The Meaning of 2 Samuel 19:37 Explained

2 Samuel 19:37

KJV: Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

YLT: Let, I pray thee, thy servant turn back again, and I die in mine own city, near the burying-place of my father and of my mother, -- and lo, thy servant Chimham, let him pass over with my lord the king, and do thou to him that which is good in thine eyes.'

Darby: Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham: let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what seems good to thee.

ASV: Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let thy servant,  I pray thee, turn back again,  that I may die  in mine own city,  [and be buried] by the grave  of my father  and of my mother.  But behold thy servant  Chimham;  let him go over  with my lord  the king;  and do  to him what shall seem good  unto thee. 

What does 2 Samuel 19:37 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 19:31-43 - Returning Over Jordan
David would willingly have taken Barzillai to his palace, but the famous Gileadite respectfully declined the invitation, alleging the infirmities of old age. However, the overtures which he refused for himself he gladly accepted for his son Chimham, who accompanied the king to the city and was treated with every consideration. In himself, the youth had no claims upon David, but he stood in the merits of another-his father. His title to the king's favor consisted entirely in his being the son of Barzillai. Similarly the believer in Jesus, who is united to Him by a living faith, is "accepted in the beloved." We are as near and as dear to God as Jesus is, and for His sake may stand in the palace.
The invitation for David's return had originated in the ten tribes, but, through some mismanagement, the actual welcome was given by Judah. This led to a renewed manifestation of the rivalry that at length brought about the division of the kingdom. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 19

1  Joab causes the king to cease his mourning
9  The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back
11  David sends to the priest to incite them of Judah
18  Shimei is pardoned
24  Mephibosheth excused
32  Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family
41  The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 19:37 mean?

let turn back again please your servant that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother But here is your servant Chimham let him cross over with my lord the king and do for him - what is good in your sight -
יָֽשָׁב־ נָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְאָמֻ֣ת בְּעִירִ֔י עִ֛ם קֶ֥בֶר אָבִ֖י וְאִמִּ֑י וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ עַבְדְּךָ֣ כִמְהָ֗ם יַֽעֲבֹר֙ עִם־ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַעֲשֵׂה־ ל֕וֹ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ ט֖וֹב בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ ס

יָֽשָׁב־  let  turn  back  again 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
נָ֤א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
עַבְדְּךָ֙  your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
וְאָמֻ֣ת  that  I  may  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בְּעִירִ֔י  in  my  own  city 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
עִ֛ם  near 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
קֶ֥בֶר  the  grave 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֶבֶר  
Sense: grave, sepulchre, tomb.
אָבִ֖י  of  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וְאִמִּ֑י  and  mother 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.
וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀  But  here  is 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
עַבְדְּךָ֣  your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
כִמְהָ֗ם  Chimham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כִּמְהָם 
Sense: a follower and probably a son of Barzillai the Gileadite who returned from beyond Jordan with David; apparently David bestowed on him a possession in Bethlehem on which in later times an inn was standing.
יַֽעֲבֹר֙  let  him  cross  over 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֲדֹנִ֣י  my  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וַעֲשֵׂה־  and  do 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
ל֕וֹ  for  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אֵ֥ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
ט֖וֹב  is  good 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ  in  your  sight 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation