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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Bible in Basic English

2 Samuel 14:4

And the woman of Tekoa came to the king, and falling on her face, gave him honour and said, Give me help, O king.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Avenger of Blood;   David;   Dishonesty;   Intercession;   Joab;   Kindness;   Obsequiousness;   Tact;   Tekoah;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Joab;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Allegory;   Mediator, Mediation;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Tekoa, Tekoah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Jonah;   King, Kingship;   Obeisance, Do;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adoration;   Priests and Levites;   Samuel, Books of;   Tekoa;   Wisdom;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Trial-At-Law;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Tekoa, Tekoah ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Absalom;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Tekoa;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Adoration;   Jo'ab;   Law of Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adoration;   Judge;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Poetry;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When the woman from Tekoa came to the king, she fell facedown to the ground, paid homage, and said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”
Hebrew Names Version
When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
King James Version
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
Lexham English Bible
So the Tekoite woman spoke to the king, and she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance. She said, "Help me, O king!"
English Standard Version
When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, "Save me, O king."
New Century Version
So the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground to show respect and said, "My king, help me!"
New English Translation
So the Tekoan woman went to the king. She bowed down with her face to the ground in deference to him and said, "Please help me, O king!"
Amplified Bible
When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she bowed with her face to the ground and lay herself down, and said, "Help, O king."
New American Standard Bible
Now when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, "Help, O king!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the woman of Tekoah spake vnto the king, & fel downe on her face to the ground, and did obeysance, and sayd, Helpe, O King.
Legacy Standard Bible
So the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, and she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself and said, "Save, O king."
Contemporary English Version
The woman from Tekoa went to David. She bowed very low and said, "Your Majesty, please help me!"
Complete Jewish Bible
When the woman of T'koa spoke to the king, she fell down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself, and said, "King, help!"
Darby Translation
And the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, and she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, Save, O king!
Easy-to-Read Version
Then the woman from Tekoa talked to the king. She bowed with her face to the ground. Then she said, "King, please help me!"
George Lamsa Translation
And when the woman of Tekoah came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance and said, Deliver me, O my lord the king.
Good News Translation
The woman went to the king, bowed down to the ground in respect, and said, "Help me, Your Majesty!"
Literal Translation
And the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, and fell on her face to the earth, and bowed and said, Save, O king!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan the woman of Thecoa wolde speake with the kynge, she fell vpon hir face to the grounde, and worshipped, and sayde: Helpe me O kynge.
American Standard Version
And when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when the woman of Thekoa spake with the king, she fell on her face to the grounde, and did obeysaunce, and sayde: Helpe, O king.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and prostrated herself, and said: 'Help, O king.'
King James Version (1611)
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, shee fell on her face to the ground, and did obeysance, and said, Helpe, O king.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
So the woman of Thecoe went in to the king and fell upon her face to the earth, and did him obeisance, and said, Help, O king, help.
English Revised Version
And when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
Berean Standard Bible
When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, "Help me, O king!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor whanne the womman of Thecua hadde entrid to the kyng, sche felde bifor hym on the erthe, and worschipide, and seide, A! kyng, kepe me.
Young's Literal Translation
And the woman of Tekoah speaketh unto the king, and falleth on her face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith, `Save, O king.'
Update Bible Version
And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
World English Bible
When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
New King James Version
And when the woman of Tekoa spoke [fn] to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, "Help, O king!"
New Living Translation
When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face to the ground in deep respect and cried out, "O king! Help me!"
New Life Bible
When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showing honor, and said, "Help, O king."
New Revised Standard
When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when the woman of Tekoa came in unto the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did homage, - and said - Save, O king!
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the woman of Thecua was come in to the king, she fell before him upon the ground, and worshipped, and said: Save me, O king.
Revised Standard Version
When the woman of Teko'a came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king."
THE MESSAGE
The woman of Tekoa went to the king, bowed deeply before him in homage, and said, "O King, help!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself and said, "Help, O king."

Contextual Overview

1 Now it was clear to Joab, the son of Zeruiah, that the king's heart was turning to Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoa and got from there a wise woman, and said to her, Now make yourself seem like one given up to grief, and put on the clothing of sorrow, not using any sweet oil for your body, but looking like one who for a long time has been weeping for the dead: 3 And come to the king and say these words to him. So Joab gave her words to say. 4 And the woman of Tekoa came to the king, and falling on her face, gave him honour and said, Give me help, O king. 5 And the king said to her, What is your trouble? And her answer was, Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead. 6 And I had two sons, and the two of them had a fight in the field, and there was no one to come between them, and one with a blow put the other to death. 7 And now all the family is turned against me, your servant, saying, Give up him who was the cause of his brother's death, so that we may put him to death in payment for the life of his brother, whose life he took; and we will put an end to the one who will get the heritage: so they will put out my last burning coal, and my husband will have no name or offspring on the face of the earth. 8 And the king said to the woman, Go to your house and I will give orders about this. 9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, may the sin be on me and on my family, and may the king and the seat of his kingdom be clear of sin! 10 And the king said, If anyone says anything to you, make him come to me, and he will do you no more damage.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fell on her: 2 Samuel 1:2, 1 Samuel 20:41, 1 Samuel 25:23

Help: Heb. Save, 2 Kings 6:26-28, Job 29:12-14, Luke 18:3-5

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:28 - made obeisance 2 Samuel 16:4 - I humbly beseech thee 2 Samuel 18:28 - All is well 2 Kings 8:3 - General Mark 10:35 - we would

Cross-References

Ezekiel 17:15
But he went against his authority in sending representatives to Egypt to get from them horses and a great army. Will he do well? will he be safe who does such things? if the agreement is broken will he be safe?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king,.... Or after she had spoken to him, being introduced by Joab, as is probable; when she had saluted him with God save the king, or May the king live, or some such like expressions:

she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance; to him as her king, in reverence of his majesty:

and said, help, O king; signifying that she was in great distress, and came to him for assistance and deliverance.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Spake - Seems to be an accidental error for came, which is found in many manuscipts and versions.

Help - literally, save (see the margin). It is the same cry as Hosanna, i. e. save now Psalms 118:25.


 
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