2 Samuel 19:35

Old age Contentment Exhaustion Sickness and healing

³³ And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

³⁴ And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

³⁶ Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

³⁷ Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
KJV: I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
WEB: I am eighty years old, today. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and singing women any more? Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king?
ASV: I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
DARBY: I am this day eighty years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat and what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? and why should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?
BLB: I [am] a son of eighty years today. Can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singers and songstresses? Why should be your servant add a burden to my lord the king?

ÅB: Jeg er idag åtti år; kan jeg vel nå skjelne mellom godt og ondt, eller kan din tjener smake hva jeg spiser og drikker, eller kan jeg nå lenger høre på sangere og sangerinner? Hvorfor skulle da din tjener lenger være min herre kongen til byrde?
OTB: Jeg er i dag åtti år gammel. Kan jeg skjelne mellom godt og ondt? Kan din tjener smake hva han spiser eller hva han drikker? Kan jeg fortsatt høre stemmen til syngende menn og syngende kvinner? Hvorfor skulle da din tjener være en byrde for min herre kongen?
B1930: Jeg er idag åtti år; kan jeg vel nu skjelne mellem godt og ondt, eller kan din tjener smake hvad jeg eter og drikker, eller kan jeg nu lenger høre på sangere og sangerinner? Hvorfor skulde da din tjener lenger være min herre kongen til byrde?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Samuel 15:33
Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
Read in context
Ezra 2:65
Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
Read in context
Psalms 90:10
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Read in context
Hebrews 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Read in context
Job 6:30
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
Read in context
Isaiah 5:11–12
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Read in context
Job 12:11
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
Read in context
Exodus 2:8
And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.
Read in context