2 Samuel 6:4
New International Version
with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it.

New Living Translation
that carried the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark.

English Standard Version
with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.

Berean Standard Bible
bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

King James Bible
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

New King James Version
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.

New American Standard Bible
So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.

NASB 1995
So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.

NASB 1977
So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.

Amplified Bible
So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

Christian Standard Bible
and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark.

American Standard Version
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

Contemporary English Version
with Ahio walking in front of it.

English Revised Version
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They brought it from Abinadab's home, with Ahio walking ahead of the ark.

Good News Translation
with Ahio walking in front.

International Standard Version
As they left Abinadab's house in Gibeah accompanied by the Ark of God, Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.

Majority Standard Bible
bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

NET Bible
They brought it with the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark,

New Heart English Bible
with the ark; and Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

World English Bible
They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which [is] in the height, with the Ark of God, and Ahio is going before the Ark,

Young's Literal Translation
and they lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which is in the height, with the ark of God, and Ahio is going before the ark,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which is in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they had taken it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa, Ahio having care of the ark of God went before the ark.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they had taken it from the house of Abinadab, who was in Gibeon, Ahio preceded the ark as the keeper of the ark of God.

New American Bible
with Ahio walking before it,

New Revised Standard Version
with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they brought the ark of God out of the house of Abinadab which was in Gibeah, and Ahia went before the ark.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab that was in Geban, and Akhia went on before the ark
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And his brethren went before the ark.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Fetches the Ark
3They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, 4bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

Cross References
1 Chronicles 13:7-8
So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart. / David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

1 Samuel 4:4-5
So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. / When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

Numbers 4:15
When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

Exodus 25:14-15
Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, in order to carry it. / The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed.

1 Samuel 6:7-8
Now, therefore, prepare one new cart with two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. / Take the ark of the LORD, set it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to Him as a guilt offering. Then send the ark on its way,

1 Chronicles 15:2
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

1 Chronicles 15:13-15
It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.” / So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. / And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

1 Samuel 7:1-2
Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD. / And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.

1 Samuel 6:19-21
But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. / The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?” / So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”

1 Kings 8:1-6
At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David. / And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim. / When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, ...

1 Chronicles 15:25-28
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. / And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. / Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. ...

1 Chronicles 16:1
So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

1 Samuel 5:1-2
After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, / carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.

1 Samuel 6:1-2
When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months, / the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”

1 Samuel 6:10-12
So the men did as instructed. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves. / Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold rats and the images of the tumors. / And the cows headed straight up the road toward Beth-shemesh, staying on that one highway and lowing as they went, never straying to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed behind them to the border of Beth-shemesh.


Treasury of Scripture

And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

1 Samuel 7:1,2
And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD…

1 Chronicles 13:7
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.

accompanying [heb] with

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Abinadab Accompanying Ahead Ahio Ahi'o Ark Front Gibeah Height Hill House Lift Side Uzzah Walking
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Abinadab Accompanying Ahead Ahio Ahi'o Ark Front Gibeah Height Hill House Lift Side Uzzah Walking
2 Samuel 6
1. David fetches the ark from Kirjath Jearim on a new cart,
6. Uzzah is smitten at Perez Uzzah
9. God blesses Obed-Edom for the ark
12. David brings the ark into Zion with sacrifices, and dances before it;
16. for which Michal despises him
17. He places it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting
20. Michal, reproving David for his joy, is childless to her death














They brought it
This phrase refers to the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Hebrew root for "brought" is "נָשָׂא" (nasa), which means to lift, carry, or bear. This action signifies the reverence and care required in handling the Ark, as it was the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people. The act of bringing the Ark underscores the importance of obedience and reverence in worship.

with the ark of God
The Ark of God, or the Ark of the Covenant, was central to Israelite worship and symbolized God's throne on earth. The Hebrew word for "ark" is "אֲרוֹן" (aron), meaning chest or box. The Ark was not just a religious artifact but a powerful symbol of God's covenant with Israel, His guidance, and His holiness. It served as a reminder of God's promises and His law, which were to be at the heart of the nation's life.

from the house of Abinadab
Abinadab's house had been the resting place of the Ark for many years after it was returned by the Philistines. The name "Abinadab" means "my father is noble" or "father of generosity," reflecting perhaps the honor and responsibility of housing the Ark. This setting indicates a period of waiting and preparation before the Ark could be moved to its rightful place, symbolizing the need for readiness and sanctification in approaching God.

which was on the hill
The location on a hill, or "גִּבְעָה" (gib'ah) in Hebrew, suggests a place of prominence and visibility. Hills were often sites of worship in ancient times, symbolizing elevation towards the divine. The positioning of the Ark on a hill could represent the exalted nature of God's presence and the need for His people to look up to Him, both physically and spiritually.

and Ahio was walking in front of the ark
Ahio, whose name means "brotherly" or "fraternal," was one of the sons of Abinadab. His role in walking before the Ark signifies leadership and guidance. In a spiritual sense, this act of walking in front of the Ark can be seen as a metaphor for leading a life that honors God, setting an example for others to follow. It also highlights the importance of having godly leaders who pave the way for the community in worship and obedience to God.

(4) And they brought it.--The text has undoubtedly suffered here through the repetition of a line by the scribes. The whole verse is omitted in the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 13, and the first half of it (which is a repetition of 2Samuel 6:3) in the LXX.

Verse 4. - Accompanying (Hebrew, with) the ark. The verse is evidently corrupt, and we have no aid from the parallel place in Chronicles, except the fact that it is omitted there. The most probable explanation is that the first half of the verse has been repeated from ver. 3 by the error of some copyist, and that the original words were "Uzzah and Ahio drove the new cart with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark." While Uzzah walked at the side, Ahio went before the oxen to guide and manage them, as the Basques may be seen at the present day doing in the south of France.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
bringing
וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֗הוּ (way·yiś·śā·’u·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

with it
עִ֖ם (‘im)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the ark
אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of God
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

from the house
מִבֵּ֤ית (mib·bêṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Abinadab,
אֲבִֽינָדָב֙ (’ă·ḇî·nā·ḏāḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 41: Abinadab -- 'my father is noble', three Israelites

which [was]
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

on the hill.
בַּגִּבְעָ֔ה (bag·giḇ·‘āh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1389: A hillock

And Ahio
וְאַחְי֕וֹ (wə·’aḥ·yōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 283: Ahio -- 'brotherly', the name of several Israelites

was walking
הֹלֵ֖ךְ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in front
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the ark.
הָאָרֽוֹן׃ (hā·’ā·rō·wn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 727: A chest, ark


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OT History: 2 Samuel 6:4 They brought it out of the house (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 6:3
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