2 Samuel 23:32 — Word Study
WLCאֶלְיַחְבָּא֙ הַשַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔י בְּנֵ֥י יָשֵׁ֖ן יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ ס
BSAEliahbaʼElyachbâʼ [God hides, divine protector] the ShaalboniteShaʻalbônîy [inhabitant of Shaalbin] the sonsbên [descendants, family] of JashenYâshên△ [faithful, steadfast] JonathanYᵉhôwnâthân [Jehovah has given, gift of God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֶלְיַחְבָּא֙ | Eliahba | Noun proper masculine |
| הַשַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔י | the Shaalbonite | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| בְּנֵ֥י | [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| יָשֵׁ֖ן | Jashen | Noun proper masculine |
| יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ ס | Jonathan | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan |
| KJV | Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, |
| ASV | Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, |
| YLT | Eliahba the Shaalbonite, [of] the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, |
| WEB | Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, |
| BBE | Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Jashen the Gunite, |
All translations consistently present the names without variation.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases, listing individuals associated with David.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 5 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 23:32
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 — The Mighty Warriors of Davidgenerated
2 Samuel 23:32 is part of a passage that enumerates the mighty warriors who served under King David. Each name carries significance, representing bravery and loyalty in battle. This list not only honors these men but also illustrates the strength of David's leadership during his reign over Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 11:34 | the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֶלְיַחְבָּא, 'el.yach.Ba'generated
The name אֶלְיַחְבָּא (el-yakh-baw') means 'God hides' or 'divine protector'. It is a proper noun referring to a specific individual known for his valor as one of David's mighty men. The name is derived from the roots for God (H410) and hiding (H2244), indicating a protective aspect.
Eliahba's mention in this context highlights his role as a warrior in David's army, suggesting a connection between his name and his character as a protector in battle.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the name is rendered as Eliahba, consistent across translations like the KJV and ASV, which also maintain the original name without alteration.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of this verse is straightforward, listing names with each name functioning as a noun phrase. The finite verb is implicit, as the verse serves as a catalog of names rather than a complete sentence.
The order of names emphasizes the individuals' identities, with each name presented in a series, showcasing the collective strength of David's mighty men.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֶלְיַחְבָּא as ελιασου, maintaining the name while adapting it to Greek phonetics. This choice indicates a direct correspondence with the Hebrew without altering its meaning.
The other names follow suit, showing a consistent approach in rendering the Hebrew names into Greek, preserving their identities.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 23:32 lists some of King David's mighty warriors. Eliahba, a brave fighter, is from Shaalbin, and he is mentioned alongside his family. This verse highlights the strength and loyalty of those who fought for David.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Eliahba was one of David's mighty warriors, known for his bravery and loyalty.
Shaalbonite refers to an inhabitant of Shaalbin, a place in Israel.
The term 'sons' indicates descendants or family members, highlighting their lineage.
Jonathan, the son of Saul, was a close friend of David, and his name means 'Jehovah has given'.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do you think made Eliahba and the other warriors stand out in David's army?
- How can understanding the backgrounds of these warriors enhance our appreciation for their contributions?
- In what ways do names in the Bible carry deeper meanings or significance?
- How does the loyalty of David's warriors reflect on his leadership as a king?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 23:32 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleEliahba the Shaalbonite,.... Of Shaalboa or Shaaiabin, a city in the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:42; perhaps the Silbonitis of Josephus (p): of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan; in 1 Chronicles 11:34, it is,
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryEliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan - probably from Shaalbin, or Shaalabbin (a city of foxes), in the tribe of Dan
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(32) Of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan.—The preposition of is not in the Hebrew, and should be omitted. For the rest 1 Chronicles 11:34 reads “the sons of Hashem the Gizonite. In both the words the sons of may be an accidental repetition of the last three letters of the preceding word; if not, they should be read as part of the proper name, Jashen (Chronicles Hashem), or Bnejashen (Chronicles Bnehashem) the Gizonite. Jonathan is then a separate name.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges32. the Shaalbonite] of Shaalabbin in the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:42; Judges 1:35; 1 Kings 4:9); perhaps the modern Selbît, 3 miles N. W. of Yâlo (Aijalon), and about 15 miles W. N. W. of Jerusalem. of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite] Of is not in the Heb. text; Chron. reads “the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite.” The word bnê (=sons) seems quite out of place, and must either be omitted as an erroneous repetition of the last three letters of the preceding word, or regarded as a part of the hero’s name. The name of his native place must also be inserted from Chron. Thus we get Jashen (Chron. Hashem), or Bnejashen (Chron. Bnehashem) the…
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
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan
Tyndale line
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Elihaba the Shaalbonite: of the sonnes of Iashen, Ionathan:
Strictly literal
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, [of] the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Elyachba the Sha'albonite, Bne-yashen, Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite;
From the Latin
Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,
Simplified
Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashem; Jonathan,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Jashen the Gunite,
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
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all five words matching in their respective languages, indicating a strong textual consistency.
