2 Samuel 24:20 kjv
And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
2 Samuel 24:20 nkjv
Now Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So Araunah went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.
2 Samuel 24:20 niv
When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
2 Samuel 24:20 esv
And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground.
2 Samuel 24:20 nlt
When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.
2 Samuel 24 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 23:7 | And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land... | Abraham bows in respect during a land purchase. |
| Gen 28:17 | And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! | Place of God's presence, like the altar site. |
| Judg 6:24 | Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it... | Building an altar as an act of worship. |
| 1 Sam 10:24 | And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen... | Recognition of divinely appointed kingship. |
| 1 Sam 25:23 | And when Abigail saw David, she made haste, and lighted...bowed... | Humble submission to a superior. |
| 2 Sam 9:6 | Now Mephibosheth... fell on his face, and did reverence. | Acts of humble reverence before a king. |
| 2 Sam 21:1 | ...and the LORD said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house... | Context of divine judgment requiring atonement. |
| 1 Kgs 6:1 | And it came to pass...that he began to build the house of the LORD. | Temple built on Araunah's threshing floor. |
| 2 Chr 3:1 | Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah. | Specific location of the Temple. |
| Job 1:20 | Then Job arose, and rent his mantle...and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. | Prostration as a posture of worship/grief. |
| Ps 2:10-12 | Be wise now therefore, O ye kings...Kiss the Son, lest he be angry... | Reverence and submission to God's anointed. |
| Ps 95:6 | O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD... | Posture of worship and humility before God. |
| Isa 45:23 | ...that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. | Universal submission to divine authority. |
| Matt 2:11 | ...and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts. | Wise Men prostrate themselves before King Jesus. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers... | Submission to governing authorities. |
| Rom 14:11 | For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me... | Ultimate universal homage to God. |
| Eph 3:14 | For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Posture of earnest prayer and reverence. |
| Phil 2:10 | That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven... | Submission to the supreme authority of Jesus. |
| Jas 4:10 | Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. | Divine principle of humility and exaltation. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God... | Exhortation to humble submission to God. |
2 Samuel 24 verses
2 Samuel 24 20 Meaning
The verse describes Araunah's immediate and profound reaction upon seeing King David approaching his threshing floor. Araunah recognizes the gravity of the King's presence, especially in the context of the recent plague, and responds with ultimate humility and reverence by prostrating himself completely before the monarch. It signifies his respectful submission to the King's authority and purpose.
2 Samuel 24 20 Context
This verse occurs at a pivotal moment in the final chapter of 2 Samuel, immediately following a devastating plague upon Israel. David, prompted by the prophet Gad, is on his way to Araunah's threshing floor to build an altar to the LORD, seeking to appease His wrath and end the pestilence. The entire preceding narrative of chapter 24 details David's census, which was an act displeasing to God, leading to severe divine judgment in the form of a plague that claimed 70,000 lives. Araunah, a Jebusite, was the owner of the specific site chosen by God for the altar. The verse captures Araunah's profound act of homage to King David, recognizing his royal and divinely appointed authority, especially in such a somber context where the king was performing an act of atonement for the nation. This very threshing floor later becomes the hallowed site for Solomon's Temple, further highlighting the significance of this interaction.
2 Samuel 24 20 Word analysis
- And Araunah: `וַאֲרַוְנָה` (va'arawna). A Jebusite. His ready recognition and respect for David, despite their differing heritage, underscore the authority of the King of Israel and the universal awe inspired by David's anointing. In 1 Chr 21:18, 28, he is called Ornan, perhaps reflecting variations in the name or an orthographical shift.
- looked: `וַיַּבֵּט֙` (vay·yab·beṭ). This Hebrew verb often implies gazing intently, observing carefully, or even discerning. Araunah wasn't just casually seeing; he was intentionally noting the presence of the king and discerning the solemnity of the occasion.
