2 Kings 7:11 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּקְרָ֖א הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ פְּנִֽימָה׃
BSAThe gatekeepersshôwʻêr [porters, door-keepers] shouted the newsqârâʼ▸ [cried out, called out] and it was reportednâgad▸ [told, declared] to the king’smelek [royal, sovereign] householdbayith [house, palace]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּקְרָ֖א | and he called out | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֑ים | the gatekeepers | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ | and they told | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בֵּ֥ית | [the] household of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ | the king | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| פְּנִֽימָה׃ | within | Adverb |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household. |
| KJV | And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within. |
| ASV | And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s household within. |
| YLT | and he calleth the gatekeepers, and they declare to the house of the king within. |
| WEB | Then the gatekeepers called out and told it to the king’s household within. |
| BBE | Then the door-keepers, crying out, gave the news to those inside the king's house. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases, indicating the primary action and its recipients.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbקָרָא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Kings 7:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Report of the Gatekeepersgenerated
2 Kings 7:11 describes a pivotal moment when the gatekeepers of the city, after discovering the Aramean camp abandoned, urgently call out the news. This announcement is crucial as it informs the king's household of the situation, reflecting the tension and desperation during a siege. The context highlights the role of the gatekeepers as vital communicators in times of crisis.
Cross References
The Key Word — וַיִּקְרָ֖א, vai.yik.Ra'generated
The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a verb that means to call out or proclaim. It is a common term used in various contexts, including summoning, reading aloud, or announcing important news. The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular indicates that the action is ongoing and directed towards an audience.
In this verse, the gatekeepers are actively calling out to share critical information, emphasizing their role as messengers. The urgency of their shout reflects the importance of the news they bear.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיִּקְרָ֖א governs the entire verse, with two phrases following: a noun phrase that identifies the subject (the gatekeepers) and another that identifies the object (the king's household). The structure highlights the action of calling out as central to the verse.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the gatekeepers as the initiators of the action, showcasing their role in the communication process.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיִּקְרָ֖א as ἐβόησαν, which means 'they shouted.' This choice maintains the urgency of the action, indicating a loud and public proclamation.
For וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ, the translation is ἀνήγγειλαν, meaning 'they announced.' This reflects a formal declaration, aligning with the context of reporting significant news.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Kings 7:11 tells us that the gatekeepers shouted the news about the Aramean camp being empty, and this information was reported to the king's household. Their announcement was vital in a time of crisis, as it informed the king of a significant change in the situation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The gatekeepers' shout was crucial as it informed the king's household of the Aramean camp's abandonment, which could lead to a change in strategy during the siege.
The gatekeepers acted as the first line of communication, ensuring that vital information reached the king, which could impact the safety and decisions of the city.
The 'household of the king' refers to the royal family and those who serve them, indicating the importance of the news being conveyed to those in power.
The verse highlights the urgent need for communication in times of crisis, as the gatekeepers quickly relay important news that could affect the entire city.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I be a messenger of important news in my own community?
- How do I respond to urgent situations that require immediate communication?
- What can I learn from the gatekeepers about the importance of my role in sharing information?
- How can I ensure that I convey messages clearly and effectively, especially in times of crisis?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Kings 7:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he called the porters,.... The porter of the city called to the porters of the king's palace: and they told it to the king's house within; to some of his domestic servants within the palace, and they reported it to the king.
Read John Gill on 2 Kings 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Kings 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe porters; either his fellow porters of the city; or rather, the porters or guards of the gate of the king’ s house.
Read Matthew Poole on 2 Kings 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Kings 7:11 And he called the porters; and they told [it] to the king’ s house within. Ver. 11. And they told it to the king’ s house.] It was fit that the king and his counsellors should be acquainted with the first, that they might the better order things for the public good.
Read John Trapp on 2 Kings 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) And he called the porters.—Rather, And the porters called. The verb in the Hebrew is singular,and may be used impersonally: “And one called, viz., the warders.” But the LXX., Targum, Arabic, and some Hebrew MSS., read the plural. The Syriac has, “And the porters drew near, and told the house of the king.” And they told it.—The king’s palace may have been near to the ramparts. If not, the sentries at the gate shouted their news to other soldiers near them, who conveyed it to the palace. The word “within” seems to indicate the former. (The Authorised Version, which is Kimchi’s rendering, cannot be right, because in that case the Hebrew verb would require the preposition “unto,” as in 2…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Kings 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. And he called] i.e. the one who was nearest and received the news did so. The singular corresponds to the singular ‘porter’ in verse 10. But there is a various reading here in the Hebrew, which the R.V. places on the margin, ‘the porters called’. and they told it to the king’s house [R.V. household] within] The R.V. renders as in verse 9. We are to understand that one of the number of the watchmen was detached to convey the news. They would not all leave their posts.
