2 Samuel 16:14 kjv
And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
2 Samuel 16:14 nkjv
Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.
2 Samuel 16:14 niv
The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
2 Samuel 16:14 esv
And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.
2 Samuel 16:14 nlt
The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River.
2 Samuel 16 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 23:12 | "...the seventh day you shall rest... that your ox... and the son of your female servant... may be refreshed." | Sabbath for human/animal refreshment. |
| Exo 31:17 | "...in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed." | God's rest and refreshment after creation. |
| Deut 25:18 | "...how they attacked you on the road when you were weary and worn out..." | Weariness making one vulnerable to attack. |
| Judg 8:4 | "Gideon and the three hundred men... exhausted but still pursuing." | Perseverance despite extreme exhaustion. |
| 1 Sam 30:10 | "...four hundred men who were so exhausted that they could not cross the brook Besor." | David's men weary after pursuit. |
| Ps 23:2-3 | "He makes me lie down in green pastures... He restores my soul." | God as source of spiritual and physical rest. |
| Ps 116:7 | "Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you." | Finding rest in the LORD's provision. |
| Prov 25:25 | "Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land." | Refreshment provided by good tidings. |
| Isa 28:12 | "...'This is the resting place, give rest to the weary;' and, 'This is the refreshing,'..." | God's promise of rest and refreshing. |
| Isa 40:29-31 | "He gives power to the faint... those who wait for the LORD... renew their strength..." | God strengthens the weak and weary. |
| Jer 31:25 | "For I have satisfied the weary soul, and every languishing soul I have replenished." | God satisfies and replenishes the weary. |
| Lam 5:5 | "Our pursuers are on our necks; We are weary, we have no rest." | Intense suffering with no possibility of rest. |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." | Jesus offers rest for spiritual exhaustion. |
| Mark 6:31 | "And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.'" | Jesus encourages His disciples to rest. |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." | God's strength is revealed in human weakness. |
| Phil 4:11-13 | "...I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I can do all things through Christ..." | Finding strength and contentment through Christ in all states. |
| Heb 4:9 | "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." | The enduring promise of spiritual rest. |
| Rev 14:13 | "...'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'... 'that they may rest from their labors,'..." | Rest promised after earthly trials for the faithful. |
| Num 10:33 | "...the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them to search out a resting place for them." | Divine guidance to a place of rest. |
| Ps 55:6 | "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." | Longing for peace and respite from trouble. |
2 Samuel 16 verses
2 Samuel 16 14 Meaning
King David, along with all his loyal followers, arrived at a place utterly exhausted from their hurried flight from Absalom, and there they found essential rest and rejuvenation for themselves. This verse describes a crucial moment of physical and spiritual respite amidst extreme duress and betrayal, highlighting the deep weariness and subsequent restoration of the king and his faithful retinue.
2 Samuel 16 14 Context
This verse occurs during King David's desperate flight from Jerusalem, following Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-19). Having departed his capital under duress, publicly humiliated by Shimei's curses and fearing for his life, David and his small loyal retinue are depicted as vulnerable and physically strained. The journey itself was arduous, filled with uncertainty and immediate danger. Verse 14 provides a brief, but significant, pause in this intense narrative, indicating that after reaching a certain point (implied to be past Bahurim, near the Jordan), they found a moment to attend to their most basic human needs: rest from exhaustion and restoration of their physical strength. This fleeting respite is crucial for them to continue their desperate struggle for survival.
2 Samuel 16 14 Word analysis
- And the king, and all the people: This emphasizes David's solidarity with his followers. His suffering is shared; they are not merely his retinue but a collective experiencing hardship together. It contrasts with a typical regal image, highlighting David's vulnerable, human condition as he flees.
- that were with him: Underscores the loyalty of his small group amidst widespread betrayal. These are the few who chose to stay with him through disgrace and danger.
- came weary: The Hebrew word is 'ayef (עָיֵף), meaning exhausted, faint, or completely worn out. It depicts a state of extreme physical and mental fatigue, likely due to rapid travel, lack of proper rest, and intense emotional stress. This weariness reflects the dire circumstances and the hurried nature of their flight.
- and refreshed themselves: The Hebrew term is wayinaphash (וַיִּנָּפֵשׁ), derived from the root napash (נָפַשׁ), which means "to take breath," "to recover oneself," or "to get soul-rest." It's more profound than mere physical rest; it implies a deeper, restorative process that invigorates both body and spirit. This verb is also famously used in Exodus 31:17 for God "refreshing Himself" on the seventh day after creation and in Exodus 23:12 to describe the purpose of the Sabbath, underscoring its spiritual and life-giving quality. It denotes not just stopping work, but regaining vital essence and mental composure.
- there: While the specific location isn't named in this verse, the preceding context implies they have reached a point of temporary safety or reduced immediate threat, likely Bahurim or the plains by the Jordan river, where they could momentarily cease their desperate flight and attend to their physical needs.
2 Samuel 16 14 Bonus section
The brevity of the "refreshing" period indicated in the narrative suggests it was not a prolonged stay but a crucial pause that enabled their survival and continuation. This verse grounds the heroic narrative in the reality of human limitation and the fundamental need for rest. It implicitly emphasizes God's providence, allowing His servant a moment of relief even when all seems lost. This episode illustrates that even leaders, even God's anointed, are subject to human needs and rely on moments of respite to endure trials.
2 Samuel 16 14 Commentary
2 Samuel 16:14 provides a poignant glimpse into the raw human experience of King David and his loyalists during one of the most tumultuous periods of his life. Fleeing his own son's rebellion, the once-victorious king is depicted not as an invincible leader but as a weary man, subject to the same physical limitations as his followers. The word "weary" (Hebrew: 'ayef) powerfully conveys the immense strain of their flight, a testament to the speed and distress of their retreat. Their collective exhaustion underscores the severity of Absalom's threat and the human toll of such a crisis.
The subsequent act of "refreshing themselves" (Hebrew: wayinaphash) highlights the essential need for rest and recuperation, not only physically but also spiritually. This verb, connected to the concept of the 'soul' or 'life breath' (nephesh), suggests a deeper renewal than simple sleep. It indicates a restoration of their vital energy, morale, and possibly their trust in God amidst despair. This brief moment of respite, though likely inadequate for full recovery, served as a crucial interlude, allowing them to gather strength to continue their arduous journey. It demonstrates God's common grace, providing sustenance and moments of restoration even for His anointed king who was experiencing profound personal tribulation. It also reflects a biblical principle: even God's most dedicated servants are human and need periods of rest and spiritual refreshing, akin to the Sabbath rest.