Read the Bible

KJV dictionary & concordance

tell

Meaning of “tell”

1. To speak, relate, declare, report, inform, explain, reveal, recount, or make known. 2. To know, discern, or determine, especially in 'cannot tell' or 'who can tell.' 3. To count, number, or enumerate.

Definition sources

KJV context and cross-references
217 occurrences208 verses35 booksKJV PCE

Some verses contain the word more than once.

First occurrence: Genesis 12:18

Complete exact-word concordance

Every verse containing “tell”

KJV PCE

Remembering a verse with different wording? Find a verse across the Bible →

Showing verses 1–9 of 9 · 10 word occurrences in this result

2 Samuel 1:4
And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 1:4 · retained source text

And Dauid said vnto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell mee. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battell, and many of the people also are fallen and dead, and Saul and Ionathan his sonne are dead also.

1611 marginal noteHeb. what was &c.

2 Samuel 1:20
Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 1:20 · retained source text

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streetes of Askelon: lest the daughters of the Philistines reioyce, lest the daughters of the vncircumcised triumph.

1611 marginal noteMicah 1.10.

2 Samuel 7:5
Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 7:5 · retained source text

Goe and tell my seruant Dauid, Thus sayth the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

1611 marginal noteHeb. to my seruant to Dauid.

2 Samuel 12:18
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
2 word occurrences in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 12:18 · retained source text

And it came to passe on the seuenth day, that the childe died: and the seruants of Dauid feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they saide, Behold, while the childe was yet aliue, we spake vnto him, and he would not hearken vnto our voice: how will he then vexe himselfe, if we tell him that the childe is dead?

1611 marginal noteHeb. doe hurt.

2 Samuel 12:22
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 12:22 · retained source text

And he said, While the child was yet aliue, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell, whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may liue?

2 Samuel 13:4
And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 13:4 · retained source text

And he saide vnto him, Why art thou, being the Kings sonne, leane from day to day? Wilt thou not tel me? and Amnon said vnto him, I loue Tamar my brother Absaloms sister.

1611 marginal noteHeb. thin.

1611 marginal noteHeb. morning by morning.

2 Samuel 15:35
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 15:35 · retained source text

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok, and Abiathar the Priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soeuer thou shalt heare out of the kings house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.

2 Samuel 17:16
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 17:16 · retained source text

Now therefore send quickly, and tell Dauid, saying, Lodge not this night in the plaines of the wildernes, but speedily passe ouer, lest the King be swallowed vp, and all the people that are with him.

2 Samuel 18:21
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 18:21 · retained source text

Then said Ioab to Cushi, Goe tell the King what thou hast seene. And Cushi bowed himselfe vnto Ioab, and ranne.

Complete reference index — all 208 verses

Where “tell” appears

Select a book to filter the concordance. Occurrences and verses are counted separately.

Source order

Definition evidence

Study connections