Read Cambridge on 2 Kings 7 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household.
Then the gatekeepers called out and told it to the king’s household within.
The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported to the king’s household.
The gatekeepers relayed the news to the royal palace.
Tyndale line
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s house within.
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s household within.
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king’s household within.
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
And the porters cryed and declared to the Kings house within.
Strictly literal
And the porters cried [it] and told [it] to the king's house within.
and he calleth the gatekeepers, and they declare to the house of the king within.
And he calls the gatekeepers, and they declare [it] to the house of the king within.
And he called the gate-keepers; and they told it at the king's house within.
Then the gatekeepers shouted out the news, and then it was told inside the king's household.
From the Latin
Then the guards of the gate went, and told it within the king’s palace.
Simplified
The gatekeepers shouted out the news, and reports reached the royal palace.
Then the door-keepers, crying out, gave the news to those inside the king's house.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all six words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the events being described, emphasizing the role of the gatekeepers in relaying crucial information.
וַיִּקְרָ֖א הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ פְּנִֽימָה׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Kings 7:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read
Qal
call, cry, utter a loud sound
call, cry
call unto some one
cry for help
proclaim
read aloud
read to oneself
summon
call = name
Niph.
reflex.
pass. be called
Pu. be called
base
H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound
. call, cry
. . call unto some one
. cry for help
. proclaim
. . read aloud
. read to oneself
. summon
. call = name
. . reflex.
. pass. be called
. be called
7121 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea
of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,
address by name, but used in a wide variety of
applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,
forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,
mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),
pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
see HEBREW for 07122
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.
: call_to/invite/entreat
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow
1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to call oneself
1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named
1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.
: call_by/name
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
שֹׁעֵר (sho'er) refers to a doorkeeper or porter, derived from the active participle form of a root meaning to guard or keep. The term is consistently defined across entries as a gatekeeper, emphasizing its role in overseeing entrances.
שֹׁעֵר 37 n.m. porter
base
H7778 שֹׁעֵר, שׁוֹעֵר
7778 show`er sho-are'
or shomer {sho-are'}: active participle of 8176 (as
denominative from 8179); a janitor:--doorkeeper, porter.
see HEBREW for 08176
see HEBREW for 08179
שֹׁעֵר (sho.er) — gatekeeper.
gatekeeper, porter
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.
[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous
Hiph. declare, tell
Hoph. be told, announced, reported
base
H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell
. be told, announced, reported
5046 nagad naw-gad'
a primitive root; 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:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),
denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,
rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.
1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known
1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1a1) to tell, announce, report
1a2) to declare, make known, expound
1a3) to inform of
1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim
1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess
1a5a) messenger (participle)
1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vhw3mp
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
King
Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).
This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;
"a chief ruler, one invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country." --Webster. In the Bible the word does not necessarily imply great power or great extent of country. Many persons are called kings whom we should rather call chiefs or leaders. The word is applied in the Bible to God as the sovereign and ruler of the universe, and to Christ the Son of God as the head and governor of the Church. The Hebrews were ruled by a king during a period of about 500 years previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, B.C. 586. The immediate occasion of the substitution of a regal form of government for that of judges seems to have been the siege of Jabesh-gilead by Nahash king of the Ammonites. (1 Samuel 11:1; 12:12) The conviction seems to have forced itself on the Israelites that they could not resist their formidable neighbor…
פְּנִ֫ימָה (pniymah) means 'within' or 'faceward,' indicating a direction toward the inside. It is derived from the root word פָּנָה (panah), which relates to facing or turning. The term emphasizes an inward orientation, often used to describe locations or directions in a physical or metaphorical sense.
פְּנִ֫ימָה adv.
toward the (in-) side
within (lit. faceward, fr. the point of view of one entering by opposite door)
base
H6441 פְּנִ֫ימָה
6441 pniymah pen-ee'-maw
from 6440 with directive enclitic; faceward, i.e.
indoors:--(with-)in(-ner part, -ward).
see HEBREW for 06440
פְּנִ֫ימָה (pe.ni.mah) — within.
toward the inside, within, faceward
HD — AdverbHD