Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

2 Samuel 19:34

Barzillai answered: Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem? I don't have much longer to live.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Barzillai;   Contentment;   David;   Old Age;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Contentment;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Friend, Friendship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prophet;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Barzillai;   Chimham;   Gad (1);   Inn;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ironsmith;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Joram;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Barzillai ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Barzillai;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Barzil'la-I;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Barzillai;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Barzillai;   Friendship;   Yudan;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Barzillai replied to the king, “How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
Hebrew Names Version
Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Yerushalayim?
King James Version
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
Lexham English Bible
Then Barzillai said to the king, "What are the days of the years of my life, that I should go with the king to Jerusalem?
English Standard Version
But Barzillai said to the king, "How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
New Century Version
But Barzillai answered the king, "Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem?
New English Translation
Barzillai replied to the king, "How many days do I have left to my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Amplified Bible
But Barzillai said to the king, "How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
New American Standard Bible
But Barzillai said to the king, "How long do I still have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Barzillai said vnto the king, Howe long haue I to liue, that I should goe vp with the king to Ierusalem?
Legacy Standard Bible
But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Complete Jewish Bible
The king said to Barzillai, "Come on across with me, and I will provide for your needs with me in Yerushalayim."
Darby Translation
And Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Easy-to-Read Version
But Barzillai said to the king, "Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem?
George Lamsa Translation
And Barzillai said to the king, How many years have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Good News Translation
But Barzillai answered, "I don't have long to live; why should I go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem?
Literal Translation
And Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Barsillai sayde vnto the kynge: What haue I yet to lyue, that I shulde go vp to Ierusalem wt the kynge?
American Standard Version
And Barzillai said unto the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
Bible in Basic English
And Barzillai said to the king, How much of my life is still before me, for me to go up to Jerusalem with the king?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Barzellai saide vnto the king: How long haue I to liue, that I shuld go vp with the king vnto Hierusalem?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the king said unto Barzillai: 'Come thou over with me, and I will sustain thee with me in Jerusalem.'
King James Version (1611)
And Barzillai sayde vnto the king, How long haue I to liue, that I should goe vp with the King vnto Ierusalem?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Berzelli said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
English Revised Version
And Barzillai said unto the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
Berean Standard Bible
But Barzillai replied, "How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Berzellai seide to the kyng, Hou manye ben the daiest of yeeres of my lijf, that Y stie with the kyng in to Jerusalem?
Young's Literal Translation
And Barzillai saith unto the king, `How many [are] the days of the years of my life, that I go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Update Bible Version
And Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Webster's Bible Translation
And Barzillai said to the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
World English Bible
Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
New King James Version
But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
New Living Translation
"No," he replied, "I am far too old to go with the king to Jerusalem.
New Life Bible
But Barzillai said to the king, "How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
New Revised Standard
But Barzillai said to the king, "How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But Barzillai said unto the king, - Like unto what, are the days of the years of my life, that I should come up with the king, to Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Berzellai said to the king: How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
Revised Standard Version
But Barzil'lai said to the king, "How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
THE MESSAGE
But Barzillai declined the offer, "How long do you think I'd live if I went with the king to Jerusalem? I'm eighty years old and not much good anymore to anyone. Can't taste food; can't hear music. So why add to the burdens of my master the king? I'll just go a little way across the Jordan with the king. But why would the king need to make a great thing of that? Let me go back and die in my hometown and be buried with my father and mother. But my servant Kimham here; let him go with you in my place. But treat him well!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

Contextual Overview

31 Barzillai came from Rogelim in Gilead to meet David at the Jordan River and go across with him. 32 Barzillai was eighty years old. He was very rich and had sent food to David in Mahanaim. 33 David said to him, "Cross the river and go to Jerusalem with me. I will take care of you." 34 Barzillai answered: Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem? I don't have much longer to live. 35 I'm already eighty years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing, and I would be nothing but a burden. 36 I'll cross the river with you, but I'll only go a little way on the other side. You don't have to be so kind to me. 37 Just let me return to my hometown, where I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham can go with you, and you can treat him as your own. 38 David said, "I'll take Chimham with me, and whatever you ask me to do for him, I'll do. And if there's anything else you want, I'll also do that." 39 David's soldiers went on across the river, while he stayed behind to tell Barzillai good-by and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home, but

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

How long have I to live: Heb. How many days are the years of my life, Genesis 47:9, Job 14:14, Psalms 39:5, Psalms 39:6, 1 Corinthians 7:29, James 4:14

Cross-References

Isaiah 3:9
The look on your faces shows that you are sinful as Sodom, and you don't try to hide it. You are in for trouble, and you have brought it all on yourselves.
Jeremiah 3:3
So I, the Lord , refused to let the spring rains fall. But just like a prostitute, you still have no shame for what you have done.
Jeremiah 5:3
I answered, "I know that you look for truth. You punished your people for their lies, but in spite of the pain, they became more stubborn and refused to turn back to you."
Jeremiah 6:15
They should be ashamed of their disgusting sins, but they don't even blush. And so, when I punish Judah, they will end up on the ground, dead like everyone else. I, the Lord , have spoken.
Jeremiah 8:12
They should be ashamed of their disgusting sins, but they don't even blush. And so, when I punish Judah, they will end up on the ground, dead like everyone else.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Barzillai said unto the king,.... In answer to the grateful proposal he made:

how long have I to live; that could not be said with exactness by any; but it might be probably conjectured from the age he was of, and the infirmities that attended him, that he could not live long; it was but a short time he had to be in the world:

that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? take so long a journey as that, seeing he might die before he got thither; and if he did not, since it could not be thought he should live long, he could not think of it, or judge it advisable at such an age to take such a journey, change his place of abode, and manner of living.


 
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