The Meaning of 2 Samuel 15:27 Explained

2 Samuel 15:27

KJV: The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

YLT: And the king saith unto Zadok the priest, 'Art thou a seer? turn back to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons with you;

Darby: And the king said to Zadok the priest, Thou art the seer: return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

ASV: The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The king  said  also unto Zadok  the priest,  [Art not] thou a seer?  return  into the city  in peace,  and your two  sons  with you, Ahimaaz  thy son,  and Jonathan  the son  of Abiathar. 

What does 2 Samuel 15:27 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 15:24-37 - The Friends Of The Fleeing King
Outside the story of our Lord, the Bible records nothing more admirable than David's behavior as he passed through this thicket of thorns. He never appeared to better advantage than during those awful days. Tribulation had wrought patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and his hope was destined not to be ashamed. The psalms in which he embalms these experiences are the heritage of the saints. Among them are Psalms 3:1-8; Psalms 4:1-8; Psalms 26:1-12; Psalms 27:1-14; Psalms 28:1-9, and probably 62. The procession reminds us of another-only that was still more sorrowful-led by his Son and Lord, Matthew 26:1-75.
Adversity sifts out the false from the true, the spurious from the genuine. The trusted counselor turns traitor, 2 Samuel 15:31; but against this must be set the loyalty of Zadok and Abiathar, and the devotion of Hushai. There are indications that Bathsheba was Ahithophel's granddaughter. This would explain why Absalom sent for him, why he was so bitter, and why he committed suicide. The Cross has been the touchstone of trial to myriads! Have you been true to your exiled King? Let us go forth to Him without the camp, bearing his reproach! Hebrews 13:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 15

1  Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel
7  By pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron
10  He makes there a great conspiracy
13  David upon the news flees from Jerusalem
19  Ittai will leave him
24  Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark
30  David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping,
31  He curses Ahithophel's counsel
32  Hushai is sent back with instructions

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 15:27 mean?

And said the king to Zadok the priest [Are not] a seer you Return to the city in peace and Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar Two your sons with you
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ צָד֣וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֔ן ؟ הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה אַתָּ֔ה שֻׁ֥בָה הָעִ֖יר בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ בִּנְךָ֜ וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־ אֶבְיָתָ֛ר שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אִתְּכֶֽם

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
צָד֣וֹק  Zadok 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צָדֹוק  
Sense: the high priest, son of Ahitub of the house of Eleazar the son of Aaron, and th in descent from Aaron; joined David after Saul’s death and supported him against Absalom and Adonijah; anointed Solomon as king.
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
؟ הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה  [Are  not]  a  seer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
שֻׁ֥בָה  Return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
הָעִ֖יר  to  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
בְּשָׁל֑וֹם  in  peace 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ  and  Ahimaaz 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִימַעַץ  
Sense: father-in-law of Saul.
בִּנְךָ֜  your  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן  and  Jonathan 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹונָתָן  
Sense: a son of king Saul and a friend of David.
בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֶבְיָתָ֛ר  of  Abiathar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיָתָר  
Sense: priest, son of Ahitub (Ahimelech), faithful to David, but later rebelled with Adonijah.
שְׁנֵ֥י  Two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בְנֵיכֶ֖ם  your  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אִתְּכֶֽם  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.