Lexical Summary ish: Man, husband, person, individual Original Word: אִשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance are there, none can Identical (in origin and formation) with 'esh; entity, used only adverbially, there is or are -- are there, none can. Compare yesh. see HEBREW 'esh see HEBREW yesh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origincorresponding to yesh Definition a questionable reading found in Masoretic text. Brown-Driver-Briggs אִשׁ 2 Samuel 14:19; Micah 6:10, softer form for the usual יֵשׁ (q. v.), there is, are. (compare Aramaic אִתַי, Arabic  ; and on the softening of ye, yi to 'î, see Ew§ 53 c Olp. 425 Nö§ 40 c.) Topical Lexicon Canonical Placement and Basic Sense Appearing only in 2 Samuel 14:19, אִשׁ functions as an indefinite pronoun (“anyone,” “someone,” “anything”) within the idiom “no one can turn to the right or to the left.” Its rarity heightens its rhetorical force, underscoring utter impossibility of deviation from what has been spoken. Narrative Setting: 2 Samuel 14 The single use occurs during Joab’s stratagem to reconcile David and Absalom. The wise woman of Tekoa has just completed her parabolic appeal. David, perceiving the hand of his commander, asks, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” (2 Samuel 14:19a). She replies, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king says” (14:19b). 1. Her oath formula (“As surely as you live”) invokes the sanctity of the king’s life before the Lord. Historical Significance The verse captures a critical moment in Israel’s monarchy: Theological Themes 1. Royal Word and Divine Word: By adopting covenant idiom, the woman tacitly equates loyalty to David with loyalty to the Lord who anointed him (cf. 1 Samuel 12:14). Practical and Ministry Applications • Leadership: God-appointed authority carries weight; those under authority should speak with honesty, not flattery, while leaders must wield their word responsibly (Ecclesiastes 8:4). Christological Insight David’s irrevocable word prefigures the absolute efficacy of Christ’s declarations: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). The unique אִשׁ thus points, however faintly, to the inviolability of the Messiah’s authority. Summary Though occurring only once, אִשׁ intensifies a key confession of unalterable royal authority, woven into a narrative that balances political intrigue with covenant fidelity. Its lone appearance invites believers to trust the steadfastness of God’s word and to exercise speech that honors Him in every sphere of life. Forms and Transliterations אִ֣שׁ ׀ אש ’iš ishLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 14:19 HEB: הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אִם־ אִ֣שׁ ׀ לְהֵמִ֣ין וּלְהַשְׂמִ֗יל KJV: none can turn to the right hand INT: the king no can turn to the left |
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