2 Samuel 19:35

2 Samuel 19:35 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
• New International Version (NIV)I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
• English Standard Version (ESV)I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
• New King James Version (NKJV)I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?

Context of 2 Samuel 19:35

33The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I’ll provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.” 34Barzillai replied to the king, “How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I’m now eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you.”

2 Samuel 19:35 word by word

בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִ֣ים שָׁנָה֩ אָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֜וֹם הַאֵדַ֣ע׀ בֵּין־ט֣וֹב לְרָ֗ע אִם־יִטְעַ֤ם עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֹכַל֙ וְאֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה אִם־אֶשְׁמַ֣ע ע֔וֹד בְּק֖וֹל שָׁרִ֣ים וְשָׁר֑וֹת וְלָמָּה֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ עוֹד֙ לְמַשָּׂ֔א אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• fourscoreשְׁמֹנִיםshemônîym shemônîym · eightyH8084
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
• can I discernיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• between goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• and evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
• can thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• tasteטָעַםţâ‛am · to perceiveH2938
• whatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• I eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• I drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• can I hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• any more the voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
• of singing menשִׁירshîyr shûr · to singH7891
• be yet a burdenמַשָּׂאmaώώâ' · burdenH4853
• unto my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:35

• Job 6:30Is there injustice on my tongue or can my palate not taste disaster?
• Job 12:11Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
• Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature — for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
• 1 Peter 2:3if you have tasted that the Lord is good.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;
• Ezra 2:65not including their 7,337 male and female servants, and their 200 male and female singers.
• Nehemiah 7:67not including their 7,337 male and female servants, as well as their 245 male and female singers.
• Exodus 2:8“Go,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. So the girl went and called the boy’s mother.
• Exodus 12:4If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each will eat.
• 2 Samuel 13:25The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn’t willing to go, though he did bless him.
• 2 Samuel 15:33David said to him, “If you go away with me, you’ll be a burden to me,

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35Can thy servant taste what I eat - Here is at once an affecting description of the infirmities of old age; and a correct account of the mode of living at an Eastern court in ancient times. Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for his food was gone: he therefore appears to have been not only an old man, but an infirm old man. Besides delicate meats and drinks, we find that vocal music constituted a principal…Read the comment
• 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 19:35

• Barzillai
• Contentment
• David
• Music
• Old Age
• Taste

In the dictionaries

• Conduct
• Cost
• Lord
• Music
• Barzillai
• Benjamin
• Bible, the
• Burden
• David
• Israel, History 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