2 Samuel 16:5 kjv
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
2 Samuel 16:5 nkjv
Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.
2 Samuel 16:5 niv
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.
2 Samuel 16:5 esv
When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually.
2 Samuel 16:5 nlt
As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul's family.
2 Samuel 16 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Shimei's Story Arc | ||
| 2 Sam 19:16-23 | And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ... And David said, “You shall not die.” | Shimei's initial pardon by David. |
| 1 Kgs 2:8-9 | "And behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim... you know what he did to me... But you must bring his hoar head down to the grave with blood." | David's deathbed charge to Solomon regarding Shimei. |
| 1 Kgs 2:36-46 | So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died. | Solomon's execution of Shimei. |
| Divine Sovereignty & Suffering | ||
| 2 Sam 16:10 | But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the Lord has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'" | David interprets the cursing as allowed by God. |
| Job 1:21 | "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." | Acknowledging God's control in adversity. |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things." | God's ultimate sovereignty over all events. |
| Lam 3:38 | Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and evil come? | All things originate from God's permission. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good... | God orchestrates all circumstances for good. |
| Heb 12:5-11 | It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. | Suffering as divine discipline. |
| Enduring Curses & Humiliation | ||
| Psa 3:1-2 | O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, "There is no deliverance for him in God." | David's lament over enemies and their scorn. |
| Psa 38:13-14 | But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I am like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes. | Enduring reproach silently. |
| Psa 42:3 | My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" | The taunts endured by the righteous. |
| Psa 69:10-12 | When I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach... I became a byword to them. | Experiencing contempt and abuse. |
| Lam 3:30 | Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him; let him be filled with insults. | Endurance in suffering, akin to Job's counsel. |
| Rom 12:14 | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. | Apostolic teaching to bless enemies. |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten... | Christ's example of suffering silently. |
| Respect for Authority/Anointed | ||
| Exo 22:28 | You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. | Direct prohibition against cursing authorities. |
| Pro 30:10 | Do not malign a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. | Warning against speaking ill of others in authority. |
| Ecc 10:20 | Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich... | Cautions against disrespecting authority. |
| 1 Sam 24:6 | He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed." | David's respect for Saul, the Lord's anointed, even when persecuted. |
| Psa 2:1-4 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed... | Opposition to the Lord's Anointed is futile. |
| Luke 6:28 | bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. | Jesus' teaching on loving enemies. |
| 1 Thes 5:15 | See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another... | Command against retaliation. |
2 Samuel 16 verses
2 Samuel 16 5 Meaning
2 Samuel 16:5 details an incident where King David, in deep distress while fleeing his son Absalom's rebellion, encounters Shimei, a relative of the deposed King Saul. As David reaches Bahurim, Shimei aggressively approaches, relentlessly cursing David and his household. This encounter highlights David's extreme vulnerability and humiliation at this point in his life, and the persistent resentment harbored by loyalists of Saul's fallen dynasty towards David's reign.
2 Samuel 16 5 Context
This verse is situated during a pivotal and humiliating period in David's life, specifically within the account of Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-17). King David has been forced to flee Jerusalem to escape Absalom, who has usurped the throne and sought to kill his father. David's flight from the city is marked by grief, fear, and a deep sense of vulnerability. He leaves Jerusalem on foot, weeping, with a small retinue, reflecting his spiritual brokenness and repentance for past sins. Bahurim is a town in the territory of Benjamin, east of Jerusalem, along David's path toward the Jordan Valley. This geographic location within Benjaminite territory intensifies the political and personal nature of Shimei's outburst, as Benjamin was Saul's tribal homeland, and resentment towards David for replacing Saul was still strong among some of Saul's kin and loyalists. The immediate context of David's journey shows him surrounded by loyalists, yet exposed to such public insults, underscoring the severity of his plight and the depth of his trust in God even amidst chaos.
2 Samuel 16 5 Word analysis
- When King David came to Bahurim: This phrase immediately establishes David's diminished status and geographical context of his flight. "Bahurim" (בַּחוּרִים, Bahurim) refers to a specific place, located near the border of Benjamin, which holds significance as Saul's tribal territory. David is fleeing not as a powerful king, but as a fugitive.
- behold (וְהִנֵּה, v'hinneh): This particle is often used in biblical narrative to draw immediate attention to a new and significant character or event that is about to occur. It creates a sense of suddenness and highlights the unexpected, dramatic appearance of Shimei.
- a man of the family of the house of Saul: This critical description immediately identifies Shimei's affiliation and likely motivation. He is a blood relative or a prominent figure within the lineage of the former King Saul, implying a deep-seated grievance and loyalty to the deposed dynasty. This context explains his hatred towards David.
- came out from there: The phrasing suggests Shimei deliberately emerged from the village or hiding place, not by chance, but specifically to confront David. It portrays a calculated act of aggression.
- whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: This names the individual precisely. Shimei's full lineage, "son of Gera," underscores his specific identity and roots within the clan loyal to Saul, a direct descendant from Benjamin.
- he came out cursing continually as he came: The Hebrew construction for "cursing continually" (יָצָא מְקַלֵּל וְהוּא בָּא - yotzei mekallel ve-hu ba) implies persistent, repetitive, and relentless cursing. It signifies a continuous, unremitting barrage of verbal abuse rather than a single outburst. Shimei did not just curse once but kept cursing throughout his approach, underscoring the venom and duration of his assault on David's honor.
2 Samuel 16 5 Bonus section
The audacity of Shimei in cursing King David openly, accompanied by throwing stones and dust, indicates the deep political unrest and the perception that David's power had collapsed. This event highlights the precariousness of power even for a divinely appointed king and showcases how deep-seated grievances (like those held by Saul's loyalists) can erupt into open hostility during times of weakness. The detailed nature of this encounter serves to emphasize David's brokenness and the intense emotional and spiritual refining he undergoes during Absalom's revolt. It sets the stage for David's remarkable display of restraint and his trust in God's judgment rather than human vengeance, making this scene a theological crucible for understanding suffering, sovereignty, and forbearance.
2 Samuel 16 5 Commentary
2 Samuel 16:5 dramatically unveils David's humiliation as he endures a public assault from Shimei, a descendant of Saul. This incident serves as a stark illustration of the king's extreme vulnerability during Absalom's rebellion. Shimei's bitter actions stem from the deeply ingrained resentment within Saul's household for David's usurpation of the throne, even decades later. This moment highlights not just Shimei's animosity, but also David's extraordinary spiritual state; instead of retaliating, David perceives this verbal abuse as potentially allowed or even instigated by God for disciplinary purposes (as elaborated in verse 10), reflecting his profound humility and submission to divine providence during this period of suffering. The persistent cursing, intensified by Shimei's defiant throwing of stones and dust, represents a total contempt for David's kingship and person. It underscores that opposition to God's chosen leader, while outwardly directed at David, ultimately expresses defiance against God's appointed order.