1 Chronicles 19:4
New International Version
So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

New Living Translation
So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved them, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.

English Standard Version
So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away;

Berean Standard Bible
So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

King James Bible
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

New King James Version
Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.

New American Standard Bible
So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them, and cut off their robes in the middle as far as their buttocks, and sent them away.

NASB 1995
So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.

NASB 1977
So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.

Amplified Bible
Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them [cutting off half their beards], and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their buttocks, and sent them away [in humiliation].

Christian Standard Bible
So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved them, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved them, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.

American Standard Version
So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

Contemporary English Version
Hanun arrested David's officials and had their beards shaved off and their robes cut off just below the waist, and then he sent them away.

English Revised Version
So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Hanun took David's men, shaved them, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.

Good News Translation
Hanun seized David's messengers, shaved off their beards, cut off their clothes at the hips, and sent them away.

International Standard Version
So Hanun arrested David's delegation, shaved off their beards, cut off their clothes at the waist line, and sent them away in disgrace.

Majority Standard Bible
So Hanun took David?s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

NET Bible
So Hanun seized David's servants and shaved their beards off. He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed and then sent them away.

New Heart English Bible
So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

World English Bible
So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Hanun takes the servants of David and shaves them, and cuts their long robes in the midst, to the buttocks, and sends them away.

Young's Literal Translation
And Hanun taketh the servants of David, and shaveth them, and cutteth their long robes in the midst, unto the buttocks, and sendeth them away.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Hanun will take David's servants and shave them, and cut off their garments in the half, even to the step, and he will send them away.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore Hanon shaved the heads and beards of the servants of David, and cut away their garments from the buttocks to the feet, and sent them away.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Hanun shaved the heads and beards of the servants of David, and he cut away their tunics from the buttocks to the feet, and he sent them away.

New American Bible
So Hanun seized David’s servants and had them shaved and their garments cut off halfway at the hips. Then he sent them away.

New Revised Standard Version
So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
- - -

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Khanun took the Servants of David, and he shaved the half of their beards and the half of their heads, and he cut off their tunics unto their navels, and he sent them away.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their hips, and sent them away.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Anan took the servants of David, and shaved them, and cut off the half of their garments as far as their tunic, and sent them away.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Messengers Disgraced
3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it?” 4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. 5When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 10:4
So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

Isaiah 20:4
so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.

2 Samuel 10:5
When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

Leviticus 19:27
You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

Isaiah 7:20
On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.

2 Samuel 8:2
David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

Ezekiel 5:1
“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair.

2 Kings 10:32-33
In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory / from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

2 Samuel 12:31
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

2 Kings 25:7
And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

Matthew 5:39-40
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; / if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;

Luke 6:29
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.

Matthew 27:28
They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.

Mark 15:20
After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

John 19:23-24
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. / So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.” So that is what the soldiers did.


Treasury of Scripture

Why Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

took David's

Psalm 35:12
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

Psalm 109:4,5
For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer…

shaved them

Leviticus 19:27
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

Isaiah 15:2
He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.

Jeremiah 41:5
That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.

and cut

Isaiah 20:4
So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Isaiah 47:2,3
Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers…

sent them

2 Samuel 10:4,5
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away…

2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Mark 12:4
And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

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Buttocks Cut Cutteth Cutting David David's Far Garments Hair Hanun Hard Hip Hips Middle Midst Robes Seized Servants Shaved Shaveth Skirts Wherefore
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Buttocks Cut Cutteth Cutting David David's Far Garments Hair Hanun Hard Hip Hips Middle Midst Robes Seized Servants Shaved Shaveth Skirts Wherefore
1 Chronicles 19
1. David's messengers, sent to comfort Hanun, are villainously treated
6. The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai
16. Shobach, making a new supply of the Syrians, is slain by David














So Hanun took David’s servants
The name "Hanun" is derived from the Hebrew root "חָנַן" (chanan), meaning "to be gracious" or "to show favor." Ironically, Hanun's actions are anything but gracious. This highlights the tragic misuse of power and the failure to live up to one's name or potential. In the historical context, David's servants were emissaries, representing the king himself. Their mistreatment was not just a personal affront but a diplomatic insult, reflecting the tensions between Israel and Ammon.

shaved them
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, shaving a man's beard was a severe humiliation. The beard was a symbol of dignity and masculinity. The Hebrew word "גָּלַח" (galach) means "to shave" and is often associated with disgrace or mourning. This act by Hanun was a deliberate attempt to shame David's men, indicating a deep disrespect for Israel and its king. It serves as a reminder of the cultural significance of personal appearance and the deep offense caused by altering it without consent.

cut off their garments at the buttocks
The act of cutting off garments at the buttocks was intended to expose and humiliate. Clothing in biblical times was not only functional but also a sign of status and identity. The Hebrew word "כָּרַת" (karat) means "to cut off" or "to cut down," often used in contexts of covenant or judgment. This act of cutting their garments was a symbolic stripping away of dignity and honor, leaving the servants vulnerable and ashamed. It underscores the theme of dishonor and the lengths to which Hanun went to insult David.

and sent them away
Sending the servants away in such a state was a final act of contempt. The Hebrew word "שָׁלַח" (shalach) means "to send" or "to let go," often used in contexts of release or dismissal. This phrase indicates not only a physical sending away but also a rejection and dismissal of David's overture of peace. It reflects the broken relationship and the ensuing conflict between the two nations. Spiritually, it serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of pride and the rejection of peace.

(4) Shaved them--i.e., the half of their beards (Samuel).

Hard by their buttocks.--Literally, unto the extremities. The chronicler has substituted a more decorous term for the one which appears in Samuel.

Cut off their garments.--To look like captives (Isaiah 20:4).

Verse 4. - The classical scholar will not fail to be reminded, so far as the shaving here spoken of is concerned, of the account contained in Herodotus, 2:121. The parallel place makes the resemblance close, in that it tells us that "one-half of their beards" was shaved. To shave them was an affront to their customs, dignity, and religion: to shave them half added mockery; and to cut off half their garments completed the tale of ignominious and contemptuous insult (Isaiah 20:4). The beard was held almost in reverence by Easterns.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Hanun
חָנ֜וּן (ḥā·nūn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2586: Hanun -- 'favored', two contemporaries of Nehemiah, also an Ammonite king

took
וַיִּקַּ֨ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

David’s
דָוִיד֙ (ḏā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

servants,
עַבְדֵ֤י (‘aḇ·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

shaved [their beards],
וַֽיְגַלְּחֵ֔ם (way·ḡal·lə·ḥêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1548: To be bald, to shave, to lay waste

cut
וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת (way·yiḵ·rōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

their garments
מַדְוֵיהֶ֛ם (maḏ·wê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4063: Extent, measure, a dress

in half
בַּחֵ֖צִי (ba·ḥê·ṣî)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

at
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the hips,
הַמִּפְשָׂעָ֑ה (ham·mip̄·śā·‘āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4667: A stride, the crotch

and sent them away.
וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽם׃ (way·šal·lə·ḥêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 19:4 So Hanun took David's servants and shaved (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 19:3
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