2 Samuel 23:17
15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD,
saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.
19 Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
- KJV
- And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
- WEB
- He said, “Be it far from me, LORD, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
- ASV
- And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: [shall I drink] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
- DARBY
- And he said, Be it far from me, Jehovah, that I should do this thing! is it not the blood of the men that went at the risk of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
- BLB
- And he said, “Far be it from me, O YHWH, that I should do this; is it the blood of the men who went with their lives?” And he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.
- ÅB
- Og han sa: Det være langt fra meg, Herre, å gjøre dette! Skulle jeg drikke de menns blod som gikk avsted med fare for sitt liv? Og han ville ikke drikke det. Dette gjorde de tre helter.
- OTB
- Og han sa, "Langt være det fra meg, Herre, å gjøre dette! Skal jeg drikke blodet av mennene som risikerte sine liv?" Så han ville ikke drikke det. Disse gjerningene ble gjort av de tre mektige mennene.
- B1930
- Og han sa: Det være langt fra mig, Herre, å gjøre dette! Skulde jeg drikke de menns blod som gikk avsted med fare for sitt liv? Og han vilde ikke drikke det. Dette gjorde de tre helter.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Leviticus 17:10
If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people.
Read in contextMark 14:24
He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Read in context1 Samuel 2:30
Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
Read in contextJudges 5:18
Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.
Read in context1 Kings 21:3
But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
Read in context1 Samuel 26:11
But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”
Read in contextGenesis 44:17
But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
Read in contextJohn 6:52–54
At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
Read in context