2 Samuel 16:19

2 Samuel 16:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
• New International Version (NIV)Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

Context of 2 Samuel 16:19

17Absalom asked Hushai, ‘Why have you not been faithful to your friend David? Why did you not go with him?’ 18Hushai replied, ‘No, I will serve you. You are the king that the Lord has chosen. And all these people and the men of Israel have chosen you too. So I will stay with you. I served your father when he was king. So now it is surely right for me to serve you, his son.’ 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, ‘What do you think that we should do now? What is your advice?’ 21Ahithophel answered, ‘Sleep with your father's slave wives that are here. He left them to take care of his palace. Then all the people in Israel will know that you have insulted your father. They will know that he must now hate you. That will help your own men to be strong.’

2 Samuel 16:19 word by word

וְהַשֵּׁנִ֗ית לְמִי֙ אֲנִ֣י אֶֽעֱבֹ֔ד הֲל֖וֹא לִפְנֵ֣י בְנ֑וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָבַ֙דְתִּי֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ כֵּ֖ן אֶהְיֶ֥ה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And againשֵׁנִיshênîy · secondH8145
• whom should I serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: ministerH5647
• in the presenceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• of his sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• in thy father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
• so will I be in thy presenceפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 16:19

• 2 Samuel 15:34Instead, go back into the city. You should say to Absalom, “I accept you as king and I will be your servant. I was once your father's servant, but now I will be your servant.” Then you will be able to speak against Ahithophel's advice.
• 1 Samuel 28:2David said, ‘Yes, sir. Then you will see how well I can fight!’ Achish replied, ‘Good. Then you will always be my guard to keep me safe.’
• 1 Samuel 29:8David said to King Achish, ‘What have I done that is wrong? You say that you have found nothing wrong with me all the time that I have been with you. You are my master and king. So why should I not go with you to fight your enemies?’
• Psalms 55:21He speaks a message of peace, but he is really thinking about war. His words are easy to listen to, but they hurt like sharp knives.
• Galatians 2:13The other Jewish believers in Antioch also did what Peter did. They became hypocrites like him. Even Barnabas agreed and he copied their example.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16:19

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19whom should I serve: (literally and second, to whom will I do service? Not before his son?): The unclear language continues. Hushai expressed his loyalty as a question, not a promise. He intended to serve David while tricking Absalom into believing he had switched sides. Similarly, As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours literally means, as I served before your father, so I will [serve your father] before you.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1915-19. Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king--Hushai's devotion to David was so well-known, that his presence in the camp of the conspirators excited great surprise. Professing, however, with great address, to consider it his duty to support the cause which the course of Providence and the national will had seemingly decreed should triumph, and urging his friendship for the father as a ground of confidence in his fidelity to the son, he persuaded…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 16:19

• Deception
• Diplomacy
• Falsehood
• Hushai

In the dictionaries

• Bible, the
• David
• Horse
• Hushai
• Israel, History of
• Samuel, Books of
• Solomon

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings