God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 15:20
20You came to us just yesterday. Should I make you wander around with me when I don’t even know where I’m going? Go back, and take your countrymen with you. ⌞May the Lord⌟ always show you kindness.”
2 Samuel 15:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
- New International Version (NIV)You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you."
- New King James Version (NKJV)In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”
Context of 2 Samuel 15:20
18All his mercenaries passed by him; all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, Ittai, and all 600 men who had followed him from Gath were marching past the king. 19The king asked Ittai from Gath, “Why should you go with us? Go back, and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. You came to us just yesterday. Should I make you wander around with me when I don’t even know where I’m going? Go back, and take your countrymen with you. ⌞May the Lord⌟ always show you kindness.” 21But Ittai answered the king, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord and the king live: Wherever you are, whether you’re dead or alive, I’ll be there.” 22So David told Ittai, “Go ahead and keep marching.” So Ittai from Gath marched on with all his men and all the families who were with him.
Read all of 2 Samuel 152 Samuel 15:20 word by word
תְּמ֣וֹל׀ בּוֹאֶ֗ךָ וְהַיּ֞וֹם אֲנִֽיעֲךָ֤ עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ לָלֶ֔כֶת וַאֲנִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֖י הוֹלֵ֑ךְ שׁ֣וּב וְהָשֵׁ֧ב אֶת־אַחֶ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereas thou camestבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- yesterdayתְּמוֹלtemôl temôl · yesterdayH8543
- should I this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- make thee goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- up and downנוּעַnûa‛ · to shakeH5128
- with us? seeing I goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- whither I may, returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- thy brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
- and truthאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: faithfulH571
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 15:20
- Psalms 56:8(You have kept a record of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. They are already in your book.)
- Psalms 59:15They wander around to find something to eat. If they are not full enough, they will stay all night.
- Amos 8:12People will wander from sea to sea and roam from the north to the east, searching for the Lord’s word. But they won’t find it.
- Hebrews 11:37Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and mistreated.
- 1 Samuel 23:13So David and his men, about six hundred in all, left Keilah. They went wherever they could go. Then Saul was told, “David has escaped from Keilah!” So he gave up the campaign.
- 2 Samuel 2:6May the Lord always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this.
- Psalms 25:10Every path of the Lord is ⌞one of⌟ mercy and truth for those who cling to his promise and written instructions.
- Psalms 57:3He sends his help from heaven and saves me. He disgraces the one who is harassing me. Selah God sends his mercy and his truth!
- Psalms 61:7May he sit enthroned in the presence of God forever. May mercy and truth protect him.
- Psalms 85:10Mercy and truth have met. Righteousness and peace have kissed.
- Psalms 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne. Mercy and truth stand in front of you.
- Proverbs 14:22Don’t those who stray plan what is evil, while those who are merciful and faithful plan what is good?
- John 1:17Laws were given through Moses, but kindness and truth came into existence through Jesus Christ.
- 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord be merciful to the family of Onesiphorus. He often took care of my needs and wasn’t ashamed that I was a prisoner.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Mercy and truth be with thee - May God ever show thee mercy, as thou showest it to me, and his truth ever preserve thee from error and delusion!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Thou camest but yesterday - Meaning, “Thou art not a native Israelite, but only a sojourner for a few years, it is not reason therefore that thou shouldst share my calamities. Return to thy place, thy adopted home Jerusalem, and to the king, Absalom” 2 Samuel 15:34-35.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-23Verses 13-23 David determined to quit Jerusalem. He took this resolve, as a penitent submitting to the rod. Before unrighteous Absalom he could justify himself, and stand out; but before the righteous God he must condemn himself, and yield to his judgments. Thus he accepts the punishment of his sin. And good men, when they themselves suffer, are anxious that others should not be led to suffer with them. He compelled none; those whose hearts were with…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. all the Gittites, six hundred men--These were a body of foreign guards, natives of Gath, whom David, when in the country of the Philistines, had enlisted in his service, and kept around his person. Addressing their commander, Ittai, he made a searching trial of their fidelity in bidding them (2Sa 15:19) abide with the new king.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 15:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15
- 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
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