The Meaning of 2 Samuel 17:8 Explained

2 Samuel 17:8

KJV: For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

YLT: And Hushai saith, 'Thou hast known thy father and his men, that they are heroes, and they are bitter in soul as a bereaved bear in a field, and thy father is a man of war, and doth not lodge with the people;

Darby: And Hushai said, Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are of exasperated spirit, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

ASV: Hushai said moreover, Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For, said  Hushai,  thou knowest  thy father  and his men,  that they [be] mighty men,  and they [be] chafed  in their minds,  as a bear  robbed  of her whelps in the field:  and thy father  [is] a man  of war,  and will not lodge  with the people. 

What does 2 Samuel 17:8 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 17:1-14 - Tripped By Flattering Counsel
What a contrast to the plottings of David's foes was his own state of mind, as disclosed in Psalms 3:1-8; Psalms 4:1-8, written at this time! At Jerusalem they were taking counsel against him. Ahithophel describes the deposed king as weary and weak-handed, and shows how easily he may be smitten. Hushai pictures him as chafed and savage. The messengers are hastened on their way, lest he should be swallowed up. But David betakes himself to God.
He knows that God is a Shield unto him, so that there is no need to be afraid of ten thousands of people. He lies down in peace and sleeps, because God makes him to dwell in safety. He knows that God hath set him apart for Himself, and will answer to his call. He said all this, though he knew that these disasters were the result of his sin. But this is the prerogative of all whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sin is covered. Though we continue to blame ourselves, and "go softly" as we remember the past, yet we absolutely accept our Lord's assurances that He will deliver us from the complications caused by our sins, and act as our rearguard against the consequences. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 17

1  Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's
15  Secret intelligence is sent unto David
23  Ahithophel hangs himself
25  Amasa is made captain
27  David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 17:8 mean?

For said Hushai you know - your father and his men that mighty men they [are] and enraged in their minds like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field And your father [is] a man of war and not will camp with the people
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חוּשַׁ֗י אַתָּ֣ה יָ֠דַעְתָּ אֶת־ אָבִ֨יךָ וְאֶת־ אֲנָשָׁ֜יו כִּ֧י גִבֹּרִ֣ים הֵ֗מָּה וּמָרֵ֥י נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ כְּדֹ֥ב שַׁכּ֖וּל בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְאָבִ֙יךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יָלִ֖ין אֶת־ הָעָֽם

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  For  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
חוּשַׁ֗י  Hushai 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּשַׁי  
Sense: an Archite, a friend of David.
יָ֠דַעְתָּ  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אָבִ֨יךָ  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
אֲנָשָׁ֜יו  his  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
כִּ֧י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
גִבֹּרִ֣ים  mighty  men 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
הֵ֗מָּה  they  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
וּמָרֵ֥י  and  enraged 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: מַר 
Sense: bitter, bitterness.
נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙  in  their  minds 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
כְּדֹ֥ב  like  a  bear 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular
Root: דֹּב  
Sense: bear.
שַׁכּ֖וּל  robbed  of  her  cubs 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שַׁכּוּל 
Sense: childless (through bereavement).
בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה  in  the  field 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
וְאָבִ֙יךָ֙  And  your  father  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
אִ֣ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מִלְחָמָ֔ה  of  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
וְלֹ֥א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָלִ֖ין  will  camp 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לוּן 
Sense: to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide.
הָעָֽם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.