2 Samuel 19:34

2 Samuel 19:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
• New International Version (NIV)But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
• English Standard Version (ESV)But Barzillai said to the king, "How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

Context of 2 Samuel 19:34

32Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; and he had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great and wealthy man. 33The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and I will provide for you in Jerusalem with me.” But Barzillai said to the king, “How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35I am this day eighty years old. Can I [be useful to advise you to] discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward?

2 Samuel 19:34 word by word

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר בַּרְזִלַּ֖י אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כַּמָּ֗ה יְמֵי֙ שְׁנֵ֣י חַיַּ֔י כִּי־אֶעֱלֶ֥ה אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Barzillaiבַּרְזִלַּיbarzillay · BarzillaiH1271
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• How longיוֹםyôm · day: yearH3117
• have I to liveחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
• have I to liveשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• that I should go upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• unto Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:34

• Genesis 47:9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. Few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, and they have not reached the years that my fathers lived during the days of their pilgrimage.”
• Job 14:14If a man dies, will he live again? I will wait all the days of my struggle Until my change and release will come.
• Psalms 39:5Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths, And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah.
• 1 Corinthians 7:29But I say this, believers: the time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they did not;
• James 4:14Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:34

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-39Verses 31-39 Barzillai thought he had done himself honour in doing the king any service. Thus, when the saints shall be called to inherit the kingdom, they will be amazed at the recompence being so very far beyond the service, Mt 25:37. A good man would not go any where to be burdensome; or, will rather be so to his own house than to another's. It is good for all, but especially becomes old people, to think and speak much of dying. The grave is ready for…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-40Barzillai was old and weak, so he turned down David's invitation to the royal court in Jerusalem. This invitation was a reward for Barzillai's help. Instead, David took Barzillai’s son Kimham (see also 1 Kings 2:7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-4031-40. Barzillai the Gileadite--The rank, great age, and chivalrous devotion of this Gileadite chief wins our respect. His declining to go to court, his recommendation of his son, his convoy across the Jordan, and his parting scene with the king, are interesting incidents. What mark of royal favor was bestowed on Chimham has not been recorded; but it is probable that David gave a great part of his personal patrimony in Beth-lehem to Chimham and his heirs…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 19:34

• Barzillai
• Contentment
• David
• Old Age

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Conduct
• Cost
• Lord
• Barzillai
• Benjamin
• Bible, the
• David
• Israel, History of
• Samuel, Books of

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