אֶלְיַחְבָּא֙ הַשַּׁ֣עַלְבֹנִ֔י בְּנֵ֥י יָשֵׁ֖ן יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ ס
5 of the 5 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 23:32
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.
אֶלְיַחְבָּא (el-yakh-baw') refers to Eliahba, a man noted as one of David's mighty warriors during the United Monarchy. The name means 'God will hide' and is derived from the roots for God (H410) and hiding (H2244). This name appears in 2 Samuel 23:32.
אֶלְיַחְבָּא n.pr.m. (God hides) one of David’s chiefs
base
H455 אֶלְיַחְבָּא
455 'Elyachba' el-yakh-baw'
from 410 and 2244; God will hide; Eljachba, an
Israelite:--Eliahbah.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 02244
אֶלְיַחְבָּא (el.yach.ba) — Eliahba.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.23.32
§ Eliahba = "God hides"
one of David's mighty warriors
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(whom God hides), on of the thirty of David’s guard. (2 Samuel 23:32; 1 Chronicles 11:33) (B.C. 1046.)
my God the Father
The Hebrew word שַׁעְלְבֹנִי (*sha'alboniy*) means 'Shaalbonite,' referring to an inhabitant of Shaalbin, a place associated with foxes. It is derived from the root word שַׁעַלְבִים (*sha'alvim*), which is linked to the location Shaalbim. The entries consistently identify this term as a gentilic adjective.
שַׁעַלְבֹנִי adj.gent.
base
H8170 שַׁעַלְבֹנִי
8170 Sha`alboniy shah-al-bo-nee'
patrial from 8169; a Shaalbonite or inhabitant of
Shaalbin:--Shaalbonite.
see HEBREW for 08169
שַׁעַלְבֹנִי (sha.al.vo.ni) — Shaalbonite.
Group of sha.al.vim (שַׁעַלְבִים "Shaalbim" H8169)
§ Shaalbonite, of Shaalbim "place of foxes"
an inhabitant of Shaalbim or Shaalabbin
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
sha-al-bo'-nit, sha-al'-bo-nit (ha-sha`alboni; ho Salaboneites (2Sa 23:32) Codex Vaticanus ho Homei; Codex Alexandrinus ho Salaboni): Eliahba, one of David's heroes, a native of Shaalbon.
See SHAALBIM.
a fox's building
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
See SON, SONS.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יָשֵׁן (Yashen) refers to Jashen, an Israelite mentioned as one of David's heroes in the Old Testament, specifically in 2 Samuel 23:32. The name is associated with the meaning 'sleeping.' Jashen is also referred to as Hashem in 1 Chronicles 11:34.
יָשֵׁן n.pr.m. one of David’s heroes
base
H3464 יָשֵׁן
3464 Yashen yaw-shane'
the same as 3463; Jashen, an Israelite:--Jashen.
see HEBREW for 03463
יָשֵׁן (ya.shen) — Jashen.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.23.32;
also called Hashem at 1Ch.11.34;
Also named: ha.shem (הָשֵׁם "Hashem" H2044)
§ Jashen = "sleeping"
the father of one or more of David's mighty warriors
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
ja'-shen, jash'-en (yashen, "asleep"(?)): Seemingly the father of some of David s thirty valiant men (2Sa 23:32 f). The Massoretic Text reads "Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite, .... " 1Ch 11:33 f has Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite .... " It is clear that "sons of" are a dittography of the last three consonants of the previous word. Septuagint, Lucian in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles has ho Gouni, "the Gunite," for "the Gizonite," perhaps correctly (compare Ge 46:24; Nu 26:48 for "Guni," "Gunite"). So 2Sa 23:32…
Jashen
Sleeping, called also Hashem (1 Chr. 11:34); a person, several of whose sons were in David’s body-guard (2 Sam. 23:32).
