2 Samuel 23:17

2 Samuel 23:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
• New International Version (NIV)“Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and said, "Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

Context of 2 Samuel 23:17

15David was extremely thirsty and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!” 16So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors. 18Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah, was leader of the Three. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three. 19Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.

2 Samuel 23:17 word by word

וַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִילָה֩ לִּ֨י יְהוָ֜ה מֵעֲשֹׂ֣תִי זֹ֗את הֲדַ֤ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Be it farחָלִ֫ילָהchâlîylâh châlilâh · forbidH2486
• from me, O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• that I should doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• the bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• of the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• that wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• in jeopardy of their livesנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• therefore he wouldאָבָה'âbâh · be willingH14
• not drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• these threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• mighty menגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:17

• 2 Samuel 20:20Joab protested: “Never! I would never devour or demolish!
• Genesis 44:17Then Joseph said, “I swear that I will not do this. The man in whose possession the cup was found will be my slave. The rest of you can go in peace to your father.”
• 1 Samuel 2:30“Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced.
• 1 Samuel 26:11However, as the Lord is my witness, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
• 1 Kings 21:3But Naboth said to Ahab, “As the Lord is my witness, I will never give my ancestors’ inheritance to you.”
• 1 Chronicles 11:19David said, “I would never do such a thing in the presence of my God! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
• Genesis 9:4However, you must not eat meat with its lifeblood in it.
• Leviticus 17:10“Anyone from the house of Israel or from the aliens who reside among them who eats any blood, I will turn against that person who eats blood and cut him off from his people.
• Psalms 72:14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious in his sight.
• Matthew 26:28For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
• Mark 14:24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
• John 6:52At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
• Judges 5:18The people of Zebulun defied death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.
• 1 Corinthians 15:30Why are we in danger every hour?

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:17

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Better as in 1 Chronicles 11:19.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-39Verses 8-39 David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Is this not the blood of the men: When David poured the water onto the ground, this action did not show ingratitude. Instead, the water had been brought back at the risk of the warriors’ lives. David treated the water as equal to their blood. In this way, the water represented life itself, which belongs to God alone and must not be consumed by humans (Leviticus 17:10–13; Deuteronomy 12:23–24).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 23:17

• Armies
• Unselfishness

In the dictionaries

• Bethlehem
• David
• Giants
• Hareth
• Jashobeam
• Rephaim, Valley of
• Sure
• Troop
• Abishai
• Adullam

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23

• 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