2 Samuel 17:3

2 Samuel 17:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people.”

Context of 2 Samuel 17:3

1Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” 4This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel. 5But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.”

2 Samuel 17:3 word by word

וְאָשִׁ֥יבָה כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֵלֶ֑יךָ כְּשׁ֣וּב הַכֹּ֔ל הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֔שׁ כָּל־הָעָ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה שָׁלֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I will bring backשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• unto thee: the manאִישׁ'îysh · man: husbandH376
• whom thou seekestבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• shall be in peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 17:3

• 2 Samuel 3:21Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
• Isaiah 48:22“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”
• Isaiah 57:21“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The man whom thou seekest is as if all returned - Only secure David, and all Israel will be on thy side. He is the soul of the whole; destroy him, and all the rest will submit.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3The man whom thou seekest - namely, David. Ahithophel means to say: “If I can only smite David, there will be no civil war, all the people will peaceably submit.”Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3as a bride … You seek: The Hebrew text suggests that everyone's loyalty depends on David's death. The Greek version shows a young wife returning to her husband after a brief argument.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-142Sa 17:1-14. Ahithophel's Counsel Overthrown by Hushai. 1-11. Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom--The recommendation to take prompt and decisive measures before the royalist forces could be collected and arranged, evinced the deep political sagacity of this councillor. The adoption of his advice would have extinguished the cause of David; and it affords a dreadful proof of the extremities to which the heartless prince was, to secure his ambitious…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 17:3

• Ahithophel
• Citizens
• Council
• Diplomacy
• Friendship
• Malice
• Spies
• War

In the dictionaries

• Ahithophel
• Instead
• Bible, the
• David
• Hushai
• Israel, History of
• Joab
• Samuel, Books of
• Solomon
• Text of the Old Testament

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 17

• 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
• EGW Writings