2 Samuel 15 · Verse 20

2 Samuel 15:20

Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
2 Samuel 15:20, King James Version

2 Samuel 15:20 in other translations

BSBIn fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”
WEBWhereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”
ASVWhereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee.
YLTYesterday is thy coming in, and to-day I move thee to go with us, and I am going on that which I am going! --turn back, and take back thy brethren with thee, --kindness and truth.'
DARBYThou didst come yesterday, and should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I can? Return and take back thy brethren. Mercy and truth be with thee!
BBEIt was only yesterday you came to us; why then am I to make you go up and down with us? for I have to go where I may; go back then, and take your countrymen with you, and may the Lord's mercy and good faith be with you.
WebsterWhereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may; return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

What does 2 Samuel 15:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 15:18-20

18-20. all the Gittites, six hundred men--These were a body of foreign guards, natives of Gath, whom David, when in the country of the Philistines, had enlisted in his service, and kept around his person. Addressing their commander, Ittai, he made a searching trial of their fidelity in bidding them (2Sa 15:19) abide with the new king.

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 15:18-20 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Mercy and truth be with thee - May God ever show thee mercy, as thou showest it to me, and his truth ever preserve thee from error and delusion!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:13-23

David determined to quit Jerusalem. He took this resolve, as a penitent submitting to the rod. Before unrighteous Absalom he could justify himself, and stand out; but before the righteous God he must condemn himself, and yield to his judgments. Thus he accepts the punishment of his sin. And good men, when they themselves suffer, are anxious that others should not be led to suffer with them. He compelled none; those…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 15:13-23 →

2 Samuel 15:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תְּמ֣וֹל\׀te.Mol[was] yesterdayH8543
בּוֹאֶ֗ךָbo.'E.khacoming youH935
וְהַיּ֞וֹםve.hai.Yomand this dayH3117
אֲנִֽיעֲךָ֤'a.no.'a.khawill I make wander? youH5128
עִמָּ֙נוּ֙'i.Ma.nuwith usH5973
לָלֶ֔כֶתla.Le.khetto goH1980
וַאֲנִ֣יva.'a.Niand IH589
הוֹלֵ֔ךְho.Lekh[am] goingH1980
עַ֥ל'altoH5921
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whereH834
אֲנִ֖י'a.NiIH589
הוֹלֵ֑ךְho.Lekh[am] goingH1980
שׁ֣וּבshuvreturnH7725
וְהָשֵׁ֧בve.ha.Shevand take backH7725
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אַחֶ֛יךָ'a.Chei.khabrothers yourH251
עִמָּ֖ךְ'i.Makh[be] with youH5973
חֶ֥סֶדChe.sedcovenant loyaltyH2617
וֶאֱמֶֽת\׃ve.'e.Metand truthH571

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 15:20

  • 1 Samuel 23:13

    Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

  • 2 Samuel 2:6

    And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

  • Hebrews 11:37-38

    They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

  • John 1:17

    For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

  • Psalms 57:3

    He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

  • Psalms 59:15

    Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

  • Amos 8:12

    And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

  • Psalms 85:10

    Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

  • Psalms 25:10

    All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

  • Psalms 61:7

    He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

  • Psalms 56:8

    Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

  • Proverbs 14:22

    Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
go up and down. Heb. wander in going.
Ps 56:8; 59:15; Am 8:12; Heb 11:37,38
seeing.
1Sa 23:13
mercy.
2:6; Ps 25:10; 57:3; 61:7; 85:10; 89:14; Pr 14:22; Joh 1:17
2Ti 1:16-18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 15:19

    Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

  • 2 Samuel 15:20

    Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

  • 2 Samuel 15:21

    And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

Read all of 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Ayer viniste, y téngote de hacer hoy que mudes lugar para ir con nosotros? Yo voy como voy: tú vuélvete, y haz volver á tus hermanos; en ti haya misericordia y verdad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Tu es venu hier, et aujourd’hui je te ferais errer avec nous çà et là? Et quant à moi, je vais où je puis aller. Retourne-t’en, et emmène tes frères. Que la bonté et la vérité soient avec toi!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Gestern bist du gekommen, und heute sollte ich dich mit uns umherirren lassen? Ich aber gehe, wohin ich gehe. Kehre um und führe deine Brüder zurück; Güte und Wahrheit seien mit dir!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Heri venisti, et hodie compelleris nobiscum egredi? ego autem vadam quo iturus sum: revertere, et reduc tecum fratres tuos, et Dominus faciet tecum misericordiam et veritatem, quia ostendisti gratiam et fidem.