- and saw: `וַיַּ֔רְא` (vay·yar). This verb means "to see" or "perceive." Combined with "looked," it emphasizes that Araunah not only perceived David's physical presence but also understood the significance of his arrival.
- the king: `הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ` (ham·me·leḵ). Refers to King David. Even in a time of national crisis due to his sin, David's royal authority remains paramount and is acknowledged without question by Araunah.
- and his servants: `וַעֲבָדָיו֙` (va·'a·ḇā·ḏāw). These are David's retinue or officials, indicating a formal, perhaps processional, approach, which further signaled the importance of the king's visit.
- coming on toward him: `עֹבְרִ֖ים` (ō·ḇə·rîm). The Hebrew means "passing through" or "crossing over" or "coming." It suggests David was moving directly towards Araunah's specific location, not merely in the vicinity.
- and Araunah went out: `וַיֵּצֵא֙` (vai·yê·ṣê). This implies Araunah took the initiative to leave his current position (perhaps inside his house or barn on the threshing floor) to meet the king. It highlights his readiness and proactive reverence.
- and bowed himself: `וַיִּקֹּד֩` (vay·yiq·qōḏ). This is a strong Hebrew verb meaning to prostrate or bend oneself low, usually by placing the forehead on the ground. It is an act of deep submission, reverence, and profound respect.
- before the king: Emphasizes the direct object of his obeisance, reinforcing David's sovereign status.
- on his face upon the ground: `עַל־אַפָּ֥יו אַ֧רְצָה` (ʻal-ʾap·pāw ʾarṣāh). This specifies the extent of his prostration, a gesture of absolute humility, veneration, and often, supplication, demonstrating his complete deference and submission to David's presence and authority. It is the most extreme form of bodily homage.
- looked, and saw: This phrase suggests both keen observation and a cognitive understanding of what was being observed. Araunah did not just glance; he observed the situation and grasped its gravity.
- the king and his servants coming on toward him: This group movement signifies David's deliberate intent and official presence, rather than a casual visit. It would have immediately conveyed importance to Araunah.
- went out, and bowed himself...on his face upon the ground: This sequence portrays Araunah's immediate, voluntary, and total submission and reverence. He did not wait for David to reach him but went forth to acknowledge David's presence in the most deferential manner possible. This level of humility underscores the recognition of immense authority, whether royal, divine, or both.
2 Samuel 24 20 Bonus section
The threshing floor was traditionally a place of winnowing and separating grain from chaff, thus holding connotations of judgment and divine separation, which ironically aligns with the plague (divine judgment) taking place. Later, 1 Chronicles 21:18, 28 clarifies that this very location, Araunah's (Ornan's) threshing floor, was the precise place where David saw the Angel of the LORD standing after the plague, and it was upon Mount Moriah. This directly connects it to Genesis 22, where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah, establishing a profound theological continuity: a place of potential judgment and sacrifice that ultimately becomes a site of atonement and God's dwelling (the Temple). Araunah's selfless generosity in offering his land and oxen freely (2 Sam 24:21-23), though David insists on payment, highlights a truly humble and reverent heart, willing to contribute to the nation's atonement.
2 Samuel 24 20 Commentary
2 Samuel 24:20 offers a succinct yet profound illustration of respectful submission to authority. Araunah, understanding the weight of the moment—the King's unexpected and solemn approach during a time of national calamity—does not hesitate. His immediate prostration, an act of supreme humility with his "face upon the ground," acknowledges not just David's secular authority as king, but also implicitly recognizes David's divinely appointed role and the sacred purpose of his visit. This gesture, common in ancient Near Eastern courts for displaying absolute homage, prepares the way for a crucial transaction. Araunah's willingness to go forth and immediately bow speaks to his deep reverence, facilitating the establishment of the altar at a place destined to become the Temple Mount, the very heart of Israelite worship. It exemplifies proper honor for leadership and provides a powerful pre-image for the humility required in approaching God Himself.