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.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showed respect, and said, “Help, O king!”
- BSB When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”
- NKJV 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!”
- NASB 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!”
- NLT 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!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The woman of Tekoa comes before David, bows to the ground, and cries, 'Help, O king!' She begins the staged plea for the king's intervention.
Overview
Approaching as a humble petitioner, the woman appeals to David's role as supreme judge in Israel. Her dramatic posture and cry are calculated to engage the king's compassion and sense of duty. The scene parallels Nathan's parable, drawing David into a case whose true application he does not yet perceive.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Sam 1:2It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
- 2 Kgs 6:26–28And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
- 1 Sam 25:23And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
- Luke 18:3–5And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
- 1 Sam 20:41And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
- Job 29:12–14Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 14:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.