Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was dismayed.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
- KJV And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
- NKJV When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled.
- NASB Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was horrified.
- NLT When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.
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
When Ishbosheth learns of Abner's death, he loses heart and all Israel is alarmed. The collapse of Saul's house accelerates.
Overview
News of Abner's murder leaves Ishbosheth's hands feeble, for Abner had been the real strength behind his throne. With its champion gone, Saul's faltering dynasty is thrown into disarray and fear spreads through Israel. The verse marks the rapid unraveling of the rival kingdom, clearing the way for David's God-appointed rule.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezra 4:4Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
- Isa 13:7Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.
- Jer 6:24We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
- 2 Sam 17:2I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king
- Neh 6:9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
- Isa 35:3Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Zeph 3:16On that day they will say to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp.
- Matt 2:2–3asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
- Jer 50:43The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
- 2 Sam 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 4:1 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.