The Meaning of 2 Samuel 8:2 Explained

2 Samuel 8:2

KJV: And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

YLT: And he smiteth Moab, and measureth them with a line, causing them to lie down on the earth, and he measureth two lines to put to death, and the fulness of the line to keep alive, and the Moabites are to David for servants, bearers of a present.

Darby: And he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

ASV: And he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he smote  Moab,  and measured  them with a line,  casting them down  to the ground;  even with two  lines  measured  he to put to death,  and with one full  line  to keep alive.  And [so] the Moabites  became David's  servants,  [and] brought  gifts. 

What does 2 Samuel 8:2 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 8:2 mean?

And he defeated - Moab and he measured them off with a line Forcing down them to the ground and he measured off [with] two lines those to be put to death and with one full line those to be kept alive So became the Moabites of David servants [and] brought tribute
וַיַּ֣ךְ אֶת־ מוֹאָ֗ב וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤ם בַּחֶ֙בֶל֙ הַשְׁכֵּ֣ב אוֹתָ֣ם אַ֔רְצָה וַיְמַדֵּ֤ד שְׁנֵֽי־ חֲבָלִים֙ לְהָמִ֔ית וּמְלֹ֥א הַחֶ֖בֶל לְהַחֲי֑וֹת וַתְּהִ֤י מוֹאָב֙ לְדָוִ֔ד לַעֲבָדִ֖ים נֹשְׂאֵ֥י מִנְחָֽה

וַיַּ֣ךְ  And  he  defeated 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
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.
מוֹאָ֗ב  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤ם  and  he  measured  them  off 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: מָדַד  
Sense: to measure, stretch.
בַּחֶ֙בֶל֙  with  a  line 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶבֶל 
Sense: a cord, rope, territory, band, company.
הַשְׁכֵּ֣ב  Forcing  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
אַ֔רְצָה  to  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וַיְמַדֵּ֤ד  and  he  measured  off 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָדַד  
Sense: to measure, stretch.
שְׁנֵֽי־  [with]  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
חֲבָלִים֙  lines 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֶבֶל 
Sense: a cord, rope, territory, band, company.
לְהָמִ֔ית  those  to  be  put  to  death 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וּמְלֹ֥א  and  with  one  full 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מְלֹא  
Sense: fullness, that which fills.
הַחֶ֖בֶל  line 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶבֶל 
Sense: a cord, rope, territory, band, company.
לְהַחֲי֑וֹת  those  to  be  kept  alive 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
וַתְּהִ֤י  So  became 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מוֹאָב֙  the  Moabites 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
לְדָוִ֔ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
לַעֲבָדִ֖ים  servants 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
נֹשְׂאֵ֥י  [and]  brought 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
מִנְחָֽה  tribute 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.