(sleeping). Bene-Jashen --"sons of Jashen"-- are named in the catalogue of the heroes of David’s guard in (2 Samuel 23:32) (B.C. 1046.)
→ Father of one of David's heroes 2Sa 23:32
The Hebrew word יְהוֹנָתָן (*Yhownathan*) means 'Jehovah has given' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily Jonathan, the son of King Saul and a close friend of David. The entries detail various figures named Jonathan, including a high priest's son, warriors, and Levites, with notable mentions in Judges and 1 Samuel.
יְהוֹנָתָן, יוֹנָתָן n.pr.m. (י׳ hath given)
son of Saul
son of Abiathar
nephew of David
of David, i.e. his uncle?
one of David’s heroes
one of David’s treasurers
a scribe
Levites
a priest
priest to the tribe of Dan, son of Gershom
a Judaite captain, after fall of Jerus.
a Judaite
father of Ebed
son of Asahel
a priest
son of Joiada
base
H3083 יְהוֹנָתָן, יוֹנָתָן
3083 Yhownathan yeh-ho-naw-thawn'
from 3068 and 5414; Jehovah-given; Jehonathan, the name of
four Israelites:--Jonathan. Compare 3129.
see HEBREW for 03068
see HEBREW for 05414
see HEBREW for 03129
יְהוֹנָתָן (ye.ho.na.tan) — Jonathan.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at Jdg.18.30;
son of: Gershom (H1647)(?)
§ Jonathan or Jehonathan = "Jehovah has given"
1) a son of king Saul and a friend of David
2) a son of the high priest Abiathar and the last descendant of Eli of whom we hear
3) a nephew of David who like David slew a giant of Gath
4) an uncle of David
5) one of David's mighty warriors
6) one of David's treasurers
7) a scribe in the time of Jeremiah
8) a Levite and father of Zechariah, a priest who blew the trumpet at the dedication of the wall
9) a son or descendant of Gershom, the son of Moses, and a priest to the tribe of Dan
10) a son of Kareah and a brother of Johanan; a Judaite captain after the fall of Jerusalem
11) another Judaite father of Peleth
12) father of Ebed in the time of Ezra
13) son of Asahel in the time of Ezra
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Jonathan
Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1.) A Levite descended from Gershom (Judg. 18:30). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30. The Rabbins changed this name into Manasseh “to screen the memory of the great lawgiver from the stain of having so unworthy an apostate among his near descendants.” He became priest of the idol image at Dan, and this office continued in his family till the Captivity.
(2.) The eldest son of king Saul, and the bosom friend of David. He is first mentioned when he was about thirty years of age, some time after his father’s accession to the throne (1 Sam. 13:2). Like his father, he was a man of great strength and activity (
that is, "the gift of Jehovah, " the eldest son of King Saul. (B.C. about 1095-1056.) He was a man of great strength and activity. (2 Samuel 1:23) He was also famous as a warrior, (1 Chronicles 12:2) as is shown by the courage he showing in attacking the garrison of the Philistines, in company with is armor-bearer only, slaying twenty men and putting an army to flight. (1 Samuel 14:6-16) During the pursuit, Jonathan, who had not heard of the rash curse, ch. (1 Samuel 14:24) which Saul invoked on any one who ate before the evening, tasted the honey which lay on the ground. Saul would have sacrificed him; but the people interposed in behalf of the hero of that great day, and…
1. A Levite, son of Gershom, and grandson of Moses, who after the death of Joshua impiously served as a priest, first to Micah, and then to the Danites in Laish or Dan, where his posterity succeeded him until the captivity, Jud 17:1-18:31.
2. The eldest son of Saul, and one of the loveliest characters in Old Testament history. The narrative of his brilliant exploit in Michmash, 1Sa 13:1-14:52, illustrates his pious faith, his bravery, (see also 1Sa 13:3) and the favor borne him by the people, who would not suffer him to be put to death in consequence of Saul’s foolish vow. This valiant and generous prince loved David as his own soul, 1Sa 18:1-4 19:2 20:1-42; and though…
given of God