2 Samuel 14:7
New International Version
Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”

New Living Translation
Now the rest of the family is demanding, ‘Let us have your son. We will execute him for murdering his brother. He doesn’t deserve to inherit his family’s property.’ They want to extinguish the only coal I have left, and my husband’s name and family will disappear from the face of the earth.”

English Standard Version
And now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Give up the man who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.’ And so they would destroy the heir also. Thus they would quench my coal that is left and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

King James Bible
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

New King James Version
And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the earth.”

New American Standard Bible
Now behold, the entire family has risen against your servant, and they have said, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and eliminate the heir as well.’ So they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

NASB 1995
“Now behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

NASB 1977
“Now behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And behold, the whole family has risen against your servant-woman, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal which remains, so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

Amplified Bible
Now behold, the entire family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother, so that we may put him to death [to pay] for the life of his brother whom he killed and destroy the heir also.’ By doing this they will extinguish my coal that is left, leaving my husband without a name or a remnant (heir) on the face of the earth.”

Christian Standard Bible
Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will eliminate the heir! ’ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will destroy the heir!’ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.”

American Standard Version
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.

Contemporary English Version
Now all of my relatives have come to me and said, "Hand over your son! We're going to put him to death for killing his brother." But what they really want is to get rid of him, so they can take over our land. Please don't let them put out my only flame of hope! There won't be anyone left on this earth to carry on my husband's name.

English Revised Version
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also: thus shall they quench my coal which is left, and shall leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the entire family turned against me. They said, 'Give us the man who killed his brother so that we can kill him because he took his brother's life. We're going to destroy the one who [now] would be the heir.' In this way they wish to extinguish the [one] burning coal that is left for me. They will not let my husband's name or descendants remain on the face of the earth."

Good News Translation
And now, sir, all my relatives have turned against me and are demanding that I hand my son over to them, so that they can kill him for murdering his brother. If they do this, I will be left without a son. They will destroy my last hope and leave my husband without a son to keep his name alive."

International Standard Version
Now please pay attention closely! My whole family is attacking your humble servant! They're saying, 'Turn over the one who attacked his brother and we'll put him to death in retribution for his brother, whose life he took. That way, we'll kill the heir also!' They're going to extinguish the only light left in my family, leaving my late husband neither an ongoing name nor a survivor on the face of the earth!"

Majority Standard Bible
Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

NET Bible
Now the entire family has risen up against your servant, saying, 'Turn over the one who struck down his brother, so that we can execute him and avenge the death of his brother whom he killed. In so doing we will also destroy the heir.' They want to extinguish my remaining coal, leaving no one on the face of the earth to carry on the name of my husband."

New Heart English Bible
Look, the whole family has risen against your servant, and they say, ?Give us the man who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed.? Thus they would eliminate also the heir and the one ember I have left will be extinguished, and would leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And behold, the whole family hath risen against thy handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they will quench my coal which is left, and will not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

World English Bible
Behold, the whole family has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also.’ Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and would leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and say, Give up him who strikes his brother, and we put him to death for the life of his brother whom he has slain, and we also destroy the heir; and they have quenched my coal which is left—so as not to set a name and remnant on the face of the ground for my husband.”

Young's Literal Translation
and lo, the whole family hath risen against thy maid-servant, and say, Give up him who smiteth his brother, and we put him to death for the life of his brother whom he hath slain, and we destroy also the heir; and they have quenched my coal which is left -- so as not to set to my husband a name and remnant on the face of the ground.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And behold, all the family rose up against thy servant, and they will say, Give him striking his brother and we will kill him for the soul of his brother whom he slew; and they destroyed also the heir, and quenched my coal which was left, so that name was not set to my husband and remainder upon the face of the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And behold the whole kindred rising against thy handmaid, saith: Deliver him that hath slain his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother, whom he slew, and that we may destroy the heir: and they seek to quench my spark which is left, and will leave my husband no name, nor remainder upon the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And behold, the whole family, rising up against your handmaid, said: ‘Deliver him who struck down his brother, so that we may kill him for the life of his brother, whom he killed, and so that we may do away with the heir.’ And they are seeking to extinguish my spark that is left, so that there may not survive a name for my husband, nor a remnant upon the earth.”

New American Bible
Then the whole clan confronted your servant and demanded: ‘Give up the one who struck down his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he has killed; we must do away with the heir also.’ Thus they will quench my remaining hope and leave my husband neither name nor posterity upon the earth.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now the whole family has risen against your servant. They say, ‘Give up the man who struck his brother, so that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he murdered, even if we destroy the heir as well.’ Thus they would quench my one remaining ember, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver to us the man who slew his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew; so they want to destroy the heir also; moreover they want to quench the spark of life which is left for me, that they may not leave to his father either name or family upon the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And behold, all the family has arisen against your Maid Servant, and they say: “‘Give him who killed his brother to us, and we shall kill him for the sake of his brother whom he killed!’, and they seek to destroy the heir. And they seek to put out the live coal that is left to me that they would not leave a name to his father and a family on the face of the earth”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they said: Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And behold the whole family rose up against thine handmaid, and they said, Give up the one that smote his brother, and we will put him to death for the life of his brother, whom he slew, and we will take away even your heir: so they will quench my coal that is left, so as not to leave my husband remnant or name on the face of the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Absalom's Return to Jerusalem
6And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. 7Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.” 8“Go home,” the king said to the woman, “and I will give orders on your behalf.”…

Cross References
Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

Numbers 35:19
The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.

Deuteronomy 19:12
the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.

Deuteronomy 21:1-9
If one is found slain, lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him, / your elders and judges must come out and measure the distance from the victim to the neighboring cities. / Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work, ...

Joshua 20:3
so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

1 Kings 2:28-34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...

2 Kings 14:6
Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”

Proverbs 28:17
A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.

Isaiah 1:15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

John 8:3-11
The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them / and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. / In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” ...

Acts 7:59-60
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” / Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


Treasury of Scripture

And, behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the earth.

the whole

Genesis 4:14
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

Numbers 35:19
The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

Deuteronomy 19:12
Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

so they

Genesis 27:45
Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

Deuteronomy 25:6
And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

quench

2 Samuel 12:17
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

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2 Samuel 14
1. Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah to incline the king's heart to fetch Absalom,
21. brings him home to Jerusalem
25. Absalom's beauty, hair, and children
28. After two years, Absalom is brought into the king's presence by Joab














Now the whole clan
The term "clan" here refers to an extended family or tribe, which in ancient Israelite society was a fundamental social unit. The Hebrew word used is "מִשְׁפָּחָה" (mishpachah), indicating a group bound by blood and shared heritage. This highlights the communal nature of justice and responsibility in ancient Israel, where family honor and collective decision-making were paramount.

has risen up against your maidservant
The phrase "risen up against" suggests a collective action or rebellion. In the Hebrew context, this implies a serious accusation or demand for justice. The term "maidservant" (אֲמָתֶךָ, 'amatecha) reflects humility and vulnerability, emphasizing the woman's lowly status and her appeal for mercy and protection.

Hand over the one who struck down his brother
This phrase involves the concept of blood vengeance, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The Hebrew verb "נָכָה" (nakah) means to strike or smite, indicating a violent act. The demand for handing over the perpetrator reflects the community's role in enforcing justice and the seriousness of fratricide.

so that we may put him to death
The call for capital punishment underscores the gravity of murder in biblical law. The Hebrew word "מוּת" (muth) means to die or cause to die, reflecting the legal and moral imperative to uphold justice. This reflects the biblical principle of "life for life" as seen in the Mosaic Law.

for the life of the brother he murdered
The phrase emphasizes the value of life and the need for retribution. The Hebrew word for "murdered" is "רָצַח" (ratsach), which specifically denotes unlawful killing. This highlights the sanctity of life and the community's responsibility to address such a grave sin.

Then we will extinguish the heir as well!
The imagery of extinguishing an heir is powerful, likening the loss of a family line to the snuffing out of a flame. The Hebrew word "כָּבָה" (kabah) means to quench or put out, symbolizing the end of a family's future and legacy. This reflects the importance of lineage and inheritance in Israelite culture.

Thus they would extinguish my one remaining ember
The metaphor of an "ember" (גַּחֶלֶת, gachelet) conveys the fragility and preciousness of the woman's remaining son. It underscores the desperation and urgency of her plea, as the extinction of her family line would mean the loss of her husband's name and legacy.

by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth
The preservation of a name and posterity was crucial in ancient Israel, as it ensured the continuation of one's lineage and memory. The Hebrew word for "name" (שֵׁם, shem) signifies identity and reputation, while "posterity" (זֶרַע, zera) refers to descendants. This reflects the biblical emphasis on family continuity and the divine promise of blessing through offspring.

(7) We will destroy the heir also.--The woman puts this into the mouth of the family, because this would be the result of what they proposed. The effect of the parable is greatly heightened by this, and there is no doubt intended a covert allusion to Absalom as the heir of David.

Verse 7. - The whole family. This does not mean the kinsfolk, in whom such a disregard of the mother's feelings would have been cruel, but one of the great divisions of the tribe (see note on the mishpachah, in 1 Samuel 20:6, and comp. 1 Samuel 10:21). In ver. 15 she rightly calls them "the people." We have thus a glimpse of the ordinary method of administering the criminal law, and find that each portion of a tribe exercised justice within its own district, being summoned to a general convention by its hereditary chief; and in this case the widow represents it as determined to punish the crime of fratricide with inflexible severity, and we may assume that such was the usual practice. The mother sets before David the other side of the matter - her own loneliness, the wiping out of the father's house, the utter ruin of her home if the last live coal on her hearth be extinguished. And in this way she moves his generous sympathies even to the point of overriding the legal rights of the mishpachah. In modern communities there is always some formal power of softening or entirely remitting penalties required by the letter of the law, and of taking into consideration matters of equity and even of feeling, Which the judge must put aside; and in monarchies this is always the high prerogative of the crown. And we will destroy the heir also. The Syriac has the third person, "And they will destroy even the heir, and quench my coal that is left." This is more natural, but there is greater pungency in the widow putting into the mouth of the heads of the clan, not words which they had actually spoken, but words which showed what would be the real effect of their determination. There is great force and beauty also in the description of her son as the last live coal left to keep the family hearth burning. In another but allied sense David is called "the lamp of Israel" (2 Samuel 21:17, marg.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now
וְהִנֵּה֩ (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the whole
כָֽל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

clan
הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֜ה (ham·miš·pā·ḥāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people

has risen up
קָ֨מָה (qā·māh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your maidservant
שִׁפְחָתֶ֗ךָ (šip̄·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8198: Maid, maidservant

and said,
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Hand over
תְּנִ֣י ׀ (tə·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the one who struck down
מַכֵּ֣ה (mak·kêh)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5221: To strike

his brother,
אָחִ֗יו (’ā·ḥîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

that we may put him to death
וּנְמִתֵ֙הוּ֙ (ū·nə·mi·ṯê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

for the life
בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ (bə·ne·p̄eš)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

of the brother
אָחִיו֙ (’ā·ḥîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

whom
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he killed.
הָרָ֔ג (hā·rāḡ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

Then we will cut off
וְנַשְׁמִ֖ידָה (wə·naš·mî·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed

the heir
הַיּוֹרֵ֑שׁ (hay·yō·w·rêš)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

as well!’
גַּ֣ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

So they would extinguish
וְכִבּ֗וּ (wə·ḵib·bū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3518: To be quenched or extinguished, to go out

my one remaining
נִשְׁאָ֔רָה (niš·’ā·rāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

ember
גַּֽחַלְתִּי֙ (ga·ḥal·tî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1513: An ember

by not
לְבִלְתִּ֧י (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

preserving
שִׂים־ (śîm-)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

my husband’s
לְאִישִׁ֛י (lə·’î·šî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

name
שֵׁ֥ם (šêm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

or posterity
וּשְׁאֵרִ֖ית (ū·šə·’ê·rîṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7611: Rest, residue, remnant, remainder

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the earth.?
הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land


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OT History: 2 Samuel 14:7 Behold the whole family is risen against (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 14:6
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