2 Samuel 23:30 — Word Study
WLCבְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ פִּרְעָ֣תֹנִ֔י הִדַּ֖י מִנַּ֥חֲלֵי גָֽעַשׁ׃ ס
BSABenaiahBᵉnâyâh [a strong warrior and leader] the PirathonitePirʻâthôwnîy [from Pirathon town] HiddaiHidday△ [for the rejoicing of Jehovah] from the brooksnachal [of, near, streams, valleys] of GaashGaʻash [a hill, quaking or shaking]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ | Benaiah | Noun proper masculine |
| פִּרְעָ֣תֹנִ֔י | [the] Pirathonite | Noun gentilic, masculine singular absolute |
| הִדַּ֖י | Hiddai | Noun proper masculine |
| מִנַּ֥חֲלֵי | from [the] wadis of | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| גָֽעַשׁ׃ ס | Gaash | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, |
| KJV | Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, |
| ASV | Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash. |
| YLT | Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, |
| WEB | Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash. |
| BBE | Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash, |
Where they part company is in stylistic choices, but the essential names and roles remain consistent across translations.
The sentence is structured with a main clause introducing Benaiah and a subordinate clause providing details about Hiddai, creating a clear identification of these two warriors.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 5 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 Samuel 23:30
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 Mighty Warriors of Davidgenerated
2 Samuel 23:30 is part of a passage that lists the names of David's mighty warriors, highlighting their bravery and significance in the history of Israel. This section serves to honor those who fought valiantly alongside King David, establishing their legacy in the biblical narrative.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 11:31 | Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite, |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 27:14 | The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division. |
| 3 | Judges 12:15 | Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. |
| 4 | 1 Chronicles 11:32 | Hurai from the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 1:24 | They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied out the land. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בְּנָיָהוּ, be.na.Ya.hugenerated
The name בְּנָיָהוּ (Benaiah) is a proper masculine noun meaning "Jehovah has built." It indicates strength and leadership, as Benaiah was known as a strong warrior and leader under King David and Solomon. His name reflects a connection to divine strength, emphasizing the role of God in his life and achievements.
Benaiah is recognized for his loyalty and military prowess, serving as a chief warrior. The parsing as a noun proper masculine suggests he is a specific individual rather than a common title.
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 clause is led by the noun phrase בְּנָיָהוּ, Benaiah, followed by another noun phrase פִּרְעָתֹנִ֔י, the Pirathonite, and the conjunction introducing הִדַּ֖י, Hiddai. The structure emphasizes the names of the warriors as central to the sentence.
The prepositional phrase מִנַּחֲלֵי, from the brooks of, adds geographical context, indicating where Hiddai is from, which is important for understanding their backgrounds.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בְּנָיָהוּ as βαναιας, maintaining the name while providing a Greek equivalent. This suggests a direct recognition of Benaiah's significance in both Hebrew and Greek traditions.
However, the translation does not fully capture the descriptive elements found in the Hebrew, particularly the specific location attributes associated with the warriors.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 23:30 introduces Benaiah, a strong warrior known for his leadership, and Hiddai, who is identified as coming from the brooks of Gaash. This verse is part of a list honoring David's mighty warriors, emphasizing their bravery and significance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Benaiah was a chief warrior under King David, recognized for his strength and leadership, and his name means 'Jehovah has built.'
Pirathonite refers to an inhabitant of Pirathon, a town in Ephraim, indicating a connection to that specific location.
Hiddai's name means 'for the rejoicing of Jehovah,' reflecting a positive association with God.
The term 'brooks' refers to streams or valleys, indicating the geographical features of the area from which Hiddai came.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do you think made Benaiah a strong warrior?
- How does understanding the backgrounds of these warriors enhance your reading of their stories?
- What can we learn from the loyalty and bravery of David's mighty warriors?
- How does the geographical context of a person's background shape their identity?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 23:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBenaiah the Pirathonite,.... Who was of Pirathon, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, Jude 12:15. Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash; which perhaps ran by the hill Gaash, and was also in the tribe of Ephraim, Joshua 24:30.
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBenaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, Benaiah the Pirathonite , [ Bªnaayaahuw (H1141), whom Yahweh has built] (see variation, 1 Chronicles 11:31; 1 Chronicles 27:14) - from
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(30) Benaiah the Pirathonite.—He was general for the eleventh month (1 Chronicles 27:14). He is of course to be distinguished from Benaiah of 2 Samuel 23:20. Hiddai.—In 1 Chronicles 11:32, Hurai, owing to the frequent confusion of d and r.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges30. Benaiah the Pirathonite] Of Pirathon in Ephraim (Judges 12:13; Judges 12:15), perhaps the modern Ferâta, six miles W.S.W. of Shechem. Benaiah was general of the eleventh division (1 Chronicles 27:14). Hiddai] In 1 Chronicles 11:32 Hurai, owing to the common confusion of d and r. the brooks of Gaash] Or Nahale-Gaash, a proper name meaning the ravines of the earthquake. “The hill of Gaash” was on the south of Joshua’s property at Timnath-serah in Mount Ephraim (Joshua 19:50; Joshua 24:30; Judges 2:9), the traditional site of which is Kefr Hâris, nine miles S.W. of Shechem. But no trace of the name Gaash has yet been discovered.
Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 23 →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
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,
Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash,
Tyndale line
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash;
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
Benaiah the Pirathonite: Hiddai of the riuer of Gaash:
Strictly literal
Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
Benayahu the Pir'athonite, Hiddai of Nachale-Ga'ash,
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash.
From the Latin
Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,
Simplified
Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the streams of Gaash;
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash,
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 is the primary witness for this verse, and it aligns with the Septuagint in naming Benaiah and Hiddai. However, the Septuagint does not provide a complete correspondence for all words in the verse, indicating some differences in the presentation.
בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ פִּרְעָ֣תֹנִ֔י הִדַּ֖י מִנַּ֥חֲלֵי גָֽעַשׁ׃ ס
2 of the 5 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 Samuel 23:30
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.
בְּנָיָ֫הוּ (Benaiah) means "Jehovah has built" and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, most notably a chief warrior under King David, son of Jehoiada. He is recognized for his loyalty to Solomon and his military leadership. The entries note various Benaiahs, including Levites and others from different tribes, but they all share the same name and meaning.
בְּנָיָ֫הוּ, בְּנָיָה n.pr.m. (Yah hath built up)—
one of David’s captains and heroes, son of Jehoiada
one of David’s thirty
a Simeonite
Levites
Israelites
base
H1141 בְּנָיָ֫הוּ, בְּנָיָה
1141 Bnayah ben-aw-yaw'
or (prolonged) Bnayahuw {ben-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from 1129 and
3050; Jah has built; Benajah, the name of twelve Israelites:--
Benaiah.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 03050
בְּנָיָ֫הוּ (be.na.yah) — Benaiah.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.8.18;
son of: Jehoiada (H3077);
father of: Ammizabad (H5990)
§ Benaiah = "Jehovah has built" or "Yahweh has built up"
1) one of David's mighty warriors, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, a Levite, set by David over his bodyguard, later having remained faithful to Solomon during Adonijah's attempt on the crown, was raised into the place of Joab as commander-in-chief of the army
2) the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite, one of David's thirty mighty warriors, and the captain of the eleventh monthly course
3) a Simeonite, a prince of the families of Simeon
4) a Levite in the time of David who played with a psaltery on Alamoth
5) a priest in the time of David, appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark
6) a Levite of the sons of Asaph
7) a Levite in the time of Hezekiah
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
be-na'-ya, be-ni'-a (benayah, benayahu, "Yahweh has built." Compare HPN, 182, 265, 268):
(1) Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada of Kabzeel (compare Jos 15:21), was a man of "mighty deeds" and was more honorable than any of the mighty men of David except the three chiefs. Therefore David made him his chief counselor (2Sa 23:23 m; month compare 1Ch 27:34 where the order of names seems to be reversed) and set him over the Cherethites (compare Carites, 2Ki 11:4 ff and margin) and Pelethites and he was made the 3rd captain of the host and chief over the course of the 3rd (1Ch 27:5 f;
Benaiah
Built up by Jehovah. (1.) The son of Jehoiada, chief priest (1 Chr. 27:5). He was set by David over his body-guard of Cherethites and Pelethites (2 Sam. 8:18; 1 Kings 1:32; 1 Chr. 18:17). His exploits are enumerated in 2 Sam. 23:20, 21, 22; 1 Chr. 11:22. He remained faithful to Solomon (1 Kings 1:8, 10, 26), by whom he was raised to the rank of commander-in-chief (1 Kings 2:25, 29, 30, 34, 35; 4:4).
(made by the Lord). The son of Jehoiada the chief priest, (1 Chronicles 27:5) of the tribe of Levi, though a native of Kabzeel, (2 Samuel 23:20) set by David, (1 Chronicles 11:25) over his body-guard. (2 Samuel 8:18; 20:23; 1 Kings 1:38; 1 Chronicles 18:17) One of the mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:22,23; 1 Chronicles 11:25; 27:6) The exploits which gave him this rank are narrated in (2 Samuel 23:20,21;
Son of Jehoiada, and commander of David’s bodyguards. Several instances of his rare bravery are recorded, 2Sa 8:18 2Sa 23:20-23. He adhered to Solomon when some favored the pretensions of Adonijah, slew Joab at the command of Solomon, and was made general of the army in his stead, 1Ki 1:36 2:29-35.
פִּרְעָתוֹנִי (Pir`athowniy) refers to an inhabitant of Pirathon, derived from the root word for Pirathon itself. It is described as a gentilic adjective, meaning 'of Pirathon' or 'Pirathonite.' The term suggests a connection to the place Pirathon, which is noted for its princely connotations.
פִּרְעָתוֹנִי adj.gent. of foregoing [q.df.ad], cf. פִּרְעָתֹנִי
base
H6553 פִּרְעָתוֹנִי, פִּרְעָתֹנִי
6553 Pir`athowniy pir-aw-tho-nee'
or Pirathoniy {pir-aw-tho-nee'}; patrial from 6552; a
Pirathonite or inhabitant of Pirathon:--Pirathonite.
see HEBREW for 06552
פִּרְעָתוֹנִי (pir.a.to.ni) — Pirathon.
Pirathonite, of Pirathon "princely"
an inhabitant of Pirathon
Another spelling of pir.a.ton (פִּרְעָתוֹן "Pirathon" H6552)
Ngmsa — Noun gentilic · masculine singular absoluteHNgmsa
Pirathonite
(1.) Abdon, the son of Hillel, so called, Judg. 12:13, 15.
(2.) Benaiah the Ephraimite (2 Sam. 23:30), one of David’s thirty heroes.
a native of or dweller in Pirathon. Two such are named in the Bible:-- Abdon ben-Hillel. (Judges 12:13,15) "Benaiah the Pirathonite of the children of Ephraim," (1 Chronicles 27:14)
→ See PIRATHON
הִדַּי (Hidday) refers to Hiddai, a man noted as one of David's mighty warriors during the United Monarchy. He is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:30 and is also called Hurai in 1 Chronicles 11:32. The name is interpreted as 'for the rejoicing of Jehovah.' The derivation of the name remains uncertain.
הִדַּי n.pr.m. one of David’s heroes
base
H1914 הִדַּי
1914 Hidday hid-dah'ee
of uncertain derivation; Hiddai, an Israelite:--Hiddai.
הִדַּי (hid.day) — Hiddai.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.23.30; also called Hurai at 1Ch.11.32;
Also named: chu.ray (חוּרַי "Hurai" H2360)
§ Hiddai = "for the rejoicing of Jehovah"
one of the 37 mighty warriors of David's guard
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Hiddai
Rejoicing of Jehovah, one of David’s thirty-seven guards (2 Sam. 23:30).
(for the rejoicing of Jehovah), one of the thirty-seven heroes of David’s guard. (2 Samuel 23:30) (B.C. 1046.)
a praise; a cry
נַ֫חַל (*nachal*) primarily refers to a torrent or stream, often associated with a valley or wadi where water flows, particularly in winter. It can also denote a shaft of a mine. Additionally, the term may relate to palm trees in certain contexts. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, including references in Psalms and Ezekiel.
נַ֫חַל n.m. torrent, torrent-valley, wady
base
[נַ֫חַל] n.[m.] perh. palm-tree;—only pl. abs., Nu 24:6
ref
H5158a נַ֫חַל torrent, torrent-valley, wady H5158b נַ֫חַל perh. palm-tree
5158 nachal nakh'-al
or (feminine) nachlah (Psalm 124:4) {nakh'-law}; or nachalah
(Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) {nakh-al-aw'}; from 5157 in its
original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by
implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a
shaft (of a mine):--brook, flood, river, stream, valley.
see HEBREW for 05157
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — torrent: river.
: river/bed
1) torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley
1a) torrent
1b) torrent-valley, wadi (as stream bed)
1c) shaft (of mine)
Also means: na.chal (נַ֫חַל ": valley" H5158N)
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — palm-tree.
palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Eshcol) Valley.
Combined with esh.kol (אֶשְׁכֹּל " of Eshcol" H0812H)
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Shittim) Valley.
Combined with shit.tim (שִׁטִּים " of Shittim" H7851H)
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Sorek) Valley.
Combined with s.vo.req (שֹׂרֵק " of Sorek" H7796)
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
§ palm-tree
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
palm-tree
Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.
palm-tree
Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHR/Ncmpc
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…
גַּ֫עַשׁ (Ga`ash) refers to a location, specifically a mountain in Ephraim where Joshua was buried. The word is associated with the meaning 'quaking' and is derived from a root that conveys a sense of shaking or trembling. It is noted in the context of a geographical feature in Palestine.
[גַּ֫עַשׁ] n.pr.loc. mt. in Ephraim
base
H1608 גַּ֫עַשׁ
1608 Ga`ash ga'-ash
from 1607; a quaking; Gaash, a hill in Palestine:--Gaash.
see HEBREW for 01607
גַּ֫עַשׁ (ga.ash) — Gaash.
§ Gaash = "quaking"
a mountain of Ephraim where Joshua was buried
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
ga'-ash (ga`-ash): First mentioned in connection with the burial place of Joshua "in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north (side) of the mountain of Gaash" (Jos 24:30; compare Jud 2:9); see TIMNATH-HERES. The "brooks," or rather the wadies or "watercourses" of Gaash are mentioned as the native place of Hiddai (2Sa 23:30), or Hurai (1Ch 11:32), one of David's heroes. No likely identification has been suggested.
See EPHRAIM, MOUNT.
Gaash
A shaking, a hill, on the north side of which Joshua was buried (Josh. 24:30; Judg. 2:9), in the territory of Ephraim. (See TIMNATH-SERAH.)
(earthquake), a hill of Ephraim, where Joshua was buried. The brooks or valley of Gaash, (2 Samuel 23:30; 1 Chronicles 11:32) were probably at the foot of the hill.