2 Samuel 5:15 — Word Study
WLCוְיִבְחָ֥ר וֶאֱלִישׁ֖וּעַ וְנֶ֥פֶג וְיָפִֽיעַ׃
BSAIbharYibchar [a son of King David] ElishuaʼĔlîyshûwaʻ [born during David's reign] NephegNepheg [one of David's sons, a member of the royal family] JaphiaYâphîyaʻ [a son of King David, also a place in Palestine]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְיִבְחָ֥ר | and Ibhar | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וֶאֱלִישׁ֖וּעַ | and Elishua | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְנֶ֥פֶג | and Nepheg | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וְיָפִֽיעַ׃ | and Japhia | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, |
| KJV | Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, |
| ASV | and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, |
| YLT | and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, |
| WEB | Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, |
| BBE | And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia |
All translations agree on the names listed in this verse.
The verse consists of a single main clause listing the names of David's sons.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 5:15
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 Names of David's Sonsgenerated
2 Samuel 5:15 lists the names of some of King David's sons born during his reign in Jerusalem. This verse is part of a genealogical account that emphasizes the royal lineage and the significance of these individuals in the history of Israel. The names mentioned here are part of a larger list that includes other sons of David, as seen in 2 Samuel 5:14 and 2 Samuel 5:16.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 3:6 | David’s other sons were Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 14:5 | Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יִבְחָר, yivchargenerated
The name יִבְחָר (yivchar) refers to Ibhar, one of King David's sons. It is derived from the root meaning 'choice,' indicating a selected or chosen individual. The parsing shows it as a proper masculine noun, identifying Ibhar as a male descendant of David, part of the royal family.
The lexical entries consistently affirm Ibhar's connection to the tribe of Judah during the United Monarchy, highlighting his significance in the lineage of Israel's kings.
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 this verse is straightforward, consisting of a series of noun phrases linked by conjunctions: וְ (and). Each name is presented as a proper noun, indicating the sons of David in a list format.
The grammar tree shows a simple clause structure, emphasizing the names as the primary focus of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the conjunction וְ as καὶ (and), maintaining the list format of the names. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew text, suggesting a faithful rendering of the original names.
The consistency in naming across both texts indicates a shared understanding of these individuals' significance in the biblical narrative.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 5:15 lists four of King David's sons: Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, and Japhia. These names highlight David's royal lineage and his family during his reign in Jerusalem.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
They were sons of King David, as noted in 2 Samuel 5:15, and are part of the royal family.
Ibhar means 'Jehovah chooses' and signifies a chosen individual in David's lineage.
Yes, Elishua is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 14:5.
These names represent the continuation of David's royal line and highlight the importance of his descendants in Israel's history.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the names of David's sons about his family and legacy?
- How does the lineage of David connect to the broader narrative of Israel's history?
- In what ways do the names of David's sons reflect the values and beliefs of their time?
- How can understanding the genealogy of David enhance our reading of the biblical narrative?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 5:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIbhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia. Elishua is called Elishama, 1 Chronicles 3:6.
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Samuel 5:15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,Ver. 15. And Elishua.] Called also Elishama; another of his sons being likewise called by the same name, probably because the former was dead.
Read John Trapp on 2 Samuel 5 →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
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
Tyndale line
Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
and Ibhar, and Elishua; and Nepheg, and Japhia;
Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Iaphia,
Strictly literal
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
And Yibchar, and Elishua', and Nepheg, and Yaphia',
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
From the Latin
And Jebahar, and Elisua, and Nepheg,
Simplified
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia
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 listed in this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence to the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls also include these names, although one name is partly restored, indicating some editorial work in the scrolls.
וְיִבְחָ֥ר וֶאֱלִישׁ֖וּעַ וְנֶ֥פֶג וְיָפִֽיעַ׃
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.
ויבחר [ואלישוע] [ואליפלט] [ונפג] [ויפיע]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
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 5:15
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.
יִבְחָר (yibchar) refers to a man named Ibhar, one of King David's sons, noted in 2 Samuel 5:15. The name means 'Jehovah chooses' and is derived from the root meaning 'choice.' The entries consistently identify Ibhar as a member of the tribe of Judah during the United Monarchy.
יִבְחָר n.pr.m. (He (Ēl or י׳) chooses) son of David
base
H2984 יִבְחָר
2984 Yibchar yib-khar'
from 977; choice; Jibchar, an Israelite:--Ibhar.
see HEBREW for 0977
יִבְחָר (yiv.char) — Ibhar.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.5.15;
son of: David (H1732);
brother of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N)
§ Ibhar = "Jehovah chooses"
one of the sons of David, born in Jerusalem
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
ib'-har (yibhchar, "He (God) chooses"; in Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, Ebear, in Chronicles, Codex Vaticanus, Baar; Codex Alexandrinus, Iebaar): One of David's sons, born at Jerusalem; son of a wife and not of a concubine (1Ch 3:6; 2Sa 5:15); otherwise unknown. His name in all three lists follows Solomon's.' In the Peshitta, "Juchabar."
Ibhar
Chosen, one of David’s sons (1 Chr. 3:6; 2 Sam. 5:15).
(whom God chooses), one of the sons of David, (2 Samuel 5:15; 1 Chronicles 3:6; 14:6) (born in Jerusalem. B.C. after 1044.)
election; he that is chosen
אֱלִישׁוּעַ (Eliyshuwa) refers to a son of King David, mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:15. The name can mean 'God of supplication' or 'God is wealth.' It is derived from the roots for 'God' (H410) and 'riches' or 'salvation' (H7769). Elishua is also associated with the name Elishama in 1 Chronicles 3:6.
אֱלִישׁוּעַ n.pr.m. (God is salvation; or is opulence) son of David
base
H474 אֱלִישׁוּעַ
474 'Eliyshuwa` el-ee-shoo'-ah
from 410 and 7769; God of supplication (or of riches);
Elishua, the son of King David:--Elishua.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 07769
אֱלִישׁוּעַ (e.li.shu.a) — Elishua.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.5.15;
son of: David (H1732);
brother of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N); also called Elishama at 1Ch.3.6;
Also named: e.li.sha.ma (אֱלִישָׁמָע "Elishama" H0476M)
§ Elishua = "my God is wealth" or "God is salvation"
a son of David
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
Elishua
God his salvation, a son of David, 2 Sam. 5:15 = Elishama, 1 Chr. 3:6.
(God is my salvation), one of David’s sons, born after his settlement in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 5:15; 1 Chronicles 14:5) (B.C. 1044.)
God is my salvation
נֶ֫פֶג (Nepheg) refers to two individuals in the Old Testament: a Levite, son of Izhar, mentioned in Exodus 6:21, and a son of David. The name likely means 'sprout.' The entries indicate that Nepheg is associated with both the tribe of Levi during the Exodus and the lineage of David in Jerusalem.
נֶ֫פֶג n.pr.m.
a Levite
a son of David
base
H5298 נֶ֫פֶג . a Levite
. a son of David
5298 Nepheg neh'-feg
from an unused root probably meaning to spring forth; a
sprout; Nepheg, the name of two Israelites:--Nepheg.
נֶ֫פֶג (ne.pheg) — Nepheg.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Exo.6.21;
son of: Izhar (H3324);
brother of: Korah (H7141I), Zichri (H2147) and Shelomith (H8019A)
§ Nepheg = "sprout"
1) one of sons of Izhar and grandson of Kohath of the tribe of Levi in the time of the exodus
2) one of the sons of David born to him at Jerusalem
נֶ֫פֶג (ne.pheg) — Nepheg.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.5.15;
son of: David (H1732);
brother of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N)
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
(sprout). One of the sons of Izhar the son of Kohath. (Esther 6:21) One of David’s sons born to him in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 5:15; 1 Chronicles 3:7; 14:6)
weak; slacked
יָפִיעַ (Yaphiya`) refers to Japhia, which means "shining." It encompasses a king of Lachish during Joshua's conquest, a son of David, and a town on the border of Zebulun and Issachar, possibly modern 'Yafa.' The entries consistently identify these aspects without significant disagreement.
יָפִיעַ n.pr.pers. et loc.
n.pr.m.
a king of Lachish
a son of David
n.pr.loc. on border of Zebulun
base
H3309 יָפִיעַ
3309 Yaphiya` yaw-fee'-ah
from 3313; bright; Japhia, the name of a Canaanite, an
Israelite, and a place in Palestine:--Japhia.
see HEBREW for 03313
יָפִיעַ (ya.phi.a) — Japhia.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at Jos.10.3
§ Japhia = "shining"
1) a town on the border of Zebulun and Issachar
1a) perhaps modern 'Yafa'
2) the king of Lachish at the time of the conquest of Canaan by Joshua
3) a son of David by a concubine
יָפִיעַ (ya.phi.a) — Japhia.
§ Japhia = "shining"
a town on the border of Zebulun and Issachar
perhaps modern 'Yafa'
יָפִיעַ (ya.phi.a) — Japhia.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.5.15;
son of: David (H1732);
brother of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah…
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
Japhia
Splendid. (1.) The king of Lachish, who joined in the confederacy against Joshua (Josh. 10:3), and was defeated and slain. In one of the Amarna tablets he speaks of himself as king of Gezer. Called also Horam (Josh. 10:33).
(2.) One of the sons of David (2 Sam. 5:15), born in Jerusalem.
(3.) A town in the southern boundary of Zebulum (Josh. 19:12); now Yafa, 2 miles south-west of Nazareth.
(splendid). King of Lachish at the time of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. (Joshua 10:3) (B.C. 1450.) One of the sons of David born to him in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 5:15; 1 Chronicles 3:7; 14:6) (B.C. 1046.)
enlightening; appearing