2 Samuel 23:39 — Word Study
WLCאֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י כֹּ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ פ
BSAand UriahʼÛwrîyâh [the prophet, Bathsheba's husband] the HittiteChittîy [a descendant of Heth, from the Heth people-group] There were thirty-sevenshᵉlôwshîym [thirtieth in count] in allkôl [everything, the total count]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֽוּרִיָּה֙ | Uriah | Noun proper masculine |
| הַֽחִתִּ֔י | the Hittite | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| כֹּ֖ל | all | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים | [were] thirty | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ פ | and seven | Conjunction, noun common both singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all. |
| KJV | Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. |
| ASV | Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. |
| YLT | Uriah the Hittite; in all thirty and seven. |
| WEB | and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all. |
| BBE | Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in number. |
Translations agree on the identification of Uriah and the count of thirty-seven.
The sentence presents Uriah's name first, followed by the total count, creating a clear and concise structure.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Poole, Ellicott, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
subjectכֹּל
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 Samuel 23:39
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 23:39 lists Uriah the Hittite among the thirty-seven mighty warriors of King David. This passage highlights the loyalty and bravery of David's soldiers, with Uriah being a notable figure due to his tragic story involving Bathsheba, as seen in 2 Samuel 11:3-6.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 11:3–6 | So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 12:9 | Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 15:5 | For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. |
| 4 | 1 Chronicles 11:41 | Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, |
| 5 | Matthew 1:6 | and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֽוּרִיָּה, 'u.ri.Yahgenerated
The name אוּרִיָּה ('u.ri.Yah) means 'God is my light' or 'flame of Jah.' It identifies Uriah as a significant character in the narrative, not only as a warrior but also as the husband of Bathsheba, which adds depth to his story.
Uriah's role as a Hittite also reflects the diverse backgrounds of David's warriors, emphasizing the inclusion of non-Israelites in significant roles within Israel's history.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations agree on the identification of Uriah as a Hittite warrior and the mention of the total count of soldiers.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause centers around the subject אֽוּרִיָּה (Uriah), with the predicate describing him as הַֽחִתִּ֔י (the Hittite). The structure is straightforward, listing Uriah and concluding with the total number of warriors.
The sentence flows logically, presenting Uriah's name first, followed by his identity and the total count, which emphasizes his inclusion among David's elite.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֽוּרִיָּה as ουριας (Urias), maintaining the name's integrity while adapting it for Greek readers. This choice reflects a direct transliteration rather than a translation of meaning.
The term הַֽחִתִּ֔י is rendered as ξετταῖος, which indicates a specific ethnic identification, aligning with the Hebrew context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 23:39 mentions Uriah the Hittite as one of David's mighty warriors, highlighting both his identity and his inclusion in the total count of thirty-seven soldiers. This verse emphasizes the loyalty and strength of David's army.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Uriah was a warrior in King David's army and the husband of Bathsheba, known for his loyalty and tragic fate.
His designation as a Hittite highlights the inclusion of non-Israelites in significant roles within Israel's history.
The number thirty-seven represents the total count of David's mighty warriors, showcasing the strength of his elite forces.
Uriah's story is intertwined with Bathsheba's, as he was her husband and became a central figure in a tragic narrative involving King David.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from Uriah's loyalty and bravery in the face of adversity?
- How does the inclusion of non-Israelites in David's army reflect the broader narrative of God's people?
- In what ways does Uriah's story challenge our understanding of loyalty and justice?
- How can we apply the lessons from Uriah's life to our own commitments and relationships?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 23:39 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleUriah the Hittite,.... The husband of Bathsheba; of whom [See comments on 2 Samuel 11:3]; thirty and seven all; reckoning the three mighty men of the first class, the three of the second, and the
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 23 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHere are but thirty-six named; either therefore one must be supplied whose name is not expressed among the three second worthies, or Joab is comprehended in the number, as being the lord-general of all.
Read Matthew Poole on 2 Samuel 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(39) Thirty and seven in all.—Only thirty-six names have been given, but either the third unnamed person in the second triad of heroes is counted, or else in 2 Samuel 23:34 the names of the two given in Chronicles should be substituted for the one in the text here. In 1 Chronicles 11:41-47 sixteen more names are given, either of men who took the place of these heroes as they died, or simply of other heroes thought worthy of record, though hardly reckoned with this especial body.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 23 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 39. Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.] To these the author of 1 Chronicles 11:41 adds Zabad son of Ahlai. 1 Chronicles 11:42 - Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him. 1 Chronicles 11:43 - Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 1 Chronicles 11:44 - Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, 1 Chronicles 11:45 - Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 1 Chronicles 11:46 - Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 1 Chronicles 11:47 - Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite. THE 4th and 5th verses 2 Samuel 23:4; 2…
Read AdamClarke on 2 Samuel 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges39. Uriah] See on ch. 2 Samuel 11:3. thirty and seven in all] This total is obtained either (a) by reckoning three in the first class (2 Samuel 23:8-12), two in the second (2 Samuel 23:18-23), and thirty-two in the third (2 Samuel 23:24-39), emending 2 Samuel 23:34 by the help of Chron. so as to contain three names: or (b) if the text of 2 Samuel 23:34 is retained, by counting three in the second class, though only two are mentioned by name. Joab, as commander-in-chief, is not reckoned in the total. In 1 Chronicles 11:41-47 sixteen additional names are given, possibly either of those who became members of the body when its number was not rigidly limited to thirty, or of those who took the…
Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 23 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThirty and seven in all - This reckoning is correct, though only 36 “names” are given, the names of only two of the second triad being recorded, but 31 names are given from 2 Samuel 23:24 to the end,
Read Albert Barnes 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
and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.
and Uriah the Hittite. Altogether there were thirty-seven.
Tyndale line
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
Uriiah the Hittite, thirtie and seuen in all.
Strictly literal
Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
Uriah the Hittite; in all thirty and seven.
Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
Uriyah the Hittite: in all thirty and seven.
Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.
From the Latin
Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all.
Simplified
and Uriah the Hittite; a total of thirty-seven.
Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in number.
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 on the wording of Uriah's name and his designation as a Hittite. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a partially restored version that aligns with the Masoretic Text, affirming the consistency of this passage across different ancient witnesses.
אֽוּרִיָּה֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י כֹּ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשִׁבְעָֽה׃ פ
5 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.
[אוריה] [החתי] [כל] שלושים [ושבעה]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
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 23:39
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.
אוּרִיָּה (Uwriyah) means "flame of Jah" or "my light is Yah." It refers to several individuals, including a Hittite husband of Bathsheba and a prophet slain by Jehoiakim. The name appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, with specific mentions in 2 Samuel, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah.
אוּרִיָּה n.pr.m. (flame of Yah or my light is Yah v. יָהּ).
Hittite husband of Bathsheba
priest in reign of Ahaz
priest in time of Nehemiah
base
אוּרִיָּ֫הוּ n.pr.m. (flame of Yahweh or my light is Yahweh v. יהוה) a prophet slain by Jehoiakim Je 26:20.
done
H223a אוּרִיָּה H223b אוּרִיָּ֫הוּ
223 'Uwriyah oo-ree-yaw'
or (prolonged) Uwriyahuw {oo-ree-yaw'-hoo}; from 217 and
3050; flame of Jah; Urijah, the name of one Hittite and five
Israelites:--Uriah, Urijah.
see HEBREW for 0217
see HEBREW for 03050
אוּרִיָּה (u.riy.yah) — Uriah.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.11.3; married to Bathsheba (H1339)
Also named: Ourias (Οὐρίας "Uriah" G3774)
§ Uriah or Urijah = "Jehovah (Yahweh) is my light (flame)"
1) Hittite husband of Bathsheba
2) a priest who built king Ahaz' heathen altar
3) a priest who rebuilt Jerusalem's wall
אוּרִיָּ֫הוּ (u.riy.ya.hu) — Uriah.
A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.26.20;
son of: Shemaiah (H8098X)
§ Uriah or Urijah = "Jehovah (Yahweh) is my light (flame)"
a prophet slain by Jehoiakim
אוּרִיָּה (u.riy.yah) — Uriah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.16.10
§ Uriah or Urijah = "Jehovah (Yahweh) is my light (flame)"
a prophet slain by Jehoiakim
אוּרִיָּה (u.riy.yah) — Uriah.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Uriah
The Lord is my light. (1.) A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, whom David first seduced, and then after Uriah’s death married. He was one of the band of David’s “mighty men.” The sad story of the curel wrongs inflicted upon him by David and of his mournful death are simply told in the sacred record (2 Sam. 11:2-12:26). (See BATHSHEBA; DAVID.)
(light of Jehovah). One of the thirty commanders of the thirty bands into which the Israelite army of David was divided. (1 Chronicles 11:41; 2 Samuel 23:39) Like others of David’s officers he was a foreigner--a Hittite. His name, however and his manner of speech (2 Samuel 11:11) indicate that he had adopted the Jewish religion. He married Bath-sheba a woman of extraordinary beauty, the daughter of Eliam--possibly the same as the son of Ahithophel, and one of his brother officers, (2 Samuel 23:34) and hence, perhaps, Uriah’s first acquaintance with Bath-sheba. It may be inferred from Nathan’s parable, (2 Samuel 12:3)…
A Hittie in David’s army, renowned for his valor. To save Bathsheba Uriah’s wife from death for adultery, and secure her for himself, David caused Uriah to be exposed to death, 2Sa 11:1-27; 12:9; 23:29; 1Ki 15:5.
or Urijah, the Lord is my light or fire
חִתִּי (Chittiy) refers to a Hittite, a descendant of Heth, who is mentioned in the context of the Canaanite lineage in the Old Testament. The term denotes both an individual and the nation that inhabited regions of Anatolia and later parts of Lebanon. It is linked to the broader family of nations descended from Canaan, as noted in Genesis 10:15.
חִתִּי adj. et n.gent. Hittite(s)
base
H2850 חִתִּי Hittite(s)
2850 Chittiy khit-tee'
patronymically from 2845; a Chittite, or descendant of
Cheth:--Hittite, Hittities.
see HEBREW for 02845
חִתִּי (chit.ti) — Hittite.
Someone descended from Heth who was a man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.15;
son of: Canaan (H3667);
brother of: Sidon (H6721), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577); also called Hittite (KJV: "of Heth") frequently
Group of chet (חֵת "Heth" H2845)
§ Hittite = "descendant of Heth"
the nation descended from Heth, the 2nd son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
one who is broken; who fears
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty
bef. n. sg.
as ordin.
base
H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.
. as ordin.
7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'
or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or
(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07969
see HEBREW for 07991
שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.
thirty, thirtieth
Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
שֶׁ֫בַע (sheba`) means 'seven' and is a cardinal number. It can also imply 'seven times' or refer to a week. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations like 17 or 700. Its Aramaic equivalent is שִׁבְעָה (shiv.ah), also meaning 'seven'.
שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה 394 n.m. et f. seven
base
H7651 שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה seven
7651 sheba` sheh'-bah
or (masculine) shibrah {shib-aw'}; from 7650; a primitive
cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also
(adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by
extension, an indefinite number:--(+ by) seven(-fold),-s,
(-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare 7658.
see HEBREW for 07650
see HEBREW for 07658
שֶׁ֫בַע (she.va) — seven.
1) seven (cardinal number)
1a) as ordinal number
1b) in combination-17, 700 etc
Aramaic equivalent: shiv.ah (שִׁבְעָה "seven" H7655)
HC/Ncbsa — Conjunction · noun common both singular absoluteHC/Ncbsa
sev'-'-n (shebha`; hepta).
See NUMBER.
Seven
This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see Lev. 25:4;
The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not simply in that of seen. The Sabbath being the seventh day suggested the adoption of seven as the coefficient, so to say, for their appointment of all sacred periods; and we thus find the 7th month ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets, and signalized by the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Great Day of Atonement; 7…
As from the beginning this was the number of days in the week, so it often has in Scripture a sort of emphasis attached to it, and is very generally used as a round or perfect number. Clean beasts were taken into the ark by sevens, Ge 7:1-24. The years of plenty and famine in Egypt were marked by sevens, Ge 41:1-57. With the Jews, not only was there a seventh day Sabbath, but every seventh year was a Sabbath, and after every seven times seven years came a jubilee. Their great feasts of unleavened bread and of tabernacles were observed for seven days; the number of animals in many of their sacrifices was limited to seven. The golden candlestick had seven branches. Seven priests with seven trumpets went around the walls of Jericho seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. In…