2 Samuel 17:10
in 2 Samuel 17Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men.
KJV
And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
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This verse in 2 Samuel 17
Commentary
5 notes on this verseAnd he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt,.... That is, whoever should hear of Absalom's forces, or a part of them, being routed, would be intimidated, though ever so courageous, or of such a lion-like temper and disposition; and even Ahithophel himself, notwithstanding all his boasted courage, his heart would fail, he would melt like water (h), Jos 7:5; should he meet with such a rebuff at first setting out.
This site's exposition
the advice of Ahithophel is not sound
on 2 Samuel 17:7-13
Hushai limits his objection to one occasion: “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound”. He urges a levy of all Israel “from Dan to Beersheba” with Absalom himself at its head. Such a levy takes time, and time is what David needs.
This site's exposition
the heart of a lion
Hushai plays on fear of a first defeat. John Gill sets the melting heart beside Israel's panic after Ai at Joshua 7:5 and suggests the barb reaches even Ahithophel's boasted courage. Matthew Henry adds that Absalom's men were raw recruits facing angry veterans.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
One of them would chase a thousand. [3.] They were all exasperated against Absalom, who was the author of all this mischief, were chafed in their minds, and would fight with the utmost fury; so that, what with their courage, and what with their rage, there would be no standing before them, especially for such raw soldiers as Absalom's generally were.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But his dexterity was chiefly displayed in that part of his counsel which recommended a general levy throughout the country; and that Absalom should take command of it in person--thereby flattering at once the pride and ambition of the usurper. The bait was caught by the vainglorious and wicked prince.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Even if he is a soldier. That person who hears [about the disaster] even if he is a soldier and his heart is like that of a lion his heart will surely melt in fear and trepidation.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 7 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
21 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְה֣וּא | vehu' | and he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| גַם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| בֶּן־ | ben- | a son of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| חַ֗יִל | chayil | strength | H2428 → | 246 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | whom | H834 → | 5497 times |
| לִבּ֛וֹ | libo | heart his | H3820 → | 595 times |
| כְּלֵ֥ב | kelev | [is] like [the] heart of | H3820 → | 595 times |
| הָאַרְיֵ֖ה | haaryeh | <the> lion | H738 → | 80 times |
| הִמֵּ֣ס | himes | surely <melt> | H4549 → | |
| יִמָּ֑ס | yimas | he will melt | H4549 → | |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יֹדֵ֤עַ | yodea' | [is] knowing | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| כִּי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| גִבּ֣וֹר | gibor | [is] a warrior | H1368 → | 158 times |
| אָבִ֔יךָ | ʾavikha | father your | H1 → | 1212 times |
| וּבְנֵי־ | uvenei- | and [are] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| חַ֖יִל | chayil | strength | H2428 → | 246 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אִתּֽוֹ׃ | ʾito | [are] with him | H854 → | 929 times |
וְה֣וּאand he
vehu'H1931 →1879 times
גַם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
בֶּן־a son of
ben-H1121 →4930 times
חַ֗יִלstrength
chayilH2428 →246 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhom
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
לִבּ֛וֹheart his
liboH3820 →595 times
כְּלֵ֥ב[is] like [the] heart of
kelevH3820 →595 times
הָאַרְיֵ֖ה<the> lion
haaryehH738 →80 times
הִמֵּ֣סsurely <melt>
himesH4549 →
יִמָּ֑סhe will melt
yimasH4549 →
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יֹדֵ֤עַ[is] knowing
yodea'H3045 →945 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
כִּי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
גִבּ֣וֹר[is] a warrior
giborH1368 →158 times
אָבִ֔יךָfather your
ʾavikhaH1 →1212 times
וּבְנֵי־and [are] sons of
uvenei-H1121 →4930 times
חַ֖יִלstrength
chayilH2428 →246 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
אִתּֽוֹ׃[are] with him
ʾitoH854 →929 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 49:9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
it leads to
- Numbers 24:9
He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
- Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
- Numbers 23:24
Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
- Micah 5:8
Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which…
- Numbers 24:9
Through
Hebrews 11:34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 17:51–52
David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him; and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that…
- 2 Kings 6:16–18
“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
- Judges 15:8
And he struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter, and then went down and stayed in the cave at the rock of Etam.
- 1 Samuel 17:51–52
Through
Exodus 15:15Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,
it leads to
- Joshua 5:1
Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until…
- Joshua 5:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Samuel
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.