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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Green's Literal Translation

2 Samuel 14:11

And she said, Please let the king remember Jehovah your God, that the avenger of blood not destroy any more, and that they may not destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Avenger of Blood;   David;   Dishonesty;   Intercession;   Joab;   Kindness;   Obsequiousness;   Parables;   Tact;   Scofield Reference Index - Redemption;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Joab;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Mediator, Mediation;   Murder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Avenger of Blood;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Murder;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Jonah;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Priests and Levites;   Samuel, Books of;   Wisdom;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Hair;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Absalom;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jo'ab;   Law of Moses;   Murder;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Games;   Hair;   Murder;   Relationships, Family;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Go'el;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
She replied, “Please, may the king invoke the Lord your God, so that the avenger of blood will not increase the loss, and they will not eliminate my son!”
Hebrew Names Version
Then said she, Please let the king remember the LORD your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. He said, As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the eretz.
King James Version
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
Lexham English Bible
Then she said, "Please may the king remember Yahweh your God, to prevent the increase of blood avengers who kill, so that they not wipe out my son." He said, "As Yahweh lives, surely not one hair shall fall from your son to the ground."
English Standard Version
Then she said, "Please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed." He said, "As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground."
New Century Version
The woman said, "Please promise in the name of the Lord your God. Then my relative who has the duty of punishing a murderer won't add to the destruction by killing my son." David said, "As surely as the Lord lives, no one will hurt your son. Not one hair from his head will fall to the ground."
New English Translation
She replied, "In that case, let the king invoke the name of the Lord your God so that the avenger of blood may not kill! Then they will not destroy my son!" He replied, "As surely as the Lord lives, not a single hair of your son's head will fall to the ground."
Amplified Bible
Then she said, "Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son." And David said, "As the LORD lives, not a single hair [from the head] of your son shall fall to the ground."
New American Standard Bible
Then she said, "May the king please remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son." And he said, "As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then said she, I pray thee, let the King remember the Lorde thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer many reuengers of blood to destroy, lest they slay my sonne. And he answered, As the Lord liueth, there shal not one heare of thy sonne fall to the earth.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then she said, "Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to bring about ruin, so that they would not destroy my son." And he said, "As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground."
Contemporary English Version
"Please," she replied, "swear by the Lord your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!" He said, "I swear by the living Lord that no one will touch even a hair on his head!"
Complete Jewish Bible
"Please," she said, "let the king swear by Adonai your God that the blood avengers won't do any more destroying, so they won't destroy my son." He said, "As Adonai lives, not one of your son's hairs will fall to the ground."
Darby Translation
Then she said, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they cut off my son. And he said, [As] Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
Easy-to-Read Version
The woman said, "Please, use the name of the Lord your God and swear that you will stop these people. They want to punish my son for murdering his brother. Swear that you will not let them destroy my son." David said, "As the Lord lives, no one will hurt your son. Not even one hair from your son's head will fall to the ground."
George Lamsa Translation
Then she said, Let my lord the king remember that the LORD your God would not suffer the avengers of blood to destroy any more, wherefore let them not destroy my son. And the king said to her, As the LORD God lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.
Good News Translation
She said, "Your Majesty, please pray to the Lord your God, so that my relative who is responsible for avenging the death of my son will not commit a greater crime by killing my other son." "I promise by the living Lord ," David replied, "that your son will not be harmed in the least."
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
She sayde: Let the kynge thynke vpon the LORDE his God, that there be not to many auengers of bloude to destroye, and that they brynge not my sonne to naught. He sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, there shall not one heer of thy sonne fall vpon the earth.
American Standard Version
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
Bible in Basic English
Then she said, Let the king keep in mind the Lord your God, so that he who gives punishment for blood may be kept back from further destruction and that no one may send death on my son. And he said, By the living Lord, not a hair of your son's head will come to the earth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then saide she: I pray thee let the king remember the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer many reuengers of blood to destroy, lest they slay my sonne. And he aunswered: As the Lorde lyueth, there shal not one heere of thy sonne fall to the earth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then said she: 'I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son.' And he said: 'As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.'
King James Version (1611)
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the reuengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my sonne. And he said, As the Lord liueth, there shall not one haire of thy sonne fall to the earth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And she said, Let now the king remember concerning his Lord God in that the avenger of blood is multiplied to destroy, and let them not take away my son. And he said, As the lord lives, not a hair of thy son shall fall to the ground.
English Revised Version
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shalt not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
"Please," she replied, "may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!" "As surely as the LORD lives," he vowed, "not a hair of your son's head will fall to the ground."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And sche seide, The kyng haue mynde on his Lord God, and the nexte men of blood to take veniaunce be not multiplied, and `thei schulen not sle my sone. And the kyng seide, The Lord lyueth, for noon of the heeris of thi sone schal falle on the erthe.
Young's Literal Translation
And she saith, `Let, I pray thee, the king remember by Jehovah thy God, that the redeemer of blood add not to destroy, and they destroy not my son;' and he saith, `Jehovah liveth; if there doth fall of the hair of thy son to the earth.'
Update Bible Version
Then she said, I pray you, let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood does not destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
World English Bible
Then said she, Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. He said, As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.
New King James Version
Then she said, "Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son." And he said, "As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground."
New Living Translation
Then she said, "Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you won't let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed." "As surely as the Lord lives," he replied, "not a hair on your son's head will be disturbed!"
New Life Bible
Then she said, "I beg the king to remember the Lord your God, that the one who punishes for blood will stop destroying. Or my son might be destroyed." And the king said, "As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground."
New Revised Standard
Then she said, "Please, may the king keep the Lord your God in mind, so that the avenger of blood may kill no more, and my son not be destroyed." He said, "As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said she: Let the king, I pray thee, remember Yahweh thy God; so that the blood-redeemer may not make utter ruin, and that they destroy not my son. And he said - By the life of Yahweh, not one hair of thy son shall fall to the earth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And she said: Let the king remember the Lord his God, that the next of kin be not multiplied to take revenge, and that they may not kill my son. And he said: As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
Revised Standard Version
Then she said, "Pray let the king invoke the LORD your God, that the avenger of blood slay no more, and my son be not destroyed." He said, "As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground."
THE MESSAGE
"Let the king invoke the name of God ," said the woman, "so this self-styled vigilante won't ruin everything, to say nothing of killing my son." "As surely as God lives," he said, "not so much as a hair of your son's head will be lost."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then she said, "Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son." And he said, "As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground."

Contextual Overview

1 And Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart was on Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah and took a wise woman from there, and said to her, Pretend yourself to be a mourner now, and please put on garments of mourning. And do not anoint yourself with oil, and you shall be a woman mourning for one who died these many days. 3 And you shall go to the king and speak with him according to this word. And Joab put the words into her mouth. 4 And the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, and fell on her face to the earth, and bowed and said, Save, O king! 5 And the king said to her, What shall be to you? And she said, Truly I am a widow woman, and my husband died. 6 And your servant had two sons. And the two of them fought in the field, and there was no deliverer between them. And the one struck the other, and killed him. 7 And, behold, the whole family has risen against your servant, and said, Give up him who struck his brother, and we shall kill him for the life of his brother whom he has slain. And we shall also destroy the heir. And they shall quench my coalwhich is left, so as not to set to my husband a name and remnant on the face of the earth. 8 And the king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will give command concerning you. 9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, let the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house; and the king and his throne shall be guiltless. 10 And the king said, Whoever speaks to you, you also shall bring him to me, then he shall not touch you any more.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

let the king: Genesis 14:22, Genesis 24:2, Genesis 24:3, Genesis 31:50, 1 Samuel 20:42

thou: etc. Heb. the revenger of blood do not multiply to destroy

the revengers: Numbers 35:19, Numbers 35:27, Deuteronomy 19:4-10, Joshua 20:3-6

As the Lord: 1 Samuel 14:45, 1 Samuel 28:10, Jeremiah 4:2

not one hair: 1 Kings 1:52, Matthew 10:30, Acts 27:34

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 14:21 - I have done 2 Samuel 16:4 - Behold 2 Kings 25:24 - sware to them 2 Chronicles 20:12 - we have Luke 12:7 - even Luke 21:18 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 12:5
And Abram took his wife Sarai, and his brother's son, Lot, and all their substance that they had gained, and the persons they had gotten in Haran. And they went out to go into the land of Canaan. And they came into the land of Canaan.
Genesis 14:16
And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother, and also the women and the people.
Genesis 14:21
And the king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the persons and take the goods for yourself.
Deuteronomy 28:31
Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, and you shall not eat of it. Your ass shall be violently taken away from before you, and it will not be given back. Your sheep shallbe given to your enemies, and you shall have no deliverer.
Deuteronomy 28:35
Jehovah shall strike you with an evil ulcer on the knees, and on the legs, of which you cannot be healed from the sole of your foot even to your crown.
Deuteronomy 28:51
And he shall eat the fruit of your livestock, and the fruit of your land, until you are destroyed. He shall not leave to you grain, new wine, and oil, offspring of your oxen, or young ones of your flock, until he has destroyed you.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God,.... Who is a God gracious and merciful, and imitate him in showing mercy to the distressed; pitying their case, having compassion upon them, and relieving them, as she hoped he would commiserate her case, and provide for the safety of her son. Some think she desires not only to give his word, but his oath, for her son's safety: "remember the Lord thy God"; i.e. make mention of him, as men do when they swear by him; swear to me by the Lord thy God:

that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son, or, "from multiplying the avenger of blood" o; that there might not rise one after another to destroy her son: her meaning is, that the king would swear to her, and give out a general prohibition, an universal edict, that no one should slay her son; otherwise if only the avenger of blood that was next of kin was forbidden, others would rise up one after another, so that he would never be in safety:

and he said, [as] the Lord liveth; if she desired an oath, he granted her request, and swore by the living God:

there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth; so far shall his life be from being touched, or taken away, that the least hurt shall not be done him, as this proverbial expression signifies.

o מהרבות גאל הדם "a multiplicando redemptorem sanguinis", Montanus; so the Tigurine version.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 14:11. Let the king remember the Lord thy God — Consider that when God is earnestly requested to show mercy, he does it in the promptest manner; he does not wait till the case is hopeless: the danger to which my son is exposed is imminent; if the king do not decide the business instantly, it may be too late.

And he said, As the Lord liveth — Thus he binds himself by a most solemn promise and oath; and this is what the woman wanted to extort.


 
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