God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 23:3
3The God of Israel spoke to them. The rock of Israel told me, ‘The one who rules humans with justice rules with the fear of God.
2 Samuel 23:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
- New International Version (NIV)The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
- English Standard Version (ESV)The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,
- New King James Version (NKJV)The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.
Context of 2 Samuel 23:3
1These are the last words of David: “Here is the declaration by David, son of Jesse— the declaration by the man whom God raised up, whom the God of Jacob anointed, the singer of Israel’s psalms: 2“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me. His words were on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke to them. The rock of Israel told me, ‘The one who rules humans with justice rules with the fear of God. 4He is like the morning light as the sun rises, like a morning without clouds, like the brightness after a rainstorm. The rain makes the grass grow from the earth.’ 5“Truly, God considers my house to be that way, because he has made a lasting promise to me, with every detail arranged and assured. ⌞He promised⌟ everything that helps me, everything that pleases me. Truly, he makes these things happen.
Read all of 2 Samuel 232 Samuel 23:3 word by word
אָמַר֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִ֥י דִבֶּ֖ר צ֣וּר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מוֹשֵׁל֙ בָּאָדָ֔ם צַדִּ֕יק מוֹשֵׁ֖ל יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Rockצוּרtsûr tsûr · rockH6697
- spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- to me, He that rulethמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
- over menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- justצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- in the fearיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:3
- Genesis 33:20He set up an altar there and named it God Is the God of Israel.
- Exodus 3:15Again God said to Moses, “This is what you must say to the people of Israel: The Lord God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever. This is my title throughout every generation.
- Exodus 19:5If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine.
- Exodus 20:2“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.
- 2 Samuel 22:2He said, The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,
- Deuteronomy 32:4He is a rock. What he does is perfect. All his ways are fair. He is a faithful God, who does no wrong. He is honorable and reliable.
- Psalms 42:9I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk around in mourning while the enemy oppresses me?”
- Psalms 110:2The Lord will extend your powerful scepter from Zion. Rule your enemies who surround you.
- Exodus 23:6“Never deny justice to poor people in court.
- Deuteronomy 16:18Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city that the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people fairly.
- Psalms 82:3Defend weak people and orphans. Protect the rights of the oppressed and the poor.
- Proverbs 31:9Speak out, judge fairly, and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people.”
- Isaiah 11:4He will judge the poor justly. He will make fair decisions for the humble people on earth. He will strike the earth with a rod from his mouth. He will kill the wicked with the breath from his lips.
- Isaiah 32:1A king will rule with fairness, and officials will rule with justice.
- Jeremiah 23:5“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will grow a righteous branch for David. He will be a king who will rule wisely. He will do what is fair and right in the land.
- Zechariah 9:9Rejoice with all your heart, people of Zion! Shout in triumph, people of Jerusalem! Look! Your King is coming to you: He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and rides on a donkey, on a colt, a young pack animal.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The Rock of Israel - The Fountain whence Israel was derived. He that ruleth over men must be just - More literally, צדיק באדם מושל moshel baadam tsaddik, He that ruleth in man is the just one; or, The just one is the ruler among men. Ruling in the fear of God - It is by God's fear that Jesus Christ rules the hearts of all his followers; and he who has not the fear of God before his eyes, can never be a Christian.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-7This passage comes from the end of David’s career and reflects on his experience as king, even as 2 Samuel 22 reflects on his experience before becoming king.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. the Rock of Israel--This metaphor, which is commonly applied by the sacred writers to the Almighty, was very expressive to the minds of the Hebrew people. Their national fortresses, in which they sought security in war, were built on high and inaccessible rocks. spake to me--either preceptively, giving the following counsels respecting the character of an upright ruler in Israel, or prophetically, concerning David and his royal dynasty, and the great…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 23:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23
- 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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