2 Samuel 20 · Verse 19

2 Samuel 20:19

I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?
2 Samuel 20:19, King James Version

2 Samuel 20:19 in other translations

BSBI am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”
WEBI am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”
ASVI am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
YLTI am of the peaceable--faithful ones of Israel; thou art seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel; why dost thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
DARBYI am peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
BBEYour purpose is the destruction of a mother-town in Israel: why would you put an end to the heritage of the Lord?
WebsterI am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

What does 2 Samuel 20:19 mean?

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

18-20. They were wont to speak in old time--The translation of the Margin gives a better meaning, which is to this effect: When the people saw thee lay siege to Abel, they said, Surely he will ask if we will have peace, for the law (De 20:10) prescribes that he should offer peace to strangers, much more then to Israelitish cities; and if he do this, we shall soon bring things to an amicable agreement, for we are a…

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 I - peaceable and faithful in Israel - I am for peace, not contention of any kind; I am faithful - I adhere to David, and neither seek nor shall sanction any rebellion or anarchy in the land. Why then dost thou proceed in such a violent manner? Perhaps the woman speaks here in the name and on behalf of the city: "I am a peaceable city, and am faithful to the king." A mother in Israel - That is, a chief city of a district; for it is very likely that the woman speaks of the city, not of herself.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:14-22

Justly is that place attacked, which dares to harbour a traitor; nor will the heart fare better which indulges rebellious lusts, that will not have Christ to reign over them. A discreet woman, by her prudent management, satisfied Joab, and yet saved the city. Wisdom is not confined to rank or sex; it consists not in deep knowledge; but in understanding how to act as matters arise, that troubles may be turned away…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 20:14-22 →

2 Samuel 20:19 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.

אָנֹכִ֕י'a.no.KhiIH595
שְׁלֻמֵ֖יshe.lu.Mei[am] [the] peaceful [ones] ofH7999
אֱמוּנֵ֣י'e.mu.Nei[the] faithful [ones] ofH529
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
אַתָּ֣ה'a.TahyouH859
מְבַקֵּ֗שׁme.va.Kesh[are] seekingH1245
לְהָמִ֨יתle.ha.Mitto killH4191
עִ֤יר'ira cityH5892
וְאֵם֙ve.'Emand a motherH517
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'Elin IsraelH3478
לָ֥מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
תְבַלַּ֖עte.va.La'will you swallow upH1104
נַחֲלַ֥תna.cha.Lat[the] inheritance ofH5159
יְהוָֽה\׃\ \פYah.wehYahwehH3068

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 20:19

  • 1 Samuel 26:19

    Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods.

  • 1 Timothy 2:2

    For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

  • 2 Samuel 21:3

    Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?

  • 2 Samuel 17:16

    Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

  • Numbers 16:32

    And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

  • Lamentations 2:2

    The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.

  • Psalms 124:3

    Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

  • Exodus 19:5-6

    Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

  • Lamentations 2:5

    The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.

  • Deuteronomy 32:9

    For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

  • Numbers 26:10

    And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.

  • Romans 13:3-4

    For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
peaceable.
Ge 18:23; Ro 13:3,4; 1Ti 2:2
a mother.
Jud 5:7; Eze 16:45-49
swallow.
17:16; Nu 16:32; 26:10; Ps 124:3; Jer 51:34,44; La 2:2,5,16
1Co 15:54; 2Co 5:4
the inheritance.
21:3; Ex 19:5,6; De 32:9; 1Sa 26:19

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 20:18

    Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

  • 2 Samuel 20:19

    I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?

  • 2 Samuel 20:20

    And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

Read all of 2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 20:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo soy de las pacíficas y fieles de Israel: y tú procuras destruir una ciudad que es madre de Israel: ¿por qué destruyes la heredad de Jehová?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, je suis paisible et fidèle en Israël; toi, tu cherches à faire périr une ville et une mère en Israël; pourquoi veux-tu engloutir l’héritage de l’ Éternel?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich bin von den Friedsamen, den Getreuen Israels; du suchst eine Stadt und Mutter in Israel zu töten. Warum willst du das Erbteil Jehovas verschlingen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nonne ego sum quæ respondeo veritatem in Israël, et tu quæris subvertere civitatem et evertere matrem in Israël? quare præcipitas hæreditatem Domini?