2 Samuel 23:17

15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!

16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

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.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.

19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first 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

    And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

    Read in context
  • Mark 14:24

    And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 2:30

    Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

    Read in context
  • Judges 5:18

    Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 21:3

    And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 26:11

    The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:17

    And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

    Read in context
  • John 6:52–54

    The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

    Read in context