New English Translation
2 Samuel 23:6
6But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.
2 Samuel 23:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
- New International Version (NIV)But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand;
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands.
Context of 2 Samuel 23:6
4is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth. 5My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition. But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand. 7The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!” 8These are the names of David’s warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle.
Read all of 2 Samuel 232 Samuel 23:6 word by word
וּבְלִיַּ֕עַל כְּק֥וֹץ מֻנָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֑הַם כִּֽי־לֹ֥א בְיָ֖ד יִקָּֽחוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:6
- 2 Samuel 20:1Now a wicked man named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He blew the trumpet and said, “We have no share in David; we have no inheritance in this son of Jesse! Every man go home, O Israel!”
- Deuteronomy 13:13some evil people have departed from among you to entice the inhabitants of their cities, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods” (whom you have not known before).
- 1 Samuel 2:12The sons of Eli were wicked men. They did not recognize the Lord’s authority.
- Genesis 3:18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field.
- Isaiah 33:12The nations will be burned to ashes; like thorn bushes that have been cut down, they will be set on fire.
- Ezekiel 2:6But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words – even though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions – do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house!
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns - There is no word in the text for sons; it is simply Belial, the good-for-nothing man, and may here refer - first to Saul, and secondly to the enemies of our Lord. As thorns thrust away - A metaphor taken from hedging; the workman thrusts the thorns aside either with his bill or hand, protected by his impenetrable mitten or glove, till, getting a fair blow at the roots, he cuts them all down. The man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Compare Psalm 1:4–5.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns--that is, the wicked enemies and persecutors of this kingdom of righteousness. They resemble those prickly, thorny plants which are twisted together, whose spires point in every direction, and which are so sharp and strong that they cannot be touched or approached without danger; but hard instruments and violent means must be taken to destroy or uproot them. So God will remove or destroy all who are…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 23:6
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
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