And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

2 SAMUEL 20:25KJV
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2 Samuel 20:25 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 20:25 mean?

2 Samuel 20:25 identifies people serving in David’s government: Sheva as scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar as priests. The verse places a writing and record-keeping office alongside the work of priests, who served in the worship of God.

The narrator includes these names in a list of David’s officials. Following the military and administrative posts in verse 24, this verse turns to the scribe and the priests. Naming both Zadok and Abiathar shows that two men held priestly roles at this point.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 20:25

  • “scribe” — סֹפֵר (sofer): A person who writes or records. In a royal setting, the word points to an official whose work could include written communications and records.

Why 2 Samuel 20:25 matters

  • The two priests belonged to a larger group of royal officials. Their names appear alongside people responsible for other parts of David’s government in 2 Samuel 20:23–26.
  • Zadok and Abiathar had already served during David’s flight from Absalom. In 2 Samuel 15:24–29, David sent them back to Jerusalem with the ark, the sacred chest associated with God’s presence.

Where else these words appear

“Sheva” Hebrew H7724 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 2:49 She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.

“Abiathar” Hebrew H54 · used in 28 verses

  • 1 Samuel 22:20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
  • 2 Samuel 15:29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
  • 1 Kings 2:22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

“Zadok” Hebrew H6659 · used in 50 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
  • 1 Kings 1:38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
  • 1 Chronicles 24:3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.