God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 14:20
20Your servant Joab has done this to portray the matter in a different light. You are as wise as God’s Messenger, who knows everything on 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.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)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."
- 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.”
Context of 2 Samuel 14:20
18The king said to the woman, “Please don’t refuse to answer the question I’m going to ask you.” The woman responded, “Please speak, Your Majesty.” 19“Did Joab put you up to this?” the king asked. The woman answered, “I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Yes, your servant Joab ordered me ⌞to do this⌟. He told me to say exactly what I said. Your servant Joab has done this to portray the matter in a different light. You are as wise as God’s Messenger, who knows everything on earth.” 21Then the king told Joab, “This is what you’ll do. Bring back the young man Absalom.” 22Joab quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground, and he blessed the king. He said, “Today I know that you have been kind to me because you have done what I wanted.”
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 5:23David asked the Lord, and he answered, “Don’t attack now, but circle around behind them, and come at them in front of the balsam trees.
- 2 Samuel 14:17I thought that you would reassure me. You are like God’s Messenger, who is able to distinguish right from wrong. May the Lord your God be with you!”
- 2 Samuel 19:27He told you lies about me, Your Majesty. However, you are like God’s Messenger. Do what you think is right.
- Job 32:21I won’t be partial toward anyone or flatter anyone.
- Proverbs 26:28A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
- Proverbs 29:5A person who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for him to step into.
- Genesis 3:5“God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God, knowing good and evil.”
- Job 38:16Have you gone to the springs in the sea or walked through the valleys of the ocean depths?
- 1 Corinthians 8:1Now, concerning food offered to false gods: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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