God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 11:25
25David said to the messenger, “This is what you are to say to Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing trouble you, because a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage him.”
2 Samuel 11:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
- New International Version (NIV)David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.' And encourage him."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”
Context of 2 Samuel 11:25
23The messenger said, “Their men overpowered us and came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries, and some of Your Majesty’s mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead.” David said to the messenger, “This is what you are to say to Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing trouble you, because a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage him.” 26When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. 27When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home, and she became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord considered David’s actions evil.
Read all of 2 Samuel 112 Samuel 11:25 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־הַמַּלְאָ֗ךְ כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֤ר אֶל־יוֹאָב֙ אַל־יֵרַ֤ע בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־כָזֹ֥ה וְכָזֶ֖ה תֹּאכַ֣ל הֶחָ֑רֶב הַחֲזֵ֨ק מִלְחַמְתְּךָ֧ אֶל־הָעִ֛יר וְהָרְסָ֖הּ וְחַזְּקֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto the messengerמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
- unto Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- Let not this thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- displeaseעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- displeaseיָרַעyâra‛ · quiverH3415
- thee, for the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- devourethאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- one as well as anotherזֹהzôh · thisH2090
- make thy battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- more strongחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- against the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- and overthrowהָרַסhâras · to overthrowH2040
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 11:25
- Joshua 7:8Lord, what else can I say after Israel ran away from its enemy?
- 1 Samuel 6:9but then watch where it goes. If it goes up the road to its own country toward Beth Shemesh, then this disaster is the Lord’s doing. But if not, we’ll know it wasn’t his hand that struck us, but what happened to us was an accident.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:1Now, I have carefully thought about all this, and I explain it in this way: Righteous people and wise people, along with their accomplishments, are in God’s hands. No one knows whether there will be love or hatred.
- 2 Samuel 12:26Meanwhile, Joab fought against the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its royal fortress.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 11:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25The sword devoureth one as well as another - What abominable hypocrisy was here! He well knew that Uriah's death was no chance-medley; he was by his own order thrust on the edge of the sword.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-27Verses 14-27 Adulteries often occasion murders, and one wickedness is sought to be covered by another. The beginnings of sin are much to be dreaded; for who knows where they will end? Can a real believer ever tread this path? Can such a person be indeed a child of God? Though grace be not lost in such an awful case, the assurance and consolation of it must be suspended. All David's life, spirituality, and comfort in religion, we may be sure were lost. No…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25the sword devours one as well as another: David spoke as if death in war were random and unavoidable. His words show a cold and careless attitude toward the unnecessary deaths he had caused.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 11:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 11
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries