The Meaning of 2 Samuel 21:21 Explained

2 Samuel 21:21

KJV: And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.

YLT: and he reproacheth Israel, and smite him doth Jonathan son of Shimeah, brother of David;

Darby: And he defied Israel; but Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother smote him.

ASV: And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, slew him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when he defied  Israel,  Jonathan  the son  of Shimea  the brother  of David  slew  him. 

What does 2 Samuel 21:21 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 21:12-22 - More Giants Slain
It was in unsettled weather that Rizpah began her watch; but no hardship daunted her, no cost was too great. She shielded the dear remains from bird and beast till the falling rain gave assurance that the long famine was ended, 2 Samuel 21:10, r.v. Her devotion seems to have aroused David to treat with similar honor the remains of Saul and Jonathan, and all were buried together in the sepulcher of Kish.
Love ignites love, as fire kindles fire, without impoverishment. How often a voice raised in prayerful and passionate affection to Jesus has made volcanic fires leap out where all had seemed extinct! Do not stint your alabaster-boxes, for though they drive a Judas to desperation, they will stimulate a David or a Peter to a forgotten duty.
Monstrous sin stalked the world in the person of these giants, 2 Samuel 21:16-22. They beset the old age of David, as they did his youth, though we may not be assailed by the identical temptations as at first, there never will be a time when the progeny of sin will not molest us-if not passion, then jealousy, or avarice, or pride. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 21

1  The three year Gibeonite famine ceases, by hanging seven of Saul's sons
10  Rizpah's kindness unto the dead
12  David buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan in his father's tomb
15  Four battles against the Philistines, wherein four men of David slay four giants

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 21:21 mean?

So when he defied - Israel and killed him Jonathan the son of Shimei Shimeah brother of David
וַיְחָרֵ֖ף אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן בֶּן־ [שמעי] (שִׁמְעָ֖ה) אֲחִ֥י דָוִֽד

וַיְחָרֵ֖ף  So  when  he  defied 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרַף 
Sense: to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙  and  killed  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן  Jonathan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹונָתָן  
Sense: a son of king Saul and a friend of David.
בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
[שמעי]  of  Shimei 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
(שִׁמְעָ֖ה)  Shimeah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁמְעִי  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Gera of the house of Saul in the time of David.
אֲחִ֥י  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
דָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.