2 Samuel 15:4

Authorized King James Version

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם
H53
Absalom
abshalom, a son of david; also (the fuller form) a later israelite
#3
מִי
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
#4
יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי
moreover Oh that I were made
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#5
שֹׁפֵ֖ט
judge
to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
#6
בָּאָ֑רֶץ
in the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#7
וְעָלַ֗י
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#8
יָב֥וֹא
might come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#9
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#10
אִ֛ישׁ
that every man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#11
אֲשֶֽׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
יִֽהְיֶה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#13
לּוֹ
H0
#14
רִ֥יב
which hath any suit
a contest (personal or legal)
#15
וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט
or cause
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
#16
וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃
unto me and I would do him justice
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)

Analysis

Within the broader context of 2 Samuel, this passage highlights salvation through universal language and absolute statements. The theological weight of justice connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about justice, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of 2 Samuel.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood justice. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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