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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Bible in Basic English

2 Samuel 23:23

He was honoured over the rest of the thirty, but he was not equal to the first three. And David put him over the fighting men who kept him safe.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Benaiah;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Benaiah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cherethim;   Giants;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Benaiah;   Cherethims;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ararite;   Benaiah;   Bodyguard;   Mighty Men;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Giant;   Guard Body-Guard;   Ithrite, the;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Army;   Guard;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Benaiah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Bena'iah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Army;   Attain;   Benaiah;   Guard;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Benaiah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
Hebrew Names Version
He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the [first] three. David set him over his guard.
King James Version
He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
English Standard Version
He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
New Century Version
He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David made him leader of his bodyguards.
New English Translation
He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
Amplified Bible
He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three. David appointed him over his guard.
New American Standard Bible
He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain the reputation of the three. And David appointed him over his bodyguard.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He was honourable among thirtie, but he atteined not to the first three: and Dauid made him of his counsell.
Legacy Standard Bible
He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.
Complete Jewish Bible
He had more honor than the thirty, but he did not achieve the status of the first three. David put him in command of his personal guard.
Darby Translation
He was honoured above the thirty, but he did not attain to the [first] three. And David set him in his council.
Easy-to-Read Version
Benaiah was even more famous than the Thirty Heroes, but he did not become a member of the Three Heroes. David made Benaiah the leader of his bodyguards.
George Lamsa Translation
He performed heroic deeds equal to thirty men. And David set him over his guard.
Good News Translation
He was outstanding among them, but was not as famous as "The Three." David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
Lexham English Bible
He was honored more than the thirty, but he did not come up to the three. David appointed him in charge of his bodyguard.
Literal Translation
He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not come to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and more honorable then the thirtie, but he came not vnto the thre. And Dauid made him of his secrete coucell.
American Standard Version
He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He was honorable among thirtie, but he attayned not to [the first] three: And Dauid made him of his counsel.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
King James Version (1611)
Hee was more honourable then the thirtie, but hee attained not to the first three: and Dauid set him ouer his guard.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
He was honourable among the second three, but he reached not to the first three: and David made him his reporter.
English Revised Version
He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.
Berean Standard Bible
He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and he was nemyed among thre stronge men, that weren among the thretti noblere men; netheles he cam not til to the thre. And Dauid made hym a counselour of priuyte to hym silf.
Young's Literal Translation
Of the thirty he is honoured, and unto the three he came not; and David setteth him over his guard.
Update Bible Version
He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the three. And David set him over his guard.
Webster's Bible Translation
He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.
World English Bible
He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the [first] three. David set him over his guard.
New King James Version
He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.
New Living Translation
He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.
New Life Bible
He was honored among the thirty. But he was not as strong as the three. David made him captain of the soldiers who kept him from danger.
New Revised Standard
He was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He was the most honourable, of thirty, although, unto the three, he attained no, - so David added him to his council.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty: but he attained not to the first three: and David made him