2 Samuel 19:20

2 Samuel 19:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
• New International Version (NIV)For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king."
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

Context of 2 Samuel 19:20

18Then they [repeatedly] crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household (family), and to do what pleased him. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan, 19and said to the king, “Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart. For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” 22David said, “What business is this of yours, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”

2 Samuel 19:20 word by word

כִּ֚י יָדַ֣ע עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֖י אֲנִ֣י חָטָ֑אתִי וְהִנֵּֽה־בָ֣אתִי הַיּ֗וֹם רִאשׁוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף לָרֶ֕דֶת לִקְרַ֖את אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• doth knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that I have sinnedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• therefore, behold, I am comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• the firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · firstH7223
• this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of all the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• to go downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• to meetקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:20

• Psalms 78:34When He killed [some of] them, then those remaining sought Him, And they returned [to Him] and searched diligently for God [for a time].
• Jeremiah 22:23O inhabitant of [Jerusalem, whose palaces are made from the cedars of] Lebanon, You who nest in the cedars, How you will groan and how miserable you will be when pains come on you, Pain like a woman in childbirth!
• Hosea 5:15I will go away and return to My place [on high] Until they acknowledge their offense and bear their guilt and seek My face; In their distress they will earnestly seek Me, saying,
• 2 Samuel 19:9All the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king rescued us from the hands of our enemies, and he saved us from the hands of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 16:5When King David came to Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera, came out from there. He was of the family of Saul’s household and he was cursing continually as he came out.
• Genesis 48:14But Israel reached out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands [intentionally], even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
• 1 Kings 12:20It came about when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent word and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. None followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah [including Benjamin].
• Hosea 4:15Though you, Israel, play the prostitute [by worshiping idols], Do not let Judah become guilty [of the same thing]; And do not go to Gilgal [where idols are worshiped], Or go up to Beth-aven (House of Wickedness), Nor swear [oaths in idolatrous worship, saying], “As the Lord lives!”
• Hosea 5:3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the prostitute and have worshiped idols; Israel has defiled itself.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For thy servant doth know that I have sinned - This was all he could do; his subsequent conduct alone could prove his sincerity. On such an avowal as this David could not but grant him his life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20This is the first time that the “house of Joseph,” or “Joseph,” stands for all the ten tribes of which Ephraim was the head and leader. While Saul of Benjamin was king, or while Mahanaim was the capital of his son‘s kingdom, it was not natural so to name them, nor does it seem so at first sight in the mouth of Shimei the Benjamite. But it is very possible that he used the phrase for the purpose of exculpating himself and his own tribe from having taken…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 Those who now slight and abuse the Son of David, would be glad to make their peace when he shall come in his glory; but it will be too late. Shimei lost no time. His abuse had been personal, and with the usual right feeling of good men, David could more easily forgive it.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20your servant knows that I have sinned: Shimei might have truly repented, or he might have been trying to save his life. David's concern for Absalom's safety showed he was not the ruthless throne-stealer Shimei thought. Absalom did not replace David (2 Samuel 16:8), as Shimei claimed. all the house of Joseph: Just as Jacob's name could represent all Israel (for example, Numbers 24:19; Isaiah 10:20), Joseph's name could represent all the northern tribes…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2316-23. Shemei ... a thousand men of Benjamin with him--This display of [Shemei's] followers was to show what force he could raise against or in support of the king. Expressing the deepest regret for his former outrageous conduct, he was pardoned on the spot; and although the son of Zeruiah urged the expediency of making this chief a public example, his officiousness was repulsed by David with magnanimity, and with the greater confidence that he felt…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 19:20

• Amnesty
• Clemency
• David
• Treason

In the dictionaries

• Conduct
• Cost
• Lord
• Benjamin
• Bible, the
• David
• Israel, History of
• Jeroboam
• Samuel, Books of
• Shimei

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19

• 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