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and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
2 Samuel 20:25 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
  • KJV And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
  • BSB Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
  • NKJV Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests;
  • NLT Sheva was the court secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.

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

Sheva served as scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests. It matters because it records the religious and administrative leaders under David.

Overview

The naming of the scribe and the two priests highlights both civil record-keeping and the worship life of the nation. Zadok and Abiathar's priestly service points to the centrality of God's covenant in the kingdom. The verse rounds out the picture of David's well-ordered government.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 3

  • 1 Kgs 4:4Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
  • 2 Sam 8:17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,
  • 1 Chr 18:16Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; Shavsha was scribe;

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Samuel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Samuel 20:25YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 SamuelMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 20:25 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.