New International Version
1 Kings 2:9
9But 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.”
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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”
Context of 1 Kings 2:9
7“But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. 8“And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 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.” 10Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
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‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man, colorful garments as plunder for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck— all this as plunder?’
- 1 Samuel 2:3“Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
- Psalms 1:5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
- Psalms 9:18But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
- Psalms 38:1Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
- Psalms 75:5Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’ ”
- Proverbs 5:16Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
- Proverbs 24:12If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
- Exodus 20:7“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
- Exodus 22:28“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- Job 9:28I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
- 1 Kings 3:12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
- 1 Kings 2:6Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
- Genesis 42:38But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”
- Genesis 44:31sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow.
- Numbers 32:23“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure 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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