Amplified Bible
2 Samuel 14:20
20In order to change the appearance of things [between Absalom and you, his father] your servant Joab did this thing. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”
2 Samuel 14:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
- New International Version (NIV)Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth."
- New King James Version (NKJV)To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”
Context of 2 Samuel 14:20
18Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Do not hide from me anything that I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.” 19The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all of this?” And the woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. Indeed, it was your servant Joab who commanded me; he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant. In order to change the appearance of things [between Absalom and you, his father] your servant Joab did this thing. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.” 21Then the king said to Joab, “Listen, I will most certainly do this thing; now go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22Joab bowed his face toward the ground and lay himself down and blessed the king. Then Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has done the request of his servant.”
Read all of 2 Samuel 142 Samuel 14:20 word by word
לְבַעֲב֤וּר סַבֵּב֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י הַדָּבָ֔ר עָשָׂ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יוֹאָ֖ב אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַאדֹנִ֣י חָכָ֗ם כְּחָכְמַת֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים לָדַ֖עַת אֶֽת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Toעָבוּר‛âbûr ‛âbûr · for the sake ofH5668
- fetch aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: changedH5437
- this formפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
- of speechדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- hath thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- and my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- according to the wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- of an angelמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- to knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- in the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 14:20
- 2 Samuel 5:23When David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.
- 2 Samuel 14:17Then your maidservant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be comforting, for my lord the king is as the angel of God to discern good and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’ ”
- 2 Samuel 19:27Further, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is like the angel of God; so do what is good in your eyes.
- Job 32:21I will not [I warn you] be partial to any man [that is, let my respect for you mitigate what I say]; Nor flatter any man.
- Proverbs 26:28A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
- Proverbs 29:5A man who flatters his neighbor [with smooth words intending to do harm] Is spreading a net for his own feet.
- Genesis 3:5For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.”
- Job 38:16“Have you entered and explored the springs of the sea Or [have you] walked in the recesses of the deep?
- 1 Corinthians 8:1Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom].
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20According to the wisdom of an angel of God - This is quite in the style of Asiatic flattery. A European is often addressed, "Saheb can do every thing; we can do nothing; none can prevent the execution of Saheb's commands; Saheb is God." See Ward.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God: This wise woman (2 Samuel 14:2) knew it was better to praise a king than to insult him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-212Sa 14:1-21. Joab Instructs a Woman of Tekoah. 2-21. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman--The king was strongly attached to Absalom; and having now got over his sorrow for the violent death of Amnon, he was desirous of again enjoying the society of his favorite son, who had now been three long years absent. But a dread of public opinion and a regard to the public interests made him hesitate about recalling or pardoning his guilty son…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 14:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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