2 Samuel 20:9

2 Samuel 20:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
• New International Version (NIV)Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Context of 2 Samuel 20:9

7So Joab’s men, accompanied by the Kerethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors, left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri. 8When they were near the big rock that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire and had a dagger in its sheath belted to his waist. When he advanced, it fell out. Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa’s beard as if to greet him with a kiss. 10Amasa did not protect himself from the knife in Joab’s other hand, and Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, causing Amasa’s intestines to spill out on the ground. There was no need to stab him again; the first blow was fatal. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri. 11One of Joab’s soldiers who stood over Amasa said, “Whoever is for Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”

2 Samuel 20:9 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א הֲשָׁל֥וֹם אַתָּ֖ה אָחִ֑י וַתֹּ֜חֶז יַד־יְמִ֥ין יוֹאָ֛ב בִּזְקַ֥ן עֲמָשָׂ֖א לִנְשָׁק־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to Amasaעֲמָשָׂא‛ămâώâ' · AmasaH6021
• thou in healthשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peace: well-beingH7965
• my brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• tookאָחַז'âchaz · to graspH270
• by the beardזָקָןzâqân · beardH2206
• with the rightיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• handיָדyâd · handH3027
• to kissנָשַׁקnâshaq · to kissH5401

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 20:9

• Psalms 55:21His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.
• Proverbs 26:24The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.
• Micah 7:2Faithful men have disappeared from the land; there are no godly men left. They all wait in ambush so they can shed blood; they hunt their own brother with a net.
• Matthew 26:48(Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him!”)
• Luke 22:47While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to kiss him.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20:9

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-13Verses 4-13 Joab barbarously murdered Amasa. The more plot there is in a sin, the worse it is. Joab contentedly sacrificed the interest both of the king and the kingdom to his personal revenge. But one would wonder with what face a murderer could pursue a traitor; and how, under such a load of guilt, he had courage to enter upon danger: his conscience was seared.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9to kiss him: This was a common greeting that showed respect and warmth. However, such greetings were not always sincere (compare 2 Samuel 14:33).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him--This act, common with two friends on meeting when one of them returns from a journey, indicates respect as well as kindliness, and the performance of it evinced the deep hypocrisy of Joab, who thereby put Amasa off his guard. No wonder, then, that while this act of friendly gratulation after long absence occupied Amasa's attention, he did not perceive the sword that was in Joab's left hand. The…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 20:9

• Abishai
• Amasa
• Assassination
• Confidence
• David
• Homicide
• Joab
• Kiss
• Salutations
• Treachery

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Amasa
• Gibeon
• Heed
• Sheba
• Wont
• Bible, the
• Crime; Crimes
• David
• Greeting

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary