Lectionary Calendar
Monday, November 24th, 2025
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

2 Samuel 15:8

I made that promise while I was still living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord brings me back to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord in a special way.'"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ambition;   Consecration;   Covenant;   Syria;   Usurpation;   Vows;   Thompson Chain Reference - Geshur;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Hypocrites;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Geshur, Geshuri, Geshurites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Hebron;   Vow;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Geshur;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Geshur;   Hushai;   Vow;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Geshur, Geshurites;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Geshur ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   David;   Geshur;   Jerusalem;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ge'shur;   Vows;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Hebron;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bridge;   Geshur;   Leasing;   Philistines;   Prayer;   Syrians;   Vow;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Aram-Geshur;   Geshur, Geshurites;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying: If the Lord really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.”
Hebrew Names Version
For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Aram, saying, If the LORD shall indeed bring me again to Yerushalayim, then I will serve the LORD.
King James Version
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord .
Lexham English Bible
for your servant made a vow while I was staying in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh will indeed let me return to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.'"
English Standard Version
For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord .'"
New Century Version
while I was living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.'"
New English Translation
For I made this vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram: ‘If the Lord really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord .'"
Amplified Bible
"For your servant made a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram (Syria), 'If the LORD will in fact bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord [by offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving].'"
New American Standard Bible
"For your servant made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'"
Geneva Bible (1587)
For thy seruant vowed a vowe when I remayned at Geshur, in Aram, saying, If the Lorde shal bring me againe in deede to Ierusalem, I will serue the Lord.
Legacy Standard Bible
For your servant vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.'"
Contemporary English Version
when I was living with the Arameans in Geshur. I promised that if the Lord would bring me back to live in Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron."
Complete Jewish Bible
Your servant made a vow while I was staying at G'shur in Aram to the effect that if Adonai would bring me back to Yerushalayim, then I would serve Adonai ."
Darby Translation
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode in Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.
George Lamsa Translation
For your servant made a vow while I abode at Geshur and in Aram, saying. If the LORD will bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
Good News Translation
While I was living in Geshur in Syria, I promised the Lord that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron."
Literal Translation
For your servant has vowed a vow when I lived in Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah bringing shall bring me back to Jerusalem, then I shall serve Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For thy seruaunt made a vowe, whan I dwelt at Gesur in Siria, and saide: Whan ye LORDE bryngeth me agayne to Ierusalem, I shal do a Gods seruyce vnto the LORDE.
American Standard Version
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
For while I was living in Geshur in Aram, your servant made an oath, saying, If ever the Lord lets me come back to Jerusalem, I will give him worship in Hebron.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For thy seruaunt vowed a vowe (when I was in Gesur in Siria) saying: If the Lorde shall bring me againe in deede to Hierusalem, I wil serue the Lorde.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Aram, saying: If the LORD shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'
King James Version (1611)
For thy seruant vowed a vowe while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring mee againe in deed to Ierusalem, then I will serue the Lord.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For thy servant vowed a vow when I dwelt at Gedsur in Syria, saying, If the Lord should indeed restore me to Jerusalem, then will I serve the Lord.
English Revised Version
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: 'If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.'"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for thi seruaunt vowynge vowide, whanne he was in Gessur of Sirie, and seide, If the Lord bryngith ayen me in to Jerusalem, Y schal make sacrifice to the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
for a vow hath thy servant vowed in my dwelling in Geshur, in Aram, saying, If Jehovah doth certainly bring me back to Jerusalem, then I have served Jehovah.'
Update Bible Version
For your slave vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
World English Bible
For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.
New King James Version
For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, "If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD."'
New Living Translation
For while your servant was at Geshur in Aram, I promised to sacrifice to the Lord in Hebron if he would bring me back to Jerusalem."
New Life Bible
For your servant made a promise while I was living at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord will bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.'"
New Revised Standard
For your servant made a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram: If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will worship the Lord in Hebron."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
for thy servant vowed, a vow, while I abode in Geshur in Syria, saying, - If Yahweh, will but bring me back, unto Jerusalem, then will I serve Yahweh,
Douay-Rheims Bible
For thy servant made a vow, when he was in Gessur of Syria, saying: If the Lord shall bring me again into Jerusalem, I will offer sacrifice to the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
For your servant vowed a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the LORD.'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For your servant vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'"

Contextual Overview

7 After four years, Absalom said to King David, "Please let me go to Hebron to complete a special promise that I made to the Lord . 8 I made that promise while I was still living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord brings me back to Jerusalem, I will serve the Lord in a special way.'" 9 King David said, "Go in peace." Absalom went to Hebron. 10 But he also sent spies to all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, "When you hear the trumpet, say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!'" 11 Absalom invited 200 men to go with him. They left Jerusalem with him, but they did not know what he was planning. 12 Ahithophel was one of David's advisors. He was from the town of Giloh. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he invited Ahithophel to join. Absalom's plans were working very well and more and more people began to support him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thy servant: Genesis 28:20, Genesis 28:21, 1 Samuel 1:11, 1 Samuel 16:2, Psalms 56:12, Ecclesiastes 5:4

Geshur: 2 Samuel 13:37, 2 Samuel 13:38, 2 Samuel 14:23, 2 Samuel 14:32

I will serve: Joshua 24:15, Isaiah 28:15, Jeremiah 9:3-5, Jeremiah 42:20

Reciprocal: Numbers 21:2 - vowed Joshua 12:5 - unto the Joshua 13:2 - Geshuri 1 Samuel 27:8 - the Geshurites 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Geshur Psalms 109:7 - and let Ezekiel 27:16 - Syria

Cross-References

Genesis 15:2
But Abram said, "Lord God , there is nothing you can give me that will make me happy, because I have no son. My slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die."
Genesis 15:4
Then the Lord spoke to Abram and said, "That slave will not be the one to get what you have. You will have a son who will get everything you own."
Genesis 15:9
God said to Abram, "We will make an agreement. Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old goat, a three-year-old ram, a dove, and a young pigeon."
Genesis 15:10
Abram brought all these to God. Abram killed these animals and cut each of them into two pieces. Then he laid each half across from the other half. He did not cut the birds into two pieces.
Genesis 15:13
Then the Lord said to Abram, "You should know this: Your descendants will live in a country that is not their own. They will be strangers there. The people there will make them slaves and be cruel to them for 400 years.
Genesis 15:14
But then I will punish the nation that made them slaves. Your people will leave that land, and they will take many good things with them.
Genesis 15:17
After the sun went down, it got very dark. The dead animals were still on the ground, each animal cut into two pieces. Then a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between the halves of the dead animals.
2 Kings 20:8
Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I will go up to the Temple of the Lord on the third day?"
Psalms 86:17
Lord , show me a sign that you care for me. My enemies will see it and be disappointed, because you helped and comforted me.
Isaiah 7:11
and said, "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God to prove to yourself that this is true. You can ask for any sign you want. The sign can come from a place as deep as Sheol or as high as the skies."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria,.... When at his grandfather's court there:

saying, if the Lord will bring me again indeed to Jerusalem; which he might be sincerely desirous of:

then I will serve the Lord; but it is a question whether he ever made a vow to this purpose, or concerned himself about serving the Lord; but it rather may be, this was a lie of his, now framed in order to get leave of the king to go to Hebron.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 15:8. While I abode at Geshur in Syria — Geshur, the country of Talmai, was certainly not in Syria, but lay on the south of Canaan, in or near Edom, as is evident from Judges 1:10; 1 Samuel 27:8; 2 Samuel 13:37. Hence it is probable that ארם Aram, Syria, is a mistake for אדם Edom; ד daleth and ר resh being easily interchangeable. Edom is the reading both of the Syriac and Arabic.

I will serve the Lord. — Here he pretended to be a strict follower of Jehovah, even while he was in a heathen country; and now he desires liberty to go and perform a vow at Hebron, which he pretends to have made while he was resident at Geshur. And all this was the more perfectly to organize his system of rebellion against his venerable father.


 
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