2 Samuel 23:17

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.
• New International Version (NIV)“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.
• 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.

Context of 2 Samuel 23:17

15David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 16So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “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. 18Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. 19Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

2 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 20:20And Joab replied, “Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town!
• Genesis 44:17“No,” Joseph said. “I would never do such a thing! Only the man who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go back to your father in peace.”
• 1 Samuel 2:30“Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.
• 1 Samuel 26:11The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”
• 1 Kings 21:3But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors.”
• 1 Chronicles 11:19“God 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.
• Genesis 9:4But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.
• Leviticus 17:10“And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people,
• Psalms 72:14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
• Matthew 26:28for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.
• Mark 14:24And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.
• John 6:52Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
• Judges 5:18But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
• 1 Corinthians 15:30And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by 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

• Armies
• Unselfishness

In the dictionaries

• Bethlehem
• David
• Giants
• Hareth
• Jashobeam
• Rephaim, Valley of
• Sure
• Troop
• Abishai
• Adullam

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