2 Samuel 3 · Verse 31

2 Samuel 3:31

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
2 Samuel 3:31, King James Version

2 Samuel 3:31 in other translations

BSBThen David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.
WEBDavid said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in front of Abner.” King David followed the bier.
ASVAnd David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.
YLTAnd David saith unto Joab, and unto all the people who are with him, ‘Rend your garments, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner;' and king David is going after the bier.
DARBYAnd David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.
BBEAnd David said to Joab and all the people who were with him, Go in grief and put haircloth about you, in sorrow for Abner. And King David went after the dead body.
WebsterAnd David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

What does 2 Samuel 3:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth--David's sorrow was sincere and profound, and he took occasion to give it public expression by the funeral honors he appointed for Abner. King David himself followed the bier--a sort of wooden frame, partly resembling a coffin, and partly a hand-barrow.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 David said to Joab - He commanded him to take on him the part of a principal mourner.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:22-39

Judgments are prepared for such scorners as Abner; but Joab, in what he did, acted wickedly. David laid Abner's murder deeply to heart, and in many ways expressed his detestation of it. The guilt of blood brings a curse upon families: if men do not avenge it, God will. It is a sad thing to die like a fool, as they do that any way shorten their own days, and those who make no provision for another world. Who would be…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 3:22-39 →

2 Samuel 3:31 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.

וַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.Merand he saidH559
דָּוִ֨דda.VidDavidH1732
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יוֹאָ֜בyo.'AvJoabH3097
וְאֶל\־ve.'el-and toH413
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָעָ֣םha.'Amthe peopleH5971
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
אִתּ֗וֹ'i.To[was] with himH854
קִרְע֤וּkir.'UtearH7167
בִגְדֵיכֶם֙vig.dei.Khemgarments yourH899
וְחִגְר֣וּve.chig.Ruand gird yourselvesH2296
שַׂקִּ֔יםsa.Kimsackcloth<s>H8242
וְסִפְד֖וּve.sif.Duand mournH5594
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
אַבְנֵ֑ר'av.NerAbnerH74
וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְve.ha.Me.lekhand the kingH4428
דָּוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
הֹלֵ֖ךְho.Lekh[was] walkingH1980
אַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiafterH310
הַמִּטָּֽה\׃ha.mi.Tahthe bierH4296

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 3:31

  • Genesis 37:34

    And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

  • 2 Samuel 1:2

    It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

  • 2 Samuel 1:11

    Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

  • Joshua 7:6

    And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

  • Judges 11:35

    And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.

  • 2 Kings 19:1

    And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.

  • Luke 7:14

    And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

  • Genesis 37:29

    And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
And David.David, intending no doubt to punish Joab, and to lessen his authority with the people, commanded him to take upon him the office of chief mourner; but, as his revenge was gratified, his rival removed, and no heavier punishment inflicted, it is probable his hardened mind would feel but little objection to the ceremony.
Rend.
1:2,11; Ge 37:29,34; Jos 7:6; Jud 11:35; 2Ki 19:1
bier. Heb. bed.
Lu 7:14

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 3:30

    So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

  • 2 Samuel 3:31

    And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

  • 2 Samuel 3:32

    And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

Read all of 2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces dijo David á Joab, y á todo el pueblo que con él estaba: Romped vuestros vestidos, y ceñíos de sacos, y haced duelo delante de Abner. Y el rey iba detrás del féretro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David dit à Joab et à tout le peuple qui était avec lui: Déchirez vos vêtements et ceignez-vous de sacs, et menez deuil devant Abner. Et le roi David marchait après le cercueil.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David sprach zu Joab und zu allem Volke, das mit ihm war: Zerreißet eure Kleider und umgürtet euch mit Sacktuch, und klaget vor Abner her! Und der König David ging hinter der Bahre her.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit autem David ad Joab, et ad omnem populum qui erat cum eo: Scindite vestimenta vestra, et accingimini saccis, et plangite ante exequias Abner. Porro rex David sequebatur feretrum.