2 Samuel 3:29

2 Samuel 3:29 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
• English Standard Version (ESV)May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

Context of 2 Samuel 3:29

27Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died. 28Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.” 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) 31Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier.

2 Samuel 3:29 word by word

יָחֻ֙לוּ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו וְֽאַל־יִכָּרֵ֣ת מִבֵּ֣ית יוֹאָ֡ב זָ֠ב וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַחֲסַר־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Let it restחוּלchûl chîyl · to twist: danceH2342
• on the headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• of Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• and on all his father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• and let there not failכָּרַתkârath · to cut: lackH3772
• one that hath an issueזוּבzûb · to flow: dischargeH2100
• or that is a leperצָרַעtsâra‛ · be leprousH6879
• or that leanethחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• on a staffפֶּ֫לֶךְpelek · districtH6418
• or that fallethנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• on the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• or that lackethחָסֵרchâsêr · lackingH2638
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 3:29

• 1 Samuel 1:16Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
• Judges 9:24God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
• 1 Kings 2:31Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed.
• Acts 28:4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”
• Revelation 16:6for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
• 1 Samuel 2:32and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.
• 2 Kings 5:27Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.
• Psalms 109:8May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
• Leviticus 13:44the man is diseased and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on his head.
• 2 Kings 5:1Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3:29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Let it rest on the head - All these verbs may be rendered in the future tense: it will rest on the head of Joab, etc. This was a prophetic declaration, which sufficiently showed the displeasure of God against this execrable man.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29The curse of David proves that Joab was not justified as blood-revenger or Goel 2 Samuel 3:27 in taking away Abner‘s life. That leaneth on a staff - Rather, a crutch. The phrase denotes one lame or infirm. For similar instances of hereditary disease and poverty as a punishment of great sin, see 1 Samuel 2:31-33, 1 Samuel 2:36; 2 Kings 5:27; John 9:2.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-39Verses 22-39 Judgments are prepared for such scorners as Abner; but Joab, in what he did, acted wickedly. David laid Abner's murder deeply to heart, and in many ways expressed his detestation of it. The guilt of blood brings a curse upon families: if men do not avenge it, God will. It is a sad thing to die like a fool, as they do that any way shorten their own days, and those who make no provision for another world. Who would be fond of power, when a man…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29skin disease: While leprosy is a possible translation, the Hebrew term here likely refers to many kinds of skin problems or rashes, not only Hansen’s disease. who leans on a staff: This curse effectively separated Joab from David. From this point on, their relationship was only professional. David later ordered Solomon to deal with Joab before David died (1 Kings 2:5–6). Solomon’s later statement clearing David of guilt in Abner’s death (1 Kings 2:31–33)…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 3:29

• Abner
• Chiding
• Imprecation
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Communication
• Ishbosheth
• Sackcloth
• Translate
• Abner
• David
• Fail
• Genealogy
• Government

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3

• 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