2 Samuel 15:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Absalom openly wishes he were judge, promising he would grant justice to every petitioner who came to him.
What Does 2 Samuel 15:4 Mean?
Having made each man feel unheard, Absalom now offers himself as the remedy. If only he were judge, he sighs, then everyone with a grievance could come to him and receive justice. The promise costs him nothing and binds him to no one, yet it positions him in the imagination of the people as the answer to their frustrations.
Those who seek power often promise more than the faithful who already hold it. Absalom vows perfect justice he has no intention of delivering, while David, the anointed king, bears the real and tiring weight of rule. The contrast invites discernment: easy promises from the ambitious, costly faithfulness from the called. Christ alone is the Judge who keeps every promise of justice He makes.
2 Samuel 15:4 in the Original Language
shaphat (שָׁפַט), 'judge' -- to govern and decide cases, the office Absalom coveted for himself.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 15:4
What does 2 Samuel 15:4 mean?
Absalom openly wishes he were judge, promising he would grant justice to every petitioner who came to him.