The Meaning of 2 Samuel 16:16 Explained

2 Samuel 16:16

KJV: And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

YLT: and it cometh to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, hath come unto Absalom, that Hushai saith unto Absalom, 'Let the king live! let the king live!'

Darby: And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, Long live the king! Long live the king!

ASV: And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, Long live the king, Long live the king.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, when Hushai  the Archite,  David's  friend,  was come  unto Absalom,  that Hushai  said  unto Absalom,  God save  the king,  God save  the king. 

What does 2 Samuel 16:16 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 16:13-23 - The True King's Loyal Friend
There are always some alleviations in our trials. Every cloud is edged with a silver or golden fringe. Shimei may curse, but Ittai swears allegiance; Zadok and Abiathar forget their ancient rivalry in a common sorrow; Ahithophel's defection may cut us to the quick, but Hushai is willing to plead our cause.
Beware of any advice which complies with and gratifies the impulses of your own lower nature. He who begins by counseling you to do what is morally wrong can never be trusted as an adviser in matters that require consummate prudence. He is no oracle of God who does not take his stand on righteousness and purity. "The wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable,"¦ and without hypocrisy," James 3:17. Let us not run hither and thither to seek counsel of man. If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not. The one characteristic of a heaven-guided man is his calm decision and deliberateness. They that believe do not make haste! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 16

1  Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master's inheritance
5  At Bahurim, Shimei curses David
9  David with patience abstains, and restrains others, from revenge
15  Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom's counsel
20  Ahithophel's counsel

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 16:16 mean?

And so it was when came Hushai the Archite friend of David to Absalom and said Hushai Absalom [Long] live the king the king
וַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֞א חוּשַׁ֧י הָאַרְכִּ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד אֶל־ אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר חוּשַׁי֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם יְחִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

וַיְהִ֗י  And  so  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בָּ֞א  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
חוּשַׁ֧י  Hushai 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּשַׁי  
Sense: an Archite, a friend of David.
הָאַרְכִּ֛י  the  Archite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְכִּי  
Sense: referring to the home city of Hushai.
רֵעֶ֥ה  friend 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵעֶה  
Sense: friend, friend of the king (technical sense).
דָוִ֖ד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
חוּשַׁי֙  Hushai 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חוּשַׁי  
Sense: an Archite, a friend of David.
אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם  Absalom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
יְחִ֥י  [Long]  live 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.