What Does 2 Samuel 21:6 Mean in the King James?

Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

2 Samuel 21:6 · 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

The request and the king’s answer use the same root, ⁨נתן⁩ (natan, “give, set, place”): the men are demanded as a transfer, then handed over by royal consent.

THE MEANING

The verse places the demand and its consent together: seven sons of Saul are requested so they can be hanged before the LORD at Gibeah, and the king answers, “I will give them.” The repeated act of giving makes the handover plain, while “unto the LORD” places the execution within a claim of sacred service. The men themselves bear the cost.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that invoking God makes a ruler’s handover harmless: the king answers in his own voice, “I will give them.”

THE ROOT

וְיִנָּתֵן

wə-yinnāten

GROWS FROM

נתן

n-t-n

To give, set, or place.

English separates “be delivered” from “I will give,” but both are forms of ⁨נתן⁩ (natan, “give, set, place”). The repeated root makes the transfer the hinge between the request and the king’s consent.

ALSO GROWS

vayitten: And he gave.

וַיִּתֵּן

This active form shows the same root as an act of giving, echoing the king’s “I will give them.”

mattanah: Gift; something given.

מַתָּנָה

This noun from the same root shows how ⁨נתן⁩ can name both the act of giving and what is placed into someone’s hands.

בָּנָיו

banav

GROWS FROM

בנה

b-n-h

To build or establish.

The word for sons shares a root with building. The demand reaches into Saul’s line and its continuation, while the verse names the seven men themselves as the ones to be handed over.

ALSO GROWS

ben: Son.

בֵּן

This is the singular form within the same word family as “sons.”

banah: To build or establish.

בָּנָה

This verb makes the connection between sons and the building or continuation of a household audible in Hebrew.

THE PATTERN

A giving verb marks the point where a request becomes an actual transfer, carrying consequences for what is handed over.

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Genesis 9:13 · KJV“Set” comes from ⁨נתן⁩ (natan), showing the root’s range from giving something to placing it as a sign.

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Psalm 106:15 · KJVThe same root marks a request being granted, while the verse names the consequence that follows.

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

John 19:16 · KJVThe Greek verb differs, but the structure echoes this verse: an authority figure hands a person over, and that transfer leads to execution.

THE THREAD

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Psalm 106:15 · KJV

“Gave” here comes from the same ⁨נתן⁩ (natan, “give, set, place”) root as “be delivered” and “I will give” in 2 Samuel 21:6. Both verses hold a request and its granting together, with the consequence resting on what is given.

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