The Meaning of 2 Samuel 8:17 Explained

2 Samuel 8:17

KJV: And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

YLT: and Zadok son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech son of Abiathar, are priests, and Seraiah is scribe,

Darby: and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was scribe;

ASV: and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Zadok  the son  of Ahitub,  and Ahimelech  the son  of Abiathar,  [were] the priests;  and Seraiah  [was] the scribe; 

What does 2 Samuel 8:17 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 8:1-18 - Victorious On Every Side
Twice in this chapter we are told that the Lord gave victory to David "whithersoever he went," 2 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 8:14. Indeed, he was more than a conqueror, for he obtained not only victory but the spoils of his foes, of which he afterward made large donations to the house of God. We are reminded of those great words: "Now thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ;" and, "They also shall overcome that are with Him [1], called and chosen and faithful," 2 Corinthians 2:14 and Revelation 17:14, r.v.
Never in this world shall we be able to lay down our weapons. Often temptations that we thought had passed out of our lives, will revive in their old vigor and present themselves with even greater subtlety and force. Resolutions and vows will fail us. We shall be constantly kept in mind of our weakness and dependence. The only victory which is permanent is our faith, which receives from Him what we cannot achieve for ourselves. It is a very humbling experience, but it is our safeguard against overweening pride. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 8

1  David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites
3  He smites Hadadezer, and the Syrians
9  Toi sends Joram with presents to bless him
11  David dedicates the presents and the spoil to God
14  He puts garrisons in Edom
16  David's officers

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

and Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech of Abiathar [were] the priests and Seraiah [was] the scribe
וְצָד֧וֹק בֶּן־ אֲחִיט֛וּב וַאֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ אֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִ֑ים וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה סוֹפֵֽר

וְצָד֧וֹק  and  Zadok 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צָדֹוק  
Sense: the high priest, son of Ahitub of the house of Eleazar the son of Aaron, and th in descent from Aaron; joined David after Saul’s death and supported him against Absalom and Adonijah; anointed Solomon as king.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲחִיט֛וּב  of  Ahitub 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִיטוּב  
Sense: a grandson of Eli.
וַאֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ  and  Ahimelech 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: a priest murdered by Doeg at Saul’s command, for supposedly assisting David.
אֶבְיָתָ֖ר  of  Abiathar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיָתָר  
Sense: priest, son of Ahitub (Ahimelech), faithful to David, but later rebelled with Adonijah.
כֹּהֲנִ֑ים  [were]  the  priests 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה  and  Seraiah  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׂרָיָה 
Sense: the scribe or secretary of David.
סוֹפֵֽר  the  scribe 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.