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

Context of 2 Samuel 3:29

27When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel. 28When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. 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!” 30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon. 31Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave.

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 1:16Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.”
• Judges 9:24God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers.
• 1 Kings 2:31“Do as he said,” the king replied. “Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of Joab’s senseless murders from me and from my father’s family.
• Acts 28:4The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”
• Revelation 16:6Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”
• 1 Samuel 2:32You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days.
• 2 Kings 5:27Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.
• Psalms 109:8Let his years be few; let someone else take his position.
• Leviticus 13:44the man is indeed infected with a skin disease and is unclean. The priest must pronounce him ceremonially unclean because of the sore on his head.
• 2 Kings 5:1The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from 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