The Meaning of 2 Samuel 23:9 Explained

2 Samuel 23:9

KJV: And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

YLT: And after him is Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi, of the three mighty men with David; in their exposing themselves among the Philistines -- they have been gathered there to battle, and the men of Israel go up --

Darby: And after him, Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of an Ahohite: he was one of the three mighty men with David, when they had defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone up.

ASV: And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And after  him [was] Eleazar  the son  of Dodo  the Ahohite,  [one] of the three  mighty men  with David,  when they defied  the Philistines  [that] were there gathered together  to battle,  and the men  of Israel  were gone away: 

What does 2 Samuel 23:9 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 23:8-17 - David's Mighty Men
David's yearning for the water of the well of Bethlehem was very natural. He could almost see the ancient well-head, where as a lad he had gone with his mother to draw water. In the scorching heat that beat down on the hillside that sultry afternoon, nothing seemed so desirable as a draught from those cool depths. So does the exile yearn for home, and the backslider for his early blessedness. But, thank God, we cannot wish for the Water of Life-if we wish with all our heart-without having it. To wish is to enjoy. Our Mighty Savior has broken through the Philistines, and has won for us access to the springs of eternal blessedness.
It was very noble of David to refuse to drink that which had been obtained at such cost. Self-control and thoughtfulness for others are graces that bind men's hearts to their leaders. Moreover, David's example suggests a quite different call which modern conditions make upon us for the exercise of similar self-control. Should we not refuse to make any use of wine and strong drink which have cost, and are costing, the lives of myriads? God forbid that any of us should enjoy, for our selfish pleasures, the deadliest foe of human happiness, purity and hope. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 23

1  David, in his last words, professes his faith in God's promises
6  The different state of the wicked
8  A catalogue of David's mighty men

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 23:9 mean?

- and after him [was] Eleazar son of Dodo Dodo the son the Ahohite [one] of three - the mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines [who] were gathered there for battle and had retreated the men of Israel
[ואחרו] (וְאַחֲרָ֛יו) אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּן־ [דדי] (דֹּד֖וֹ) בֶּן־ אֲחֹחִ֑י בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה [גברים] (הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים) עִם־ דָּוִ֗ד בְּחָֽרְפָ֤ם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים נֶאֶסְפוּ־ שָׁ֣ם לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

[ואחרו]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: אֲבֵדָה  
Sense: a lost thing, something lost.
(וְאַחֲרָ֛יו)  and  after  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
אֶלְעָזָ֥ר  [was]  Eleazar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶלְעָזָר  
Sense: Additional Information: Eleazar = “God has helped”.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
[דדי]  of  Dodo 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
(דֹּד֖וֹ)  Dodo 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּדִי 
Sense: a man of the tribe of Issachar.
בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲחֹחִ֑י  the  Ahohite 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחֹוחִי  
Sense: one of the clan of Ahoah.
בִּשְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה  [one]  of  three 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
[גברים]  - 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
(הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים)  the  mighty  men 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
דָּוִ֗ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בְּחָֽרְפָ֤ם  when  they  defied 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חָרַף 
Sense: to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid.
בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים  the  Philistines 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
נֶאֶסְפוּ־  [who]  were  gathered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה  for  battle 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ  and  had  retreated 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אִ֥ישׁ  the  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  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.