2 Samuel 1:13 Meaning and Explanation
“And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David asks the young man where he is from, and he repeats that he is the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.
What Does 2 Samuel 1:13 Mean?
After mourning, David turns again to the messenger and asks his origin. The man confirms that he is the son of a resident foreigner, an Amalekite, one living among Israel yet from the people long at enmity with them.
The question is not idle. As one dwelling within Israel, the man knew the law and the sacred standing of the king. His own confession will become the ground of his accountability. David is establishing what this man understood and what he claims to have done, for responsibility rests on knowledge, and the messenger has openly named himself.
2 Samuel 1:13 in the Original Language
ger (גֵּר), 'stranger' -- a resident foreigner living among Israel, bound to know and keep its laws.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 1:13
What does 2 Samuel 1:13 mean?
David asks the young man where he is from, and he repeats that he is the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.