Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

2 Samuel 19:14

Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, "Return to us, and bring back all who are with you."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Gilgal;   Judah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Judah, the Tribe of;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Joram;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Joab;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Amasa;   Joab;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So he won over all the men of Judah, and they unanimously sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.”
Hebrew Names Version
He bowed the heart of all the men of Yehudah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your servants.
King James Version
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
Lexham English Bible
So he turned the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your servants."
English Standard Version
And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants."
New Century Version
David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah at once. They sent a message to the king that said, "Return with all your men."
New English Translation
He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, "Return, you and all your servants as well."
Amplified Bible
In this way he changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your servants."
New American Standard Bible
So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."
Geneva Bible (1587)
So he bowed the heartes of all the men of Iudah, as of one man: therefore they sent to the King, saying, Returne thou with all thy seruants.
Legacy Standard Bible
Thus he inclined the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."
Contemporary English Version
Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: "Come back, and bring your soldiers with you."
Complete Jewish Bible
Also tell ‘Amasa, ‘You are my flesh and bone. May God bring terrible curses on me and worse ones yet if from now on you are not permanent commander of my army instead of Yo'av."
Darby Translation
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah as of one man; and they sent to the king, Return, thou and all thy servants.
Easy-to-Read Version
David touched the hearts of the people of Judah, and they all agreed as one. The people of Judah sent a message to the king, saying, "You and all your officers come back!"
George Lamsa Translation
And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man; so that they sent word to the king, saying, Return you and all your servants.
Good News Translation
David's words won the complete loyalty of all the men of Judah, and they sent him word to return with all his officials.
Literal Translation
And he inclined the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent to the king, Return, you and all your servants.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he bowed the hert of all the men of Iuda as of one man. And they sent vnto ye kynge: Come agayne, thou and all thy seruauntes:
American Standard Version
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent unto the king, saying, Return thou, and all thy servants.
Bible in Basic English
And the hearts of the men of Judah were moved like one man; so that they sent to the king, saying, Come back, with all your servants.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he bowed the heartes of all the men of Iuda, euen as the heart of one man, so that they sent [this word] to the king: Returne thou with all thy seruauntes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And say ye to Amasa: Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.'
King James Version (1611)
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Iudah, euen as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word vnto the King, Returne thou and all thy seruants.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Juda as that of one man; and they sent to the king, saying, Return thou, and all thy servants.
English Revised Version
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent unto the king, [saying], Return thou, and all thy servants.
Berean Standard Bible
So Amasa swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: "Return, you and all your servants."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Dauid bowide the herte of alle men of Juda as of o man; and thei senten to the kyng, and seiden, Turne thou ayen, and alle thi seruauntis.
Young's Literal Translation
And he inclineth the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they send unto the king, `Turn back, thou, and all thy servants.'
Update Bible Version
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return, you and all your slaves.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent [this word] to the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
World English Bible
He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your servants.
New King James Version
So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: "Return, you and all your servants!"
New Life Bible
He changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as if they were one man. So they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."
New Revised Standard
Amasa swayed the hearts of all the people of Judah as one, and they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus bowed he the heart of all the men of Judah, as one man, - and they sent unto the king, Return, thou, and all thy servants.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he inclined the heart of all the men of Juda, as it were of one man: and they sent to the king, saying: Return thou, and all thy servants.
Revised Standard Version
And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man; so that they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants."
THE MESSAGE
He captured the hearts of everyone in Judah. They were unanimous in sending for the king: "Come back, you and all your servants."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."

Contextual Overview

9 And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, "The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country. 10 Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?" 11 Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, "Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready. 12 You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?" 13 And David told them to tell Amasa, "Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place." 14 Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, "Return to us, and bring back all who are with you." 15 So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he bowed: The measures that he pursued were the best calculated that could be adopted for accomplishing this salutary end. David appears to take no notice of their infidelity, but rather to place confidence in them, that their confidence in him might be naturally excited; and to oblige them yet farther, purposes to make Amasa general of the army, instead of Joab.

even: Judges 20:1, Psalms 110:2, Psalms 110:3, Acts 4:32

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:12 - my hand 2 Samuel 19:43 - our advice 2 Samuel 22:44 - delivered

Cross-References

Genesis 19:4
But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house.
Genesis 19:8
Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection."
Genesis 19:12
Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. "Do you have any other relatives here in the city?" they asked. "Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else.
Genesis 19:14
So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters' fiancés, "Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it." But the young men thought he was only joking.
Genesis 19:17
When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, "Run for your lives! And don't look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!"
Genesis 19:22
But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there." (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means "little place.")
Genesis 19:28
He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.
Genesis 19:30
Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters.
Exodus 9:21
But those who paid no attention to the word of the Lord left theirs out in the open.
Exodus 12:31
Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. "Get out!" he ordered. "Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man,.... This the Jewish commentators generally understand of Amasa that he used his interest with the men of Judah, and so wrought upon them, that they agreed as one man to send for the king, and bring him back; but it seems best to understand it of David, who by these gentle methods, kind messages, and affectionate speeches, powerfully inclined and engaged the hearts of the people towards him; so that they were unanimously and affectionately agreed to restore him: in this way David chose to return; he could have come without their leave, or any invitation from them, as he was their lawful king, and a victorious one, the rebellion being crushed; and had it in his power to chastise those concerned in it, and use them with severity; but he chose rather to gain the hearts of his people, and to come in a way peaceable to them, and honourable to himself:

so that they sent [this word] unto the king, return thou and all thy servants; perhaps by the same messengers that David sent; or it may be, rather for honour's sake they deputed some of their principal men to wait on David, and invite him to return to them with all his retinue and army, promising allegiance and fidelity to him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 19:14. And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah — The measures that he pursued were the best calculated that could be to accomplish this salutary end. Appear to distrust those whom you have some reason to suspect, and you increase their caution and distrust. Put as much confidence in them as you safely can, and this will not fail to excite their confidence towards you.


 
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