The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:25 Explained

2 Samuel 3:25

KJV: Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

YLT: Thou hast known Abner son of Ner, that to deceive thee he came, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.'

Darby: Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

ASV: Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou knowest  Abner  the son  of Ner,  that he came  to deceive  thee, and to know  thy going out  and thy coming in,  and to know  all that thou doest. 

What does 2 Samuel 3:25 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 3:22-30 - A Treacherous Revenge
There is no doubt that Abner was guilty of disloyalty and treachery, but this did not excuse Joab's dastardly act. He could not claim the right to act as goel-blood avenger-for his dead brother, because Asahel had died a soldier's death in open war. Joab was probably actuated by jealousy of the military talents, the vast influence and the widespread popularity of the rival general whom he murdered in cold blood, just outside the city of refuge. Evidently he was a fierce, cruel, unscrupulous man, who hurt David more than he helped him, 2 Samuel 3:39. But Joab also was destined to suffer similar punishment in after-years, 1 Kings 2:28-34.
This world is governed according to a plan. We need not try to climb into the judgment-seat. God is there already. His rewards and punishments befall with greater certainty than we always believe. Whether their schemes are hidden amid the intricacies of state, or open to all eyes, let us be sure that evil men reap as they have sown, and suffer evils similar to those which they endeavor to inflict upon others. We all get our deserts. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 3

1  During the war David becomes stronger
2  Six sons are born to him in Hebron
6  Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth
7  revolts to David
13  David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal
17  Abner confers with the Israelites, feasted by David, and dismissed
22  Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner
28  David curses Joab
31  and mourns for Abner

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 3:25 mean?

surely you realize - Abner son of Ner that to deceive you came and to know your going out and - your coming in - all that you are doing
יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן־ נֵ֔ר כִּ֥י לְפַתֹּתְךָ֖ בָּ֑א וְלָדַ֜עַת מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֙ וְאֶת־ [מבואך] (מ֣וֹבָאֶ֔ךָ) אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה

יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙  surely  you  realize 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
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.
אַבְנֵ֣ר  Abner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינֵר 
Sense: Saul’s cousin and army captain, treacherously slain by Joab.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נֵ֔ר  of  Ner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵר  
Sense: son of Jehiel, father of Kish, and grandfather of king Saul.
כִּ֥י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
לְפַתֹּתְךָ֖  to  deceive  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּתָה 
Sense: to be spacious, be open, be wide.
בָּ֑א  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
וְלָדַ֜עַת  and  to  know 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֙  your  going  out 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מֹוצָא  
Sense: act or place of going out or forth, issue, export, source, spring.
[מבואך]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
(מ֣וֹבָאֶ֔ךָ)  your  coming  in 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מָבֹוא  
Sense: entrance, a coming in, entering.
אֵ֛ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עֹשֶֽׂה  are  doing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.