The Meaning of 2 Samuel 16:22 Explained

2 Samuel 16:22

KJV: So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

YLT: And they spread out for Absalom the tent on the roof, and Absalom goeth in unto the concubines of his father before the eyes of all Israel.

Darby: So they spread a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

ASV: So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So they spread  Absalom  a tent  upon the top of the house;  and Absalom  went in  unto his father's  concubines  in the sight  of all Israel. 

What does 2 Samuel 16:22 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 16:13-23 - The True King's Loyal Friend
There are always some alleviations in our trials. Every cloud is edged with a silver or golden fringe. Shimei may curse, but Ittai swears allegiance; Zadok and Abiathar forget their ancient rivalry in a common sorrow; Ahithophel's defection may cut us to the quick, but Hushai is willing to plead our cause.
Beware of any advice which complies with and gratifies the impulses of your own lower nature. He who begins by counseling you to do what is morally wrong can never be trusted as an adviser in matters that require consummate prudence. He is no oracle of God who does not take his stand on righteousness and purity. "The wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable,"¦ and without hypocrisy," James 3:17. Let us not run hither and thither to seek counsel of man. If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not. The one characteristic of a heaven-guided man is his calm decision and deliberateness. They that believe do not make haste! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 16

1  Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master's inheritance
5  At Bahurim, Shimei curses David
9  David with patience abstains, and restrains others, from revenge
15  Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom's counsel
20  Ahithophel's counsel

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 16:22 mean?

So they pitched for Absalom a tent on the top of the house and went in Absalom to concubines of his father in the sight of all Israel
וַיַּטּ֧וּ לְאַבְשָׁל֛וֹם הָאֹ֖הֶל עַל־ הַגָּ֑ג וַיָּבֹ֤א אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־ פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יו לְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וַיַּטּ֧וּ  So  they  pitched 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
לְאַבְשָׁל֛וֹם  for  Absalom 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
הָאֹ֖הֶל  a  tent 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
הַגָּ֑ג  the  top  of  the  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּג  
Sense: roof, top, housetop.
וַיָּבֹ֤א  and  went  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣י  concubines 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: פִּלֶגֶשׁ  
Sense: concubine, paramour.
אָבִ֔יו  of  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
לְעֵינֵ֖י  in  the  sight 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.