KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)
TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT
To get what 2 Samuel 1:20 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.
“Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.”
What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].
| KJV Verse | Original Hebrew | Meaning/ Definition This is a simplified translation of the original Hebrew word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail. | More Use the buttons below to get details on the Hebrew word and view related Bible verses that use the same root word. |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Tell” | תַּגִּ֣ידֽוּ | Properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise | Tell |
| “it” | (No Hebrew definition. English implied.) | ||
| “not” | אַל | Not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing | not |
| “in Gath,” | בְגַ֔ת | Gath, a Philistine city | Gath |
| “publish” | תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּ | Properly, to be fresh, i.e., full (rosy, figuratively cheerful); to announce (glad news) | publish |
| “it” | (No Hebrew definition. English implied.) | ||
| “not” | אַֽל | Not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing | not |
| “in the streets” | בְּחוּצֹ֣ת | Properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors | streets |
| “of Askelon;” | אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן | Ashkelon, a place in Palestine | Askelon |
| “lest” | פֶּן | Properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest | lest |
| “the daughters” | בְּנ֣וֹת | A daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively) | daughters |
| “of the Philistines” | פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים | A Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth | Philistines |
| “rejoice,” | תִּשְׂמַ֙חְנָה֙ | Probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome | rejoice |
| “lest” | פֶּֽן | Properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest | lest |
| “the daughters” | בְּנ֥וֹת | A daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively) | daughters |
| “of the uncircumcised” | הָֽעֲרֵלִֽים׃ | Properly, exposed, i.e., projecting loose (as to the prepuce); used only technically, uncircumcised (i.e., still having the prepuce uncurtailed) | uncircumcised |
| “triumph.” | תַּעֲלֹ֖זְנָה | To jump for joy, i.e., exult | triumph |
See 2 Samuel 1:20 with its adjacent verses in bold below. Follow either of the two large buttons below to see these verses in their broader context of the King James Bible or a Bible concordance.
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18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.