harodite
An epithet applied to two of David’s heroes (2 Sam. 23:25). (Comp. 1 Chr. 11:27.)
אֱלִיקָא (Eliyqa) refers to a male figure, Elika, known as one of David's mighty warriors mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:25. The name is derived from elements meaning 'God' and 'rejection,' suggesting a possible interpretation of 'my God rejects.' The entries consistently identify Elika as an Israelite associated with the United Monarchy.
אֱלִיקָא n.pr.m. one of David’s heroes 2 S 23:25.
ref
H470 אֱלִיקָא
470 'Eliyqa' el-ee-kaw'
from 410 and 6958; God of rejection; Elika, an
Israelite:--Elika.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 06958
אֱלִיקָא (e.li.qa) — Elika.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Sa.23.25
§ Elika = "my God rejects"
one of David's mighty warriors
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Elika
God is his rejector, one of David’s thirty-seven distinguished heros (2 Sam. 23:25).
(rejected of God), a Harodite, one of David’s guard. (2 Samuel 23:25)
pelican of God
חֲרֹדִי (Charodiy) refers to a Harodite, an inhabitant or descendant of Harod, a location meaning 'trembling.' The term is derived from a root associated with the place name עֵין חֲרֹד (Ein Charod). It appears in the context of two of David's guards, Shammah and Elika, who are identified as Harodites.
חֲרֹדִי adj.loc. only c. art., of Harod
base
H2733 חֲרֹדִי
2733 Charodiy khar-o-dee'
patrial from a derivative of 2729 (compare 5878); a
Charodite, or inhabitant of Charod:--Harodite.
see HEBREW for 02729
see HEBREW for 05878
חֲרֹדִי (cha.ro.di) — Harodite.
Group of en cha.rod (עֵין חֲרֹד "Harod" H5878)
§ Harodite , of Harod "trembling"
a resident or descendant of Harod otherwise unknown; two of David's 37 guards, Shammah and Elika, called Harodites
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
ha'-rod-it (charodhi): Two of David's heroes, Shamma and Elika, are so called (2Sa 23:25). Septuagint omits the second name. In 1Ch 11:27, the first is called "Shammoth the Harorite," while the second is omitted. "Harorite" is a clerical error for "Harodite," the Hebrew letter daleth ("d") being taken for the Hebrew letter resh ("r"). Possibly Harodite may be connected with the well of HAROD (which see).
Harodite
An epithet applied to two of David’s heroes (2 Sam. 23:25). (Comp. 1 Chr. 11:27.)