New International Version
2 Samuel 23:17
17“Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
2 Samuel 23:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and said, "Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.
Context of 2 Samuel 23:17
15David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. 18Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
Read all of 2 Samuel 232 Samuel 23:17 word by word
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִילָה֩ לִּ֨י יְהוָ֜ה מֵעֲשֹׂ֣תִי זֹ֗את הֲדַ֤ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִֽים׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Be it farחָלִ֫ילָהchâlîylâh châlilâh · forbidH2486
- from me, O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- that I should doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- the bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
- of the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- that wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- in jeopardy of their livesנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
- therefore he wouldאָבָה'âbâh · be willingH14
- not drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- these threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- mighty menגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 23:17
- 2 Samuel 20:20“Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!
- Genesis 44:17But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.”
- 1 Samuel 2:30“Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.
- 1 Samuel 26:11But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
- 1 Kings 21:3But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:19“God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
- Genesis 9:4“But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.
- Leviticus 17:10“ ‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people.
- Psalms 72:14He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
- Matthew 26:28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Mark 14:24“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
- John 6:52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
- Judges 5:18The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.
- 1 Corinthians 15:30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 23:17
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Better as in 1 Chronicles 11:19.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-39Verses 8-39 David once earnestly longed for the water at the well of Bethlehem. It seems to be an instance of weakness. He was thirsty; with the water of that well he had often refreshed himself when a youth, and it was without due thought that he desired it. Were his valiant men so forward to expose themselves, upon the least hint of their prince's mind, and so eager to please him, and shall not we long to approve ourselves to our Lord Jesus, by ready…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Is this not the blood of the men: When David poured the water onto the ground, this action did not show ingratitude. Instead, the water had been brought back at the risk of the warriors’ lives. David treated the water as equal to their blood. In this way, the water represented life itself, which belongs to God alone and must not be consumed by humans (Leviticus 17:10–13; Deuteronomy 12:23–24).Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 23:17
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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