2 Samuel 19:20

2 Samuel 19:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
• New International Version (NIV)For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king."
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

Context of 2 Samuel 19:20

18They crossed the river to bring over the king’s family and to do anything else the king wanted. Shimei, Gera’s son, bowed down in front of the king as he was going to cross the Jordan River. 19He pleaded with the king, “Don’t remember the crime I committed the day you left Jerusalem. Don’t hold it against me or even think about it, Your Majesty. I know I’ve sinned. Today I’ve come as the first of all the house of Joseph to meet you.” 21But Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, replied, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for cursing the Lord’s anointed king?” 22David responded, “Are you sure we’re from the same family, sons of Zeruiah? You are my enemies today. Should anyone in Israel be killed today? Don’t I know that I’m king of Israel again?”

2 Samuel 19:20 word by word

כִּ֚י יָדַ֣ע עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֖י אֲנִ֣י חָטָ֑אתִי וְהִנֵּֽה־בָ֣אתִי הַיּ֗וֹם רִאשׁוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף לָרֶ֕דֶת לִקְרַ֖את אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• doth knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that I have sinnedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• therefore, behold, I am comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• the firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · firstH7223
• this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of all the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• to go downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• to meetקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:20

• Psalms 78:34When he killed ⌞some of⌟ them, ⌞the rest⌟ searched for him. They turned from their sins and eagerly looked for God.
• Jeremiah 22:23You live in Lebanon and have your nest in the cedars. But you will groan when pain strikes you, pain like a woman giving birth to a child.
• Hosea 5:15I will go back to my place until they admit that they are guilty. Then they will search for me. In their distress they will eagerly look for me.”
• 2 Samuel 19:9All the people in all the tribes of Israel were arguing with one another, saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but now he has fled from Absalom and left the country.
• 2 Samuel 16:5When King David came to Bahurim, a man who was a distant cousin of Saul came out cursing. His name was Shimei, son of Gera.
• Genesis 48:14But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was older.
• 1 Kings 12:20When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent men to invite him to the assembly. They made him king of all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to David’s dynasty.
• Hosea 4:15“Israel, you act like a prostitute. Don’t let Judah become guilty too. Don’t go to Gilgal. Don’t go to Beth Aven. Don’t take the oath, ‘As the Lord lives. …’
• Hosea 5:3I know Ephraim, and Israel isn’t a stranger to me. Now, Ephraim, you are acting like a prostitute, and Israel is unclean.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For thy servant doth know that I have sinned - This was all he could do; his subsequent conduct alone could prove his sincerity. On such an avowal as this David could not but grant him his life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20This is the first time that the “house of Joseph,” or “Joseph,” stands for all the ten tribes of which Ephraim was the head and leader. While Saul of Benjamin was king, or while Mahanaim was the capital of his son‘s kingdom, it was not natural so to name them, nor does it seem so at first sight in the mouth of Shimei the Benjamite. But it is very possible that he used the phrase for the purpose of exculpating himself and his own tribe from having taken…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 Those who now slight and abuse the Son of David, would be glad to make their peace when he shall come in his glory; but it will be too late. Shimei lost no time. His abuse had been personal, and with the usual right feeling of good men, David could more easily forgive it.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20your servant knows that I have sinned: Shimei might have truly repented, or he might have been trying to save his life. David's concern for Absalom's safety showed he was not the ruthless throne-stealer Shimei thought. Absalom did not replace David (2 Samuel 16:8), as Shimei claimed. all the house of Joseph: Just as Jacob's name could represent all Israel (for example, Numbers 24:19; Isaiah 10:20), Joseph's name could represent all the northern tribes…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2316-23. Shemei ... a thousand men of Benjamin with him--This display of [Shemei's] followers was to show what force he could raise against or in support of the king. Expressing the deepest regret for his former outrageous conduct, he was pardoned on the spot; and although the son of Zeruiah urged the expediency of making this chief a public example, his officiousness was repulsed by David with magnanimity, and with the greater confidence that he felt…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 19:20

• Amnesty
• Clemency
• David
• Treason

In the dictionaries

• Conduct
• Cost
• Lord
• Benjamin
• Bible, the
• David
• Israel, History of
• Jeroboam
• Samuel, Books of
• Shimei

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19

• 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