2 Samuel 15:27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace--you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.

Bible > 2 Samuel > Chapter 15 > Verse 27

◄ 2 Samuel 15:27 ►

New International Version
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons.

New Living Translation
The king also told Zadok the priest, “Look, here is my plan. You and Abiathar should return quietly to the city with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.

English Standard Version
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Berean Standard Bible
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.

King James Bible
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

New King James Version
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

New American Standard Bible
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

NASB 1995
The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

NASB 1977
The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Legacy Standard Bible
The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Amplified Bible
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace [you and Abiathar], and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Christian Standard Bible
The king also said to the priest Zadok, “Look, return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Look, return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.

American Standard Version
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Contemporary English Version
Zadok, you are a good judge of things, so return to the city and don't cause any trouble. Take your son Ahimaaz with you. Abiathar and his son Jonathan will also go back.

English Revised Version
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Aren't you a seer?" the king asked Zadok the priest. "Go back to the city peacefully, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan with you.

Good News Translation
And he went on to say to Zadok, "Look, take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan and go back to the city in peace.

International Standard Version
The king also asked Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer, too? Go back to the city in comfort, along with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan.

Majority Standard Bible
The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.

NET Bible
The king said to Zadok the priest, "Are you a seer? Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar.

New Heart English Bible
And the king said also to Zadok the priest, "Look, you return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Webster's Bible Translation
The king said also to Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

World English Bible
The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the king says to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your son Ahimaaz, and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons with you;

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith unto Zadok the priest, 'Art thou a seer? turn back to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons with you;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will say to Zadok the priest, Thou seest: turn back to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons with you.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to Sadoc the priest: O seer, return into the city in peace: and let Achimaas thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons, be with you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king said to Zadok the priest: “O seer, return into the city in peace. And let your son Ahimaaz, and Jonathan, the son of Abiathar, your two sons, be with you.

New American Bible
The king also said to Zadok the priest: “Look, you and Abiathar return to the city in peace, and both your sons with you, your own son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.

New Revised Standard Version
The king also said to the priest Zadok, “Look, go back to the city in peace, you and Abiathar, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The king said also to Zadok the priest, Return, go to the city in peace, you and your sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Nathan the son of Abiathar.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King said to Tsadoq the Priest: “Return, go to the city in peace, you and Akhimets your son, and Nathan, son of Abiathar, both your sons with you

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
The king said also unto Zadok the priest: 'Seest thou? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king said to Sadoc the priest, Behold, thou shalt return to the city in peace, and Achimaas thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons with you.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

David Flees Jerusalem
…26But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.” 27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace— you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan. 28See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 9:9
(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

1 Kings 2:35
And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

1 Chronicles 15:11-12
David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. / And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.

1 Chronicles 24:31
As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

1 Chronicles 25:1
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

1 Chronicles 26:13-14
They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. / The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.

1 Chronicles 27:5
The third army commander, as chief for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. There were 24,000 men in his division.

2 Chronicles 29:25
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

2 Chronicles 35:15
The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

Nehemiah 12:24
The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

Psalm 78:70-72
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; / from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance. / So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.

Psalm 99:6
Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called to the LORD and He answered.

Jeremiah 29:1
This is the text of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the others Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Ezekiel 44:15
But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD.

Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

Treasury of Scripture

The king said also to Zadok the priest, Are not you a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

a seer

2 Samuel 24:11
For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

1 Samuel 9:9
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

1 Chronicles 25:5
All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

return

2 Samuel 15:34,36
But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel…

2 Samuel 17:17
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

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2 Samuel 15

1. Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel.
7. By pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron
10. He makes there a great conspiracy
13. David upon the news flees from Jerusalem
19. Ittai will leave him
24. Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark
30. David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping,
31. He curses Ahithophel's counsel
32. Hushai is sent back with instructions

Berean Study Bible

The king also said
This phrase introduces King David, the central figure in this narrative. David, a man after God's own heart, is portrayed here in a moment of crisis. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often conveys not just speech but a declaration or command, reflecting David's authority and the weight of his words. Historically, David's leadership is being tested as he faces the rebellion of his son Absalom, and his decisions here are crucial for the future of his kingdom.

to Zadok the priest
Zadok is a significant figure, representing the priestly line and spiritual authority in Israel. The Hebrew name "Zadok" (צָדוֹק) means "righteous" or "just," highlighting his role as a faithful servant of God. In the context of David's reign, Zadok's presence underscores the importance of spiritual guidance and the priesthood's role in supporting the king. Archaeological findings, such as seals and inscriptions, have confirmed the historical presence of priestly families like Zadok's, emphasizing the continuity of religious leadership in ancient Israel.

Do you not see?
This rhetorical question implies a deeper understanding or insight that David expects from Zadok. The Hebrew root for "see" (רָאָה, ra'ah) often denotes perception or discernment beyond physical sight. David is urging Zadok to recognize the broader implications of the situation, possibly hinting at divine providence or the need for strategic wisdom. This phrase invites readers to consider the importance of spiritual insight in times of crisis.

Return to the city in peace
David instructs Zadok to go back to Jerusalem, the city of David, which holds both political and spiritual significance. The Hebrew word for "peace" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom) encompasses not just the absence of conflict but a sense of wholeness and well-being. David's command reflects his desire for stability and order amidst the chaos of Absalom's rebellion. Historically, Jerusalem was the center of worship and governance, and David's decision to send Zadok back underscores the need to maintain continuity and faithfulness in the city's spiritual life.

with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar
The mention of Zadok's sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, highlights the continuity of the priestly line and the importance of family legacy in biblical narratives. Ahimaaz (אֲחִימַעַץ) means "my brother is anger" or "brother of counsel," while Jonathan (יוֹנָתָן) means "Yahweh has given." These names reflect the roles these individuals will play in the unfolding events. By involving the next generation, David ensures that the priestly duties and the support for his reign will continue, emphasizing the theme of faithfulness across generations. This decision also illustrates the strategic use of trusted individuals in maintaining communication and support during times of political upheaval.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27) Art not thou a seer?--The Hebrew is difficult, and must be translated either. Art thou a seer? or, with a very slight change in a vowel, as an address, Thou seer. Zadok is so called because he was now in some sort to fulfil the office of a prophet in guiding David's course, and also in making known to him the events taking place in Jerusalem which would show God's will concerning him. Nothing is said in any part of this narrative of Nathan and Gad, both of whom were certainly still living (2Samuel 24:11; 2Samuel 24:13-14; 1Kings 1:11).

Your two sons with you.--Zadok only has been mentioned, and probably Abiathar was not present at the moment, but David shows by this way of speaking that he means to address them both.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - Art thou (not) a seer? Both the Authorized Version and the Revised Version evade the difficulty of this passage by inserting the word "not." It is one of the merits of the Revised Version that usually it does not take these liberties. But "Art thou a seer?" is meaningless; and the attempts, moreover, to show that Zadok was a seer fail entirely in proof. The receiving revelations by Urim and Thummim was a priestly, and not a prophetic, function. Without altering the text, the words may be correctly translated, "Seest thou?" This was probably a colloquial phrase, of which the Septuagint gives the sense by rendering it in the imperative, "See;" while the Syriac, regarding it as an expletive, boldly omits it.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The king
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

also said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Zadok
צָד֣וֹק (ṣā·ḏō·wq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6659: Zadok -- the name of several Israelites

the priest,
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

“[Are you not] a seer?
הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה (hă·rō·w·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

Return
שֻׁ֥בָה (šu·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to the city
הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

in peace
בְּשָׁל֑וֹם (bə·šā·lō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

with your son
בִּנְךָ֜ (bin·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Ahimaaz
וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ (wa·’ă·ḥî·ma·‘aṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 290: Ahimaaz -- 'my brother is wrath', two Israelites

and Jonathan
וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן (wî·hō·w·nā·ṯān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3083: Jonathan -- 'the LORD has given', the name of a number of Israelites

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Abiathar.
אֶבְיָתָ֛ר (’eḇ·yā·ṯār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 54: Abiathar -- 'the great one is father', an Israelite priest

[You and Abiathar take] your two
שְׁנֵ֥י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

sons
בְנֵיכֶ֖ם (ḇə·nê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

with you.
אִתְּכֶֽם׃ (’it·tə·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

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OT History: 2 Samuel 15:27 The king said also to Zadok (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)