2 Samuel 15 · Verse 21

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.
2 Samuel 15:21, King James Version

2 Samuel 15:21 in other translations

BSBBut Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”
WEBIttai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”
ASVAnd Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.
YLTAnd Ittai answereth the king and saith, ‘Jehovah liveth, and my lord the king liveth, surely in the place where my lord the king is--if for death, if for life, surely there is thy servant.'
DARBYAnd Ittai answered the king and said, As Jehovah 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.
BBEAnd Ittai the Gittite in answer said, By the living Lord, and by the life of my lord the king, in whatever place my lord the king may be, for life or death, there will your servant be.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does 2 Samuel 15:21 mean?

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 15:21 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.

וַיַּ֧עַןvai.Ya.'anand he answeredH6030
אִתַּ֛י'i.TaiIttaiH863
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
וַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.Marand he saidH559
חַי\־chai-[by] [the] lifeH2416
יְהוָ֗הYah.wehof YahwehH3068
וְחֵי֙ve.Cheiand [by] [the] life ofH2416
אֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.Nilord myH113
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
כִּ֠יkithatH3588
אִם\־'im-exceptH518
בִּמְק֞וֹםbim.Komin [the] placeH4725
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sher<of> whereH834
יִֽהְיֶה\־yih.yeh-he will beH1961
שָּׁ֣ם\׀shamthereH8033
אֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.Nilord myH113
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
אִם\־'im-whetherH518
לְמָ֙וֶת֙le.Ma.vetfor deathH4194
אִם\־'im-orH518
לְחַיִּ֔יםle.chai.Yimfor lifeH2416
כִּי\־ki-forH3588
שָׁ֖םshamthereH8033
יִהְיֶ֥הyih.Yehhe will beH1961
עַבְדֶּֽךָ\׃'av.De.khaservant yourH5650

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 15:21

  • Ruth 1:16-17

    And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

  • Proverbs 17:17

    A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

  • 2 Kings 4:30

    And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.

  • Proverbs 18:24

    A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

  • Acts 11:23

    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

  • Acts 21:13

    Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

  • 2 Kings 2:6

    And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

  • 2 Kings 2:4

    And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:3

    I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

  • 2 Kings 2:2

    And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth–el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth–el.

  • John 6:66-69

    From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

  • 1 Samuel 20:3

    And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
As the Lord.
1Sa 20:3; 25:26; 2Ki 2:2,4,6; 4:30
surely.
Ru 1:16,17; Pr 17:17; 18:24; Mt 8:19,20; Joh 6:66-69; Ac 11:23
Ac 21:13; 2Co 7:3

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Samuel 15:22

    And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

Read all of 2 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 15:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y respondió Ittai al rey, diciendo: Vive Dios, y vive mi señor el rey, que, ó para muerte ó para vida, donde mi señor el rey estuviere, allí estará también tu siervo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais Itthaï répondit au roi, et dit: L’ Éternel est vivant, et le roi, mon seigneur, est vivant, que dans le lieu où sera le roi, mon seigneur, soit pour la mort, soit pour la vie, là aussi sera ton serviteur!
German
Elberfelder 1871
Aber Ittai antwortete dem König und sprach: So wahr Jehova lebt und mein Herr König lebt, an dem Orte, wo mein Herr, der König, sein wird, sei es zum Tode, sei es zum Leben, daselbst wird auch dein Knecht sein!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et respondit Ethai regi dicens: Vivit Dominus, et vivit dominus meus rex, quoniam in quocumque loco fueris, domine mi rex, sive in morte, sive in vita, ibi erit servus tuus.