They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.
Parallel translations
- WEB They were as fed horses roaming at large: everyone neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
- BSB They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.
- NKJV They were like well-fed lusty stallions; Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
- NASB “They were well-fed lusty horses, Each one neighing at his neighbor’s wife.
- NLT They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor’s wife.
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
David designates the water shaft as the way to take the city and answers the Jebusites' taunt about the blind and lame. The verse is partly obscure and explains a later proverb.
Overview
David offers his men a route to the city, apparently through the water system, and his words turn the Jebusites' mocking taunt back on them, giving rise to a saying about the blind and the lame. The exact sense of the Hebrew is debated among faithful interpreters, and translations differ on whom David despises. What is clear is that David overcomes the proud defenders and secures Jerusalem as his royal city.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Jer 13:27I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?
- Ezek 22:11And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.
- Deut 5:18Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
- 2 Sam 11:2–4And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
- Deut 5:21Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
- Exod 20:14Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Gen 39:9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
- Jer 29:23Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.
- Exod 20:17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
- Job 31:9If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;
- Matt 5:27–28Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 5:8 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.