What Does 2 Samuel 16:16 Mean in the King James?

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

2 Samuel 16:16 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Hushai speaks a life-wish over Absalom, while David’s name, ⁨דָּוִד⁩ (Dāwîd, “beloved”), keeps his deeper bond in view.

THE MEANING

This verse speaks to the moment when allegiance becomes public: a blessing can honor the ruler in front of you while another bond remains visible. Hushai speaks life over Absalom, yet the verse identifies him as David’s friend, so public words do not exhaust what a person is loyal to.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A public declaration of allegiance does not always reveal the speaker’s full loyalty.

THE ROOT

יְחִי

yeḥî

GROWS FROM

חיה

ḥ-y-h

to live, be alive

“save” in this verse is yeḥî. The Hebrew cry holds a direct wish in ⁨יְחִי⁩ (yeḥî, “may he live”), from ⁨חיה⁩ (ḥayah, “to live”). The blessing speaks life over the king; beside it, David’s name comes from ⁨דּוֹד⁩ (dôd, “beloved”), keeping Hushai’s bond with David audible.

ALSO GROWS

ḥay: Living, alive

חַי

The same seed names the state the greeting wishes for the king.

meḥayyeh: Giving or preserving life

מְחַיֶּה

This form shows the root can describe life being sustained, deepening the force of the blessing.

THE PATTERN

A ruler’s claim becomes public through the words spoken over the king.

And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

1 Samuel 10:24 · KJVThe people’s acclamation gives Saul’s kingship a public voice.

And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

1 Kings 1:39 · KJVThe people’s words publicly affirm Solomon as king.

Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Luke 19:38 · KJVThe crowd proclaims the arriving king with words that make his claim audible.

THE THREAD

And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

Psalm 72:15 · KJV

“He shall live” draws on the same Hebrew root, ⁨חיה⁩ (ḥayah, “to live”), that underlies Hushai’s cry. Here the king’s life-wish is joined to continual prayer, opening the acclamation toward the question of what sustains a king.

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