And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

2 SAMUEL 4:9KJV
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2 Samuel 4:9 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 4:9 mean?

In 2 Samuel 4:9, David begins a solemn declaration to Rechab and Baanah by appealing to the living LORD, whom he credits with rescuing him from every danger. David’s words prepare the brothers for his judgment on their killing of Saul’s son Ish-bosheth.

The brothers have brought David Ish-bosheth’s head, expecting their act to be welcome. David’s opening shifts attention from their deed to the LORD’s care for him. The sentence continues into the verses that follow.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 4:9

  • “redeemed” — פָּדָה (padah): This word can mean to rescue or release someone from danger. Here David uses it for the LORD’s deliverance of his life from trouble.
  • “soul” — נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh): This word can refer to a person’s life. In David’s phrase, “redeemed my soul” conveys the rescue of David himself.
  • “adversity” — צָרָה (tsarah): This word means distress or trouble. David speaks broadly of dangers he has faced, rather than naming one particular event.

Why 2 Samuel 4:9 matters

  • David’s appeal to the LORD gives weight to what follows. “As the LORD liveth” introduces a serious declaration, not a casual response to the brothers.
  • David’s account of his rescue helps explain his response to the killing. In verses 10–11, he compares the brothers’ deed with an earlier killing reported to him as good news, then orders their deaths.

Where else these words appear

“Beerothite” Hebrew H886 · used in 5 verses

  • 2 Samuel 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin:(for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
  • 2 Samuel 4:3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
  • 2 Samuel 4:5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

“Baanah” Hebrew H1196 · used in 9 verses

  • 2 Samuel 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin:(for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
  • 2 Samuel 4:6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
  • Ezra 2:2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

“Rechab” Hebrew H7394 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Samuel 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin:(for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
  • 2 Kings 10:23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.
  • Jeremiah 35:8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;

“Rimmon” Hebrew H7417 · used in 13 verses

  • Joshua 15:32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
  • Judges 20:47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
  • 2 Kings 5:18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.