2 Samuel 19 · Verse 35

2 Samuel 19:35

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?
2 Samuel 19:35, King James Version

2 Samuel 19:35 in other translations

BSBI 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?
WEBI 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?
ASVI 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?
YLTA son of eighty years I am to-day; do I know between good and evil? doth thy servant taste that which I am eating, and that which I drink? do I hearken any more to the voice of singers and songstresses? and why is thy servant any more for a burden unto my lord the king?
DARBYI 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?
BBEI am now eighty years old: good and bad are the same to me; have meat and drink any taste for me now? am I able to take pleasure in the voices of men or women in song? why then am I to be a trouble to my lord the king?
WebsterI am this day eighty 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? why then should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?

What does 2 Samuel 19:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 19:31-43

31-40. Barzillai the Gileadite--The rank, great age, and chivalrous devotion of this Gileadite chief wins our respect. His declining to go to court, his recommendation of his son, his convoy across the Jordan, and his parting scene with the king, are interesting incidents. What mark of royal favor was bestowed on Chimham has not been recorded; but it is probable that David gave a great part of his personal patrimony…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 19:31-43 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 35 Can thy servant taste what I eat - Here is at once an affecting description of the infirmities of old age; and a correct account of the mode of living at an Eastern court in ancient times. Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for his food was gone: he therefore appears to have been not only an old man, but an infirm old man. Besides delicate meats and drinks, we find that vocal music constituted a principal part of court entertainments: male and female singers made a necessary appendage to these banquets, as they do in most Eastern courts to the present day. As David was a most sublime poet, and emphatically styled the sweet singer of Israel, he no doubt had his court well supplied with vocal as well as instrumental performers; and, probably, with poets and poetesses; for it is not likely that he was the only poet of his time, though he undoubtedly was the most excellent.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 19:31-39

Barzillai thought he had done himself honour in doing the king any service. Thus, when the saints shall be called to inherit the kingdom, they will be amazed at the recompence being so very far beyond the service, Mt 25:37. A good man would not go any where to be burdensome; or, will rather be so to his own house than to another's. It is good for all, but especially becomes old people, to think and speak much of…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 19:31-39 →

2 Samuel 19:35 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.

בֶּן\־ben-[am] a son ofH1121
שְׁמֹנִ֣יםshe.mo.NimeightyH8084
שָׁנָה֩sha.Nahyear[s]H8141
אָנֹכִ֨י'a.no.KhiIH595
הַיּ֜וֹםhai.Yomthis dayH3117
הַאֵדַ֣ע\׀ha.'e.Da'¿ do I knowH3045
בֵּין\־bein-betweenH996
ט֣וֹבTovgoodH2896
לְרָ֗עle.Ra'and evilH7451
אִם\־'im-or?H518
יִטְעַ֤םyit.'Amwill he tasteH2938
עַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de.Khaservant yourH5650
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sher[that] whichH834
אֹכַל֙'o.KhalI will eatH398
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher[that] whichH834
אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה'esh.TehI will drinkH8354
אִם\־'im-or?H518
אֶשְׁמַ֣ע'esh.Ma'will I hearH8085
ע֔וֹדodstillH5750
בְּק֖וֹלbe.Kol<in> [the] voice ofH6963
שָׁרִ֣יםsha.Rim[male] singersH7891
וְשָׁר֑וֹתve.sha.Rotand female singersH7891
וְלָמָּה֩ve.la.Mahand <to> why?H4100
יִֽהְיֶ֨הyih.Yehwill he becomeH1961
עַבְדְּךָ֥'av.de.Khaservant yourH5650
עוֹד֙'OdstillH5750
לְמַשָּׂ֔אle.ma.Sa'<into> a burdenH4853
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.Nilord myH113
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ\׃ha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 19:35

  • 2 Samuel 15:33

    Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Job 6:30

    Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

  • 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! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.

  • Job 12:11

    Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

  • Exodus 2:8

    And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.

  • Nehemiah 7:67

    Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.

  • 1 Peter 2:3

    If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:8

    I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

  • Exodus 12:4

    And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
can I discern.
Job 6:30; 12:11; Heb 5:14; 1Pe 2:3
taste.
Ec 12:1-5
I hear.
Ezr 2:65; Ne 7:67; Ex 2:8; 12:4
a burden.
13:25; 15:33

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 19:34

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

  • 2 Samuel 19:35

    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?

  • 2 Samuel 19:36

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

Read all of 2 Samuel 19

2 Samuel 19:35 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo soy hoy día de edad de ochenta años, que ya no haré diferencia entre lo bueno y lo malo: ¿tomará gusto ahora tu siervo en lo que comiere ó bebiere? ¿oiré más la voz de los cantores y de las cantoras? ¿para qué, pues, sería aún tu siervo molesto á mi señor el rey?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Barzillaï dit au roi: Combien seront les jours des années de ma vie, pour que je monte avec le roi à Jérusalem?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich bin heute achtzig Jahre alt; kann ich Gutes und Schlechtes unterscheiden? oder kann dein Knecht schmecken, was ich esse und was ich trinke? oder kann ich noch auf die Stimme der Sänger und der Sängerinnen horchen? Und warum sollte dein Knecht meinem Herrn, dem König, noch zur Last sein?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Octogenarius sum hodie: numquid vigent sensus mei ad discernendum suave aut amarum? aut delectare potest servum tuum cibus et potus? vel audire possum ultra vocem cantorum atque cantatricum? quare servus tuus sit oneri domino meo regi?