Christian Standard Bible
2 Samuel 3:39
39As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil!”
2 Samuel 3:39 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
- New International Version (NIV)And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
Context of 2 Samuel 3:39
37On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner. 38Then the king said to his soldiers, “You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today. As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil!”
Read all of 2 Samuel 32 Samuel 3:39 word by word
וְאָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֥וֹם רַךְ֙ וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ מֶ֔לֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י צְרוּיָ֖ה קָשִׁ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נִּי יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם יְהוָ֛ה לְעֹשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה כְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- weakרַךְrak · tenderH7390
- though anointedמָשַׁחmâshach · to anointH4886
- kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- and these menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Zeruiahצְרוּיָהtserûyâh · ZeruiahH6870
- too hardקָשֶׁהqâsheh · severeH7186
- for me: the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- shall rewardשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
- the doer of evilעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- according to his wickednessרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 3:39
- Exodus 21:12“Whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death.
- 2 Chronicles 19:6Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.
- Psalms 75:10“I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”
- Psalms 101:8Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, wiping out all evildoers from the Lord’s city.
- Proverbs 20:8A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.
- Proverbs 25:5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
- 1 Chronicles 22:5David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly great and famous and glorious in all the lands. Therefore, I will make provision for it.” So David made lavish preparations for it before his death.
- Isaiah 7:4Say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Don’t be afraid or cowardly because of these two smoldering sticks, the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and the son of Remaliah.
- Romans 13:4For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
- 1 Chronicles 2:15Ozem sixth, and David seventh.
- 2 Samuel 19:6by loving your enemies and hating those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!
- 1 Kings 2:5“You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me and what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s army, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He murdered them in a time of peace to avenge blood shed in war. He spilled that blood on his own waistband and on the sandals of his feet.
- Psalms 7:16His trouble comes back on his own head; his own violence comes down on top of his head.
- Psalms 28:4Repay them according to what they have done — according to the evil of their deeds. Repay them according to the work of their hands; give them back what they deserve.
- Psalms 62:12and faithful love belongs to you, Lord. For you repay each according to his works.
- 2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3:39
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39I am this day weak - Had Abner lived, all the tribes of Israel would have been brought under my government. Though anointed king - I have little else than the title: first, having only one tribe under my government; and secondly, the sons of Zeruiah, Joab and his brethren, having usurped all the power, and reduced me to the shadow of royalty. The Lord shall reward the doer of evil - That is, Joab, whom he appears afraid to name. We talk much of ancient…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-39Verses 22-39 Judgments are prepared for such scorners as Abner; but Joab, in what he did, acted wickedly. David laid Abner's murder deeply to heart, and in many ways expressed his detestation of it. The guilt of blood brings a curse upon families: if men do not avenge it, God will. It is a sad thing to die like a fool, as they do that any way shorten their own days, and those who make no provision for another world. Who would be fond of power, when a man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 39too fierce for me: Just as Ish-bosheth could not control Abner, David could not control Joab. However, David had faith that the Lord would repay Joab for murdering Abner.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 3:39
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3
- 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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