2 Samuel 15:21

2 Samuel 15:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
• New International Version (NIV)But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But Ittai answered the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

Context of 2 Samuel 15:21

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. 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.” But 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. 23The whole country was crying loudly as all the troops were passing by. The king was crossing the Kidron Valley, and all the people were moving down the road toward the desert.

2 Samuel 15:21 word by word

וַיַּ֧עַן אִתַּ֛י אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חַי־יְהוָ֗ה וְחֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֠י אִם־בִּמְק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֣ם׀ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִם־לְמָ֙וֶת֙ אִם־לְחַיִּ֔ים כִּי־שָׁ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Ittaiאִתַּי'ittay 'îythay · IttaiH863
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
• my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• surely in what placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• shall be, whether in deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
• or lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
• even there also will thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 15:21

• 1 Samuel 20:3But David took an oath, saying, “Your father certainly knows that you support me, so he said ⌞to himself⌟, ‘Jonathan must not know about this. It will bring him distress.’ But I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, I’m only one step away from death.”
• 1 Samuel 25:26“The Lord has kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. Now, sir, I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal.
• 2 Kings 2:2Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Bethel.” Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Bethel.
• 2 Kings 4:30The boy’s mother said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, I will not leave without you.” So Elisha got up and followed her.
• Ruth 1:16But Ruth answered, “Don’t force me to leave you. Don’t make me turn back from following you. Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
• Proverbs 17:17A friend always loves, and a brother is born to share trouble.
• Proverbs 18:24Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.
• Matthew 8:19An expert in Moses’ Teachings came to him and said, “Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
• John 6:66Jesus’ speech made many of his disciples go back to the lives they had led before they followed Jesus.
• Acts 11:23When he arrived there, he was pleased to see what God had done for them out of kindness. So he encouraged all the people to remain solidly committed to the Lord.
• Acts 21:13Then Paul replied, “Why are you crying like this and breaking my heart? I’m ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but also to die there for the sake of the Lord, the one named Jesus.”
• 2 Corinthians 7:3I’m not saying this to condemn you. I’ve already told you that you are in our hearts so that we will live and die together.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15:21

• 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

Topics related to 2 Samuel 15:21

• David
• Friendship
• Gath
• Ittai
• Loyalty
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• Barefoot
• Hear
• Ittai
• Prepare
• Steal
• Turn
• Bible, the
• David
• Israel, History of

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