2 Samuel 19:21

2 Samuel 19:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?
• New International Version (NIV)Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”

Context of 2 Samuel 19:21

19He said to the king, ‘Please forgive me for my sin. Do not punish me. I insulted you, my lord, on the day when you left Jerusalem. Please forget about what I did. 20I am your servant. I know that I did a bad thing. So I have come to meet you today. From all the descendants of Joseph, I am the first person to come to meet you here, my lord the king.’ Then Abishai, Zeruiah's son, said, ‘We should kill Shimei. He cursed you, the Lord's chosen king, so he deserves to die.’ 22David replied, ‘No! You sons of Zeruiah should not tell me what to do! Have you become my enemy? You should realize that today I have become king over all Israel. So we should not punish anyone with death.’ 23The king made a strong promise to Shimei. He said to Shimei, ‘You will not die because of this.’

2 Samuel 19:21 word by word

וַיַּ֨עַן אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר הֲתַ֣חַת זֹ֔את לֹ֥א יוּמַ֖ת שִׁמְעִ֑י כִּ֥י קִלֵּ֖ל אֶת־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי'ăbîyshay 'abshay · AbishaiH52
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Zeruiahצְרוּיָהtserûyâh · ZeruiahH6870
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Shall not Shimeiשִׁמְעִיshim‛îy · ShimeiH8096
• be put to deathמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• for this, because he cursedקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• the Lord’sיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• anointedמָשִׁיחַmâshîyach · anointedH4899

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:21

• Exodus 22:28Never insult God. Never curse anyone who is a leader of your people.
• 1 Kings 21:10Put two wicked men in seats near him. Tell them to accuse Naboth that he has insulted God and the king. Then take him out. Throw stones at him until he is dead.’
• 2 Samuel 16:5King David and his people arrived near Bahurim town. Gera's son Shimei came out to meet David. He was a relative of Saul. Shimei cursed David in a loud voice as he came towards him.
• 1 Samuel 24:6David said to his men, ‘I ask the Lord to stop me doing anything wrong to my master. The Lord has chosen him to be Israel's king. I must never do anything to hurt him. He is the king that the Lord has chosen.’
• 1 Samuel 26:9But David said to Abishai, ‘Do not kill Saul. He is the man that the Lord has chosen to be Israel's king. Anyone who attacks him will be guilty of a sin.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:21

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 Those who now slight and abuse the Son of David, would be glad to make their peace when he shall come in his glory; but it will be too late. Shimei lost no time. His abuse had been personal, and with the usual right feeling of good men, David could more easily forgive it.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-22Compare 2 Samuel 16:9–12. Abishai: See study note on 2 Samuel 16:9. Sons of Zeruiah: See study notes on 2 Samuel 2:18; 17:25. Abishai often wanted to kill those against David (compare 2 Samuel 16:9; 1 Samuel 26:8). David was also frustrated with Joab, Abishai’s brother (see 2 Samuel 3:28–29, 39; 19:13; 1 Kings 2:5–6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2316-23. Shemei ... a thousand men of Benjamin with him--This display of [Shemei's] followers was to show what force he could raise against or in support of the king. Expressing the deepest regret for his former outrageous conduct, he was pardoned on the spot; and although the son of Zeruiah urged the expediency of making this chief a public example, his officiousness was repulsed by David with magnanimity, and with the greater confidence that he felt…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 19:21

• Abishai
• Amnesty
• Anointing
• Clemency
• David
• Treason

In the dictionaries

• Shimei
• Conduct
• Cost
• Lord
• Abishai
• Benjamin
• Bible, the
• David
• Israel, History of
• Messiah

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