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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

2 Samuel 14:4

When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showing honor, and said, "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.
Bible in Basic English
And the woman of Tekoa came to the king, and falling on her face, gave him honour and said, Give me 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 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 Joab the son of Zeruiah saw that the king missed Absalom very much. 2 So Joab sent for a wise woman from Tekoa, and said to her, "Pretend to be filled with sorrow. Dress as if you were filled with sorrow, and do not pour oil on yourself. Dress like a woman who has been filled with sorrow for the dead many days. 3 Then go to the king and speak to him in this way." And Joab told her what to say. 4 When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showing honor, and said, "Help, O king." 5 The king said to her, "What is your trouble?" And she answered, "I am a woman whose husband has died. 6 Your woman servant had two sons. But they fought together in the field and there was no one to pull them apart. So one hit the other and killed him. 7 Now the whole family has come against your woman servant. They say, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So I would be without a son to receive what belonged to his parents when I die. They would put out the last of the fire which is left to me. My husband would be left without a name and with no children on the earth." 8 Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house. I will say what should be done about your trouble." 9 The woman of Tekoa said to the king, "O my lord the king, the sin is on me and my father's family. But the king and his throne are without guilt." 10 The king said, "If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me. And he will not touch you again."

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 the king of Judah turned against him by sending his men to Egypt to get horses and a large army for him. Will it go well for him? Can he get away with that? Can he break the agreement and not be punished?

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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