English Standard Version
2 Samuel 14:20
20In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth."
2 Samuel 14:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
- New International Version (NIV)Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!”
Context of 2 Samuel 14:20
18Then the king answered the woman, "Do not hide from me anything I ask you." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king speak." 19The king said, "Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered and said, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was your servant Joab who commanded me; it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant. In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth." 21Then the king said to Joab, "Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom." 22And Joab fell on his face to the ground and paid homage and blessed the king. And Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant."
Read all of 2 Samuel 142 Samuel 14:20 word by word
לְבַעֲב֤וּר סַבֵּב֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י הַדָּבָ֔ר עָשָׂ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יוֹאָ֖ב אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַאדֹנִ֣י חָכָ֗ם כְּחָכְמַת֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים לָדַ֖עַת אֶֽת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Toעָבוּר‛âbûr ‛âbûr · for the sake ofH5668
- fetch aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: changedH5437
- this formפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
- of speechדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- hath thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- and my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- according to the wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- of an angelמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- to knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- in the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 14:20
- 2 Samuel 5:23And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees.
- 2 Samuel 14:17And your servant thought, 'The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,' for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!"
- 2 Samuel 19:27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you.
- Job 32:21I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.
- Proverbs 26:28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
- Proverbs 29:5A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
- Genesis 3:5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
- Job 38:16"Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?
- 1 Corinthians 8:1Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20According to the wisdom of an angel of God - This is quite in the style of Asiatic flattery. A European is often addressed, "Saheb can do every thing; we can do nothing; none can prevent the execution of Saheb's commands; Saheb is God." See Ward.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God: This wise woman (2 Samuel 14:2) knew it was better to praise a king than to insult him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-212Sa 14:1-21. Joab Instructs a Woman of Tekoah. 2-21. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman--The king was strongly attached to Absalom; and having now got over his sorrow for the violent death of Amnon, he was desirous of again enjoying the society of his favorite son, who had now been three long years absent. But a dread of public opinion and a regard to the public interests made him hesitate about recalling or pardoning his guilty son…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 14:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 14
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries