The Meaning of 2 Samuel 8:8 Explained

2 Samuel 8:8

KJV: And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

YLT: and from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, hath king David taken very much brass.

Darby: And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much bronze.

ASV: And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And from Betah,  and from Berothai,  cities  of Hadadezer,  king  David  took  exceeding  much  brass. 

What does 2 Samuel 8:8 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 8:1-18 - Victorious On Every Side
Twice in this chapter we are told that the Lord gave victory to David "whithersoever he went," 2 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 8:14. Indeed, he was more than a conqueror, for he obtained not only victory but the spoils of his foes, of which he afterward made large donations to the house of God. We are reminded of those great words: "Now thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ;" and, "They also shall overcome that are with Him [1], called and chosen and faithful," 2 Corinthians 2:14 and Revelation 17:14, r.v.
Never in this world shall we be able to lay down our weapons. Often temptations that we thought had passed out of our lives, will revive in their old vigor and present themselves with even greater subtlety and force. Resolutions and vows will fail us. We shall be constantly kept in mind of our weakness and dependence. The only victory which is permanent is our faith, which receives from Him what we cannot achieve for ourselves. It is a very humbling experience, but it is our safeguard against overweening pride. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 8

1  David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites
3  He smites Hadadezer, and the Syrians
9  Toi sends Joram with presents to bless him
11  David dedicates the presents and the spoil to God
14  He puts garrisons in Edom
16  David's officers

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 8:8 mean?

And from Betah and from Berothai cities of Hadadezer took King David bronze Amount of a large -
וּמִבֶּ֥טַח וּמִבֵּֽרֹתַ֖י עָרֵ֣י הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר לָקַ֞ח הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ דָּוִ֛ד נְחֹ֖שֶׁת הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד ס

וּמִבֶּ֥טַח  And  from  Betah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֶּטַח  
Sense: the capital of Zobah during the reign of Hadadezer.
וּמִבֵּֽרֹתַ֖י  and  from  Berothai 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּרֹותָה 
Sense: a place near Hamath.
עָרֵ֣י  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר  of  Hadadezer 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֲדַדְעֶזֶר  
Sense: son of Rehob, a king of Syria-Zobah defeated by David’s army.
לָקַ֞ח  took 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ  King 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
דָּוִ֛ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
נְחֹ֖שֶׁת  bronze 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
הַרְבֵּ֥ה  Amount 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
מְאֹֽד  of  a  large 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation