New English Translation
1 Kings 2:9
9But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.”
1 Kings 2:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
- New International Version (NIV)But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.”
Context of 1 Kings 2:9
7“Treat fairly the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs, because they helped me when I had to flee from your brother Absalom. 8“Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised him by the Lord, ‘I will not strike you down with the sword.’ But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.” 10Then David passed away and was buried in the city of David. 11David reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years, and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.
Read all of 1 Kings 21 Kings 2:9 word by word
וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם אָ֑תָּה וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּ֔וֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ אֶת־שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּדָ֖ם שְׁאֽוֹל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now therefore hold him not guiltlessנָקָהnâqâh · to clearH5352
- a wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
- manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- and knowestיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- what thou oughtest to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- unto him; but his hoar headשֵׂיבָהώêybâh · hoary headH7872
- bring thou downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- to the graveשְׁאוֹלshe'ôl she'ôl · hell: SheolH7585
- with bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:9
- Judges 5:30‘No doubt they are gathering and dividing the plunder – a girl or two for each man to rape! Sisera is grabbing up colorful cloth, he is grabbing up colorful embroidered cloth, two pieces of colorful embroidered cloth, for the neck of the plunderer!’
- 1 Samuel 2:3Don’t keep speaking so arrogantly, letting proud talk come out of your mouth! For the Lord is a God who knows; he evaluates what people do.
- Psalms 1:5For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.
- Psalms 9:18for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.
- Psalms 38:1O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger! Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury!
- Psalms 75:5Do not be so certain you have won! Do not speak with your head held so high!
- Proverbs 5:16Should your springs be dispersed outside, your streams of water in the wide plazas?
- Proverbs 24:12If you say, “But we did not know about this,” does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?
- Exodus 20:7“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain.
- Exodus 22:28“You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- Job 9:28I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.
- 1 Kings 3:12I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.
- 1 Kings 2:6Do to him what you think is appropriate, but don’t let him live long and die a peaceful death.
- Genesis 42:38But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair in sorrow to the grave.”
- Genesis 44:31When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave.
- Numbers 32:23“But if you do not do this, then look, you will have sinned against the Lord. And know that your sin will find you out.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Hold him not guiltless - Do not consider him as an innocent man, though I have sworn to him that I would not put him to death by the sword; yet as thou art a wise man, and knowest how to treat such persons, treat him as he deserves; only as I have sworn to him, and he is an aged man, let him not die a violent death; bring not down his hoary head to the grave with blood. So Solomon understood David, and so I think David should be understood; for the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Hold him not guiltless - i. e. “Do not treat him as an innocent man. Punish him as in thy wisdom thou deemest best. Not capitally at once; but so that he may be likely to give thee in course of time a just occasion to slay him.” So, at least, Solomon seems to have understood the charge. (See 1 Kings 2:36-46.)Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 These dying counsels concerning Joab and Shimei, did not come from personal anger, but for the security of Solomon's throne, which was the murders he had committed, but would readily repeat them to carry any purpose; though long reprieved, he shall be reckoned with at last. Time does not wear out the guilt of any sin, particularly of murder. Concerning Shimei, Hold him not guiltless; do not think him any true friend to thee, or thy government…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9Barzillai strongly supported David during his conflict with Absalom, while Shimei openly opposed David (2 Samuel 16:5–13; 19:6–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. for thou art a wise man--Solomon had given early indications of wisdom before his miraculous endowment with the heavenly gift (see 1Ki 3:11), and his own sagacity would dictate the course that should be followed in any new offense that Shimei might commit.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 2:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 2
- 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
- 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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