What Does 2 Samuel 15:11 Mean?
And two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, those who were called. They went in their wholeness, and they knew not any word.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.THE KEY
Being called into a movement does not mean you know what it is doing.
THE MEANING
This verse names a condition that exists now: you can be drawn into something consequential without understanding its purpose. Being among those who go does not by itself mean you know what is unfolding.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that everyone beside a cause knows its aim and knowingly endorses it.
THE ROOT
לְתֻמָּם
le-tummam
GROWS FROM
תמם
tamam
To be complete, whole, or sound.
The word rendered “simplicity” belongs to a root of wholeness and integrity, pointing to guilelessness rather than foolishness. The verse sets that sincerity beside an explicit lack of knowledge: a person can be sincere and still be carried into events they do not understand.
ALSO GROWS
tam: Whole, blameless, or guileless.
תָּם
This branch shows how “simplicity” can carry a sense of integrity rather than lack of intelligence.
tamim: Complete, whole, or blameless.
תָּמִים
Its sense of wholeness deepens the contrast between the men’s sincere manner and their limited understanding.
tummāh: Integrity or innocence.
תֻּמָּה
This branch makes clear that their lack of knowledge is paired with sincerity, not necessarily foolishness.
קְרֻאִים
qeru’im
GROWS FROM
קרא
qara
To call, summon, or proclaim.
“called” in this verse is qeru’im. The word marks a summons into company, not an explanation of its purpose. They answer the call outwardly while lacking knowledge inwardly.
ALSO GROWS
qara: To call, summon, or name.
קָרָא
The root keeps the focus on being summoned, which does not itself establish what the summoned person understands.
miqra: A gathering or convocation; also a reading.
מִקְרָא
This related word can describe people assembled together, illuminating how a person may belong to a gathering without knowing its full purpose.
THE PATTERN
People can be involved in consequential actions without knowing their full meaning or purpose.
And if a living soul misses the mark, and does any one of the things that are not to be done by the commands of the LORD; though he does not perceive it, yet he is guilty, and carries his crookedness.Then Jesus said, Father, release them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they parted his garments, and cast lots.And now, brothers, I know that you did it without knowing, as your rulers also did.THE THREAD
And God said to him in a dream, Yes, I perceive that you did this with an unbroken heart. I also held you back from missing the mark against me, and therefore I did not let you touch her.“Integrity” here comes from the same root as the word rendered “simplicity” in 2 Samuel 15:11. The connection shows that the men’s manner can describe sincerity, while their lack of knowledge remains a separate fact.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us