Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Bible in Basic English

2 Samuel 15:4

And more than this, Absalom said, If only I was made judge in the land, so that every man who has any cause or question might come to me, and I would give a right decision for him!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Ambition;   Candidate;   Demagogism;   Diplomacy;   Electioneering;   Flattery;   Politics;   Popularity;   Usurpation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ambition;   Worldly;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ambition;   Courts of Justice;   Flattery;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   David;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Justice;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Judges;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Court Systems;   Judge (Office);   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Elder;   Judges;   Justice;   Priests and Levites;   Samuel, Books of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   David;   Jerusalem;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Law of Moses;   Sol'omon;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Decision;   Judge;   Samuel, Books of;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Appeal;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Right and Righteousness;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.”
Hebrew Names Version
Avshalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
King James Version
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
Lexham English Bible
Then Absalom would say, "Oh, that someone would appoint me as judge in the land, that anyone might come to me who had a legal dispute or a case, and I would give him justice."
English Standard Version
Then Absalom would say, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice."
New Century Version
Absalom would also say, "I wish someone would make me judge in this land! Then people with problems could come to me, and I could help them get justice."
New English Translation
Absalom would then say, "If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement."
Amplified Bible
Moreover Absalom would say, "Oh, that I were appointed judge in the land! Then every man who had a dispute could come to me and I would get justice for him."
New American Standard Bible
Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Absalom sayd moreouer, Oh that I were made Iudge in the lande, that euery man which hath any matter of controuersie, might come to me, that I might do him iustice.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any case or judgment could come to me and I would justify him."
Contemporary English Version
I wish someone would make me the judge around here! I would be fair to everyone."
Complete Jewish Bible
Then Avshalom would continue, "Now if I were made judge in the land, anyone with a suit or other cause could come to me, and I would see that he gets justice!"
Darby Translation
And Absalom said, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any controversy and cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
Easy-to-Read Version
Absalom would also say, "Oh, I wish someone would make me a judge in this country! Then I could help everyone who comes to me with a problem. I would help them get a fair solution to their problem."
George Lamsa Translation
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made a judge in the land, that every man who has a lawsuit or a cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
Good News Translation
And he would add, "How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me, and I would give him justice."
Literal Translation
And Absalom said, Who shall make me a judge in the land, that every man who has a dispute, I will then declare him right, even with justice?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Absalom sayde: O who setteth me to be iudge in ye londe, that euery man which hath a plee or matter to do in ye lawe, might come to me, that I might helpe him to right
American Standard Version
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Absalom sayde moreouer: Oh, that I were made iudge in the land, that euery man which hath any plea and matter in the lawe, might come to me, and that I might do him iustice.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Absalom said moreover: 'Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!'
King James Version (1611)
Absalom said moreouer, Oh that I were made Iudge in the land, that euery man which hath any suit or cause, might come vnto me, and I would do him iustice.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Abessalom said, O that one would make me a judge in the land; then every man who had a dispute or a cause would come to me, and I would judge him!
English Revised Version
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
Berean Standard Bible
And he would add, "If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that alle men that han cause come to me, and Y deme iustly?
Young's Literal Translation
And Absalom saith, `Who doth make me a judge in the land, that unto me doth come every man who hath a plea and judgment? -- then I have declared him righteous.'
Update Bible Version
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
Webster's Bible Translation
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
World English Bible
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
New King James Version
Moreover Absalom would say, "Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice."
New Living Translation
I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!"
New Life Bible
And Absalom would say, "If only I were chosen to be the one to be judge in the land! Then every man who has a problem could come to me. And I would do for him what is right and fair."
New Revised Standard
Absalom said moreover, "If only I were judge in the land! Then all who had a suit or cause might come to me, and I would give them justice."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Absalom said, Oh would that I were appointed to judge in the land! that, unto me, might come every man having a complaint or a defence, then would I see him righted.
Douay-Rheims Bible
O that they would make me judge over the land, that all that have business might come to me, that I might do them justice.
Revised Standard Version
Ab'salom said moreover, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a suit or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice."

Contextual Overview

1 Now after this, Absalom got for himself a carriage and horses, and fifty runners to go before him. 2 And Absalom got up early, morning after morning, and took his place at the side of the public meeting-place: and when any man had a cause which had to come to the king to be judged, then Absalom, crying out to him, said, What is your town? and he would say, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom would say to him, See, your cause is true and right; but no man has been named by the king to give you a hearing. 4 And more than this, Absalom said, If only I was made judge in the land, so that every man who has any cause or question might come to me, and I would give a right decision for him! 5 And if any man came near to give him honour, he took him by the hand and gave him a kiss. 6 And this Absalom did to everyone in Israel who came to the king to have his cause judged: so Absalom, like a thief, took away the hearts of the men of Israel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Oh that I: Judges 9:1-5, Judges 9:29, Proverbs 25:6, Luke 14:8-11

I would do: Proverbs 27:2, 2 Peter 2:19

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:3 - his sons

Cross-References

Genesis 17:16
And I will give her a blessing so that you will have a son by her: truly my blessing will be on her, and she will be the mother of nations: kings of peoples will be her offspring.
Genesis 21:12
But God said, Let it not be a grief to you because of the boy and Hagar his mother; give ear to whatever Sarah says to you, because it is from Isaac that your seed will take its name.
2 Samuel 7:12
And when the time comes for you to go to rest with your fathers, I will put in your place your seed after you, the offspring of your body, and I will make his kingdom strong.
2 Samuel 16:11
And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, You see how my son, the offspring of my body, has made designs against my life: how much more then may this Benjamite do so? Let him be, and let him go on cursing; for the Lord has given him orders.
2 Chronicles 32:21
And the Lord sent an angel who put to death all the men of war and the chiefs and the captains in the army of the king of Assyria. So he went back to his country in shame. And when he came into the house of his god, his sons, the offspring of his body, put him to death there with the sword.
Galatians 4:28
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of the undertaking of God.
Philemon 1:12
Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Absalom said, moreover,.... To the same persons, at the same time:

oh that I were made judge in the land; by which it appears that he had no office under the king; partly either because of his crime, and so not thought fit, and partly because he appeared to be an ambitious aspiring man, and so it was thought not safe to put him into any office:

that every man that hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice; at once, without any further trouble, or coming often, and in vain, and to no purpose.


 
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