2 Samuel 20:9

2 Samuel 20:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
• New International Version (NIV)Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Context of 2 Samuel 20:9

7So Abishai and Joab, together with the king’s bodyguard and all the mighty warriors, set out from Jerusalem to go after Sheba. 8As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he slipped the dagger from its sheath. “How are you, my cousin?” Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him. 10Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba. 11One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.”

2 Samuel 20:9 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א הֲשָׁל֥וֹם אַתָּ֖ה אָחִ֑י וַתֹּ֜חֶז יַד־יְמִ֥ין יוֹאָ֛ב בִּזְקַ֥ן עֲמָשָׂ֖א לִנְשָׁק־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to Amasaעֲמָשָׂא‛ămâώâ' · AmasaH6021
• thou in healthשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peace: well-beingH7965
• my brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• tookאָחַז'âchaz · to graspH270
• by the beardזָקָןzâqân · beardH2206
• with the rightיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• handיָדyâd · handH3027
• to kissנָשַׁקnâshaq · to kissH5401

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 20:9

• Psalms 55:21His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!
• Proverbs 26:24People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you.
• Micah 7:2The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers.
• Matthew 26:48The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.”
• Luke 22:47But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20:9

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-13Verses 4-13 Joab barbarously murdered Amasa. The more plot there is in a sin, the worse it is. Joab contentedly sacrificed the interest both of the king and the kingdom to his personal revenge. But one would wonder with what face a murderer could pursue a traitor; and how, under such a load of guilt, he had courage to enter upon danger: his conscience was seared.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9to kiss him: This was a common greeting that showed respect and warmth. However, such greetings were not always sincere (compare 2 Samuel 14:33).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him--This act, common with two friends on meeting when one of them returns from a journey, indicates respect as well as kindliness, and the performance of it evinced the deep hypocrisy of Joab, who thereby put Amasa off his guard. No wonder, then, that while this act of friendly gratulation after long absence occupied Amasa's attention, he did not perceive the sword that was in Joab's left hand. The…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 20:9

• Abishai
• Amasa
• Assassination
• Confidence
• David
• Homicide
• Joab
• Kiss
• Salutations
• Treachery

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Amasa
• Gibeon
• Heed
• Sheba
• Wont
• Bible, the
• Crime; Crimes
• David
• Greeting

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20

• 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