The Meaning of 2 Samuel 15:32 Explained

2 Samuel 15:32

KJV: And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

YLT: And it cometh to pass, David hath come unto the top, where he boweth himself to God, and lo, to meet him is Hushai the Archite, his coat rent, and earth on his head;

Darby: And it came to pass, when David had come to the summit, where he worshipped God, that behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

ASV: And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top of the ascent , where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, that [when] David  was come  to the top  [of the mount], where he worshipped  God,  behold, Hushai  the Archite  came to meet  him with his coat  rent,  and earth  upon his head: 

What does 2 Samuel 15:32 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 15:32 mean?

and it came to pass David when had come to the top [of the mountain] where he worshiped in it God and there was coming to meet him Hushai the Archite torn with his robe and dust on his head
וַיְהִ֤י דָוִד֙ בָּ֣א עַד־ הָרֹ֔אשׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־ יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֤ה לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י קָר֙וּעַ֙ כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־ רֹאשֽׁוֹ

וַיְהִ֤י  and  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
דָוִד֙  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בָּ֣א  when  had  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הָרֹ֔אשׁ  the  top  [of  the  mountain] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
אֲשֶֽׁר־  where 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה  he  worshiped 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
שָׁ֖ם  in  it 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
לֵאלֹהִ֑ים  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְהִנֵּ֤ה  and  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
לִקְרָאתוֹ֙  coming  to  meet  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
חוּשַׁ֣י  Hushai 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּשַׁי  
Sense: an Archite, a friend of David.
הָאַרְכִּ֔י  the  Archite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְכִּי  
Sense: referring to the home city of Hushai.
קָר֙וּעַ֙  torn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: קָרַע  
Sense: to tear, tear in pieces.
כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ  with  his  robe 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כֻּתֹּנֶת  
Sense: tunic, under-garment.
וַאֲדָמָ֖ה  and  dust 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
רֹאשֽׁוֹ  his  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.