2 Samuel 19:35

2 Samuel 19:35 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
• English Standard Version (ESV)I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
• New King James Version (NKJV)I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?
• New Living Translation (NLT)I am eighty years old today, and I can no longer enjoy anything. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and I cannot hear the singers as they sing. I would only be a burden to my lord the king.

Context of 2 Samuel 19:35

33The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.” 34But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? 37Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”

2 Samuel 19:35 word by word

בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִ֣ים שָׁנָה֩ אָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֜וֹם הַאֵדַ֣ע׀ בֵּין־ט֣וֹב לְרָ֗ע אִם־יִטְעַ֤ם עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֹכַל֙ וְאֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה אִם־אֶשְׁמַ֣ע ע֔וֹד בְּק֖וֹל שָׁרִ֣ים וְשָׁר֑וֹת וְלָמָּה֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ עוֹד֙ לְמַשָּׂ֔א אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• fourscoreשְׁמֹנִיםshemônîym shemônîym · eightyH8084
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
• can I discernיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• between goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• and evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
• can thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• tasteטָעַםţâ‛am · to perceiveH2938
• whatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• I eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• I drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• can I hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• any more the voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
• of singing menשִׁירshîyr shûr · to singH7891
• be yet a burdenמַשָּׂאmaώώâ' · burdenH4853
• unto my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:35

• Job 6:30Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
• Job 12:11Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?
• Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
• 1 Peter 2:3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—
• Ezra 2:65besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.
• Nehemiah 7:67besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers.
• Exodus 2:8“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother.
• Exodus 12:4If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
• 2 Samuel 13:25“No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go but gave him his blessing.
• 2 Samuel 15:33David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35Can thy servant taste what I eat - Here is at once an affecting description of the infirmities of old age; and a correct account of the mode of living at an Eastern court in ancient times. Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for his food was gone: he therefore appears to have been not only an old man, but an infirm old man. Besides delicate meats and drinks, we find that vocal music constituted a principal…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-39Verses 31-39 Barzillai thought he had done himself honour in doing the king any service. Thus, when the saints shall be called to inherit the kingdom, they will be amazed at the recompence being so very far beyond the service, Mt 25:37. A good man would not go any where to be burdensome; or, will rather be so to his own house than to another's. It is good for all, but especially becomes old people, to think and speak much of dying. The grave is ready for…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-40Barzillai was old and weak, so he turned down David's invitation to the royal court in Jerusalem. This invitation was a reward for Barzillai's help. Instead, David took Barzillai’s son Kimham (see also 1 Kings 2:7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-4031-40. Barzillai the Gileadite--The rank, great age, and chivalrous devotion of this Gileadite chief wins our respect. His declining to go to court, his recommendation of his son, his convoy across the Jordan, and his parting scene with the king, are interesting incidents. What mark of royal favor was bestowed on Chimham has not been recorded; but it is probable that David gave a great part of his personal patrimony in Beth-lehem to Chimham and his heirs…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 19:35

• Barzillai
• Contentment
• David
• Music
• Old Age
• Taste

In the dictionaries

• Conduct
• Cost
• Lord
• Music
• Barzillai
• Benjamin
• Bible, the
• Burden
• David
• Israel, History of

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19

• 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