Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, April 8th, 2026
Wednesday in Easter Week
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Life Version

2 Samuel 18:10

When a certain man saw it, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Ephraim;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Death of the Wicked, the;   Oak-Tree, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ahimaaz;   Joab;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Joab;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Fox;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abishai;   Joab;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Oak;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   David;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Oak;   Terebinth;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
Hebrew Names Version
A certain man saw it, and told Yo'av, and said, Behold, I saw Avshalom hanging in an oak.
King James Version
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
Lexham English Bible
When a certain man saw it, he told Joab, and he said, "Look, I saw Absalom hanging in the oak tree!"
English Standard Version
And a certain man saw it and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
New Century Version
When one of the men saw it happen, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"
New English Translation
When one of the men saw this, he reported it to Joab saying, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.
Amplified Bible
A certain man saw it and informed Joab, saying, "I saw Absalom hanging in a tree."
New American Standard Bible
When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And one that sawe it, tolde Ioab, saying, Beholde, I sawe Absalom hanged in an oke.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
Contemporary English Version
and one of them went and told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in a tree!"
Complete Jewish Bible
Someone saw it and told Yo'av, "I saw Avshalom hanging in a terebinth."
Darby Translation
And a man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Someone saw this happen and told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree."
George Lamsa Translation
And a certain man saw it and told Joab and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
Good News Translation
One of David's men saw him and reported to Joab, "Sir, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"
Literal Translation
And a man saw and told Joab, and said, Behold! I saw Absalom hanging in the oak;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whan a certayne man sawe that, he tolde Ioab, and saide: Beholde, I sawe Absalom hange vpo an Oke tre.
American Standard Version
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
Bible in Basic English
And a certain man saw it and said to Joab, I saw Absalom hanging in a tree.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And one that sawe it, tolde Ioab, saying: Beholde, I sawe Absalom hange in an oke.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said: 'Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.'
King James Version (1611)
And a certaine man saw it, and told Ioab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an Oke.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And a man saw it, and reported to Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Abessalom hanging in an oak.
English Revised Version
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
Berean Standard Bible
When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, "I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli `sum man siy this, and telde to Joab, and seide, Y siy Absolon hange on an ook.
Young's Literal Translation
And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, `Lo, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.'
Update Bible Version
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
Webster's Bible Translation
And a certain man saw [it], and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
World English Bible
A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
New King James Version
Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, "I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!"
New Living Translation
One of David's men saw what had happened and told Joab, "I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree."
New Revised Standard
A man saw it, and told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, - and said - Lo! I saw Absolom suspended in an oak.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And one saw this and told Joab, saying: I saw Absalom hanging upon an oak.
Revised Standard Version
And a certain man saw it, and told Jo'ab, "Behold, I saw Ab'salom hanging in an oak."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."

Contextual Overview

9 Absalom met the servants of David. He was going on his horse, and the horse went under the many branches of a large oak tree. Absalom's hair caught in the branches of the oak. He was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the horse under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak." 11 Joab said to the man, "You saw him! Why did you not kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt." 12 The man said to Joab, "Even for a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not go against the king's son. For we heard the king tell you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Keep the young man Absalom safe for me.' 13 If I had gone against his life, there is nothing hidden from the king. And you would not have helped me." 14 Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." He took three spears in his hand and threw them through Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab's battle clothes gathered around and hit Absalom and killed him. 16 Then Joab sounded the horn, and all the people returned from going after Israel, for Joab stopped them. 17 They took Absalom and threw him into a deep hole among the trees, and set many stones over him. And all Israel ran away, every one to his own home. 18 While Absalom was alive, he had set up stones in his honor in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to let my name be remembered." So he called the stones after his own name. And they are there to have Absalom be remembered to this day.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 21:6 - hang Proverbs 30:17 - eye Galatians 3:13 - for

Cross-References

Genesis 16:10
The angel of the Lord said to her, "I will give you so many people in your family through the years that they will be too many to number."
Genesis 17:16
And I will bring good to her. I will give you a son by her. I will bring good to her. And she will be the mother of nations. Kings of many people will come from her."
Genesis 17:19
But God said, "No, but your wife Sarah will give birth to your son. And you will give him the name Isaac. I will make My agreement with him and for his children after him, an agreement that will last forever.
Genesis 17:21
But I will make My agreement with Isaac, who will be born to Sarah at this time next year."
Genesis 18:3
and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant.
Genesis 18:5
And I will get a piece of bread so you may eat and get strength. After that you may go on your way, since you have come to your servant." The men said, "Do as you have said."
Genesis 18:8
He took milk and cheese and the meat which he had made ready, and set it in front of them. He stood by them under the tree while they ate.
Genesis 18:9
Then they said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There in the tent."
Genesis 18:13
Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I give birth to a child when I am so old?'
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And a certain man saw [it],.... Saw him in the above posture, one of David's soldiers:

and told Joab, and said, behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak; caught by the neck in one, out of which he could not disengage himself, but there he hung, though alive.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 18:10. I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. — He must have hung there a considerable time. this man saw him hanging; how long he had been hanging before he saw him, we cannot tell. He came and informed Joab; this must have taken up a considerable time. Joab went and pierced him through with three darts; this must have taken up still more time. It is therefore natural to conclude that his life must have been nearly gone after having been so long suspended, and probably was past recovery, even if Joab had taken him down.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile