The Meaning of 2 Samuel 8:18 Explained

2 Samuel 8:18

KJV: And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

YLT: and Benaiah son of Jehoiada is over both the Cherethite and the Pelethite, and the sons of David have been ministers.

Darby: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

ASV: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Benaiah  the son  of Jehoiada  [was over] both the Cherethites  and the Pelethites;  and David's  sons  were chief rulers. 

What does 2 Samuel 8:18 Mean?

Context Summary

2Sa 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: 2Sa 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 8:18 mean?

and Benaiah [was over] son of Jehoiada and both the Cherethites and the Pelethites and sons of David chief ministers were -
וּבְנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־ יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וְהַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י וּבְנֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד כֹּהֲנִ֥ים הָיֽוּ פ

וּבְנָיָ֙הוּ֙  and  Benaiah  [was  over] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּנָיָה 
Sense: one of David’s mighty warriors, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, a Levite, set by David over his bodyguard, later having remained faithful to Solomon during Adonijah’s attempt on the crown, was raised into the place of Joab as commander-in-chief of the army.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע  of  Jehoiada 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹויָדָע  
Sense: father of Benaiah, David’s mighty warrior.
וְהַכְּרֵתִ֖י  and  both  the  Cherethites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּרֵתִי  
Sense: a group of foreign mercenary soldiers serving as a bodyguard for king David; also executioners.
וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י  and  the  Pelethites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פְּלֵתִי  
Sense: a collective name for the guardsmen of David.
וּבְנֵ֥י  and  sons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
דָוִ֖ד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
כֹּהֲנִ֥ים  chief  ministers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation