English Standard Version
2 Samuel 23:6
6But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand;
2 Samuel 23:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
- New International Version (NIV)But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them.
Context of 2 Samuel 23:6
4he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 5"For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire." 8These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.
Read all of 2 Samuel 232 Samuel 23:6 word by word
וּבְלִיַּ֕עַל כְּק֥וֹץ מֻנָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֑הַם כִּֽי־לֹ֥א בְיָ֖ד יִקָּֽחוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:6
- 2 Samuel 20:1Now there happened to be there a worthless man, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. And he blew the trumpet and said, "We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel!"
- Deuteronomy 13:13that certain worthless fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known,
- 1 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
- Genesis 3:18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
- Isaiah 33:12And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire."
- Ezekiel 2:6And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns - There is no word in the text for sons; it is simply Belial, the good-for-nothing man, and may here refer - first to Saul, and secondly to the enemies of our Lord. As thorns thrust away - A metaphor taken from hedging; the workman thrusts the thorns aside either with his bill or hand, protected by his impenetrable mitten or glove, till, getting a fair blow at the roots, he cuts them all down. The man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Compare Psalm 1:4–5.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns--that is, the wicked enemies and persecutors of this kingdom of righteousness. They resemble those prickly, thorny plants which are twisted together, whose spires point in every direction, and which are so sharp and strong that they cannot be touched or approached without danger; but hard instruments and violent means must be taken to destroy or uproot them. So God will remove or destroy all who are…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 23:6
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries