The Meaning of 2 Samuel 4:11 Explained

2 Samuel 4:11

KJV: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

YLT: Also -- when wicked men have slain the righteous man in his own house, on his bed; and now, do not I require his blood of your hand, and have taken you away from the earth?'

Darby: how much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? and should I not now demand his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

ASV: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How much more, when wicked  men  have slain  a righteous  person  in his own house  upon his bed?  shall I not therefore now require  his blood  of your hand,  and take you away  from the earth? 

What does 2 Samuel 4:11 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 4:1-12 - Another Treacherous Deed And Its Penalty
Abner's death rendered hopeless the cause of Ish-bosheth. Two captains incurred lasting shame and deserved punishment by their dastardly act of murder. Their act was the more despicable because of their prince's trust.
How little do coarse natures understand the workings of a really religious nature! These men knew that, if they were in David's place, nothing would please them better than the removal of the last obstacle to the throne. They reasoned that David would feel thus and reward them munificently. But to their astonishment, he turned on them with honest indignation. We must dare to act apart from self-interest, as in the light and fire of the Eternal Throne.
Notice David's devout spirit. He ascribed his redemption to God's tender mercy, 2 Samuel 4:9. His first thought was always of God's love and grace and help. Ah, Christian soul, you, too, will one day attain the sunny heights, standing on which you also will be able to say, "He hath redeemed my soul from all adversity." The night may be long, but the day-spring is at hand. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 4

1  The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner
2  Baanah and Rechab slay Ish-Bosheth, and bring his head to Hebron
9  David causes them to be slain, and Ish-Bosheth's head to be buried

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 4:11 mean?

how much more when men wicked have killed - a person righteous in his own house on his bed therefore now shall not I require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth
אַ֞ף כִּֽי־ אֲנָשִׁ֣ים רְשָׁעִ֗ים הָרְג֧וּ אֶת־ אִישׁ־ צַדִּ֛יק בְּבֵית֖וֹ עַל־ ؟ מִשְׁכָּב֑וֹ וְעַתָּ֗ה הֲל֨וֹא אֲבַקֵּ֤שׁ דָּמוֹ֙ מִיֶּדְכֶ֔ם וּבִעַרְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִן־ ؟ הָאָֽרֶץ

אַ֞ף  how  much  more 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
אֲנָשִׁ֣ים  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
רְשָׁעִ֗ים  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
הָרְג֧וּ  have  killed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
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.
אִישׁ־  a  person 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
צַדִּ֛יק  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
בְּבֵית֖וֹ  in  his  own  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
؟ מִשְׁכָּב֑וֹ  his  bed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּב  
Sense: a lying down, couch, bier, act of lying.
וְעַתָּ֗ה  therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
הֲל֨וֹא  shall  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֲבַקֵּ֤שׁ  I  require 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
דָּמוֹ֙  his  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
מִיֶּדְכֶ֔ם  at  your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וּבִעַרְתִּ֥י  and  remove 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּעַר 
Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.
؟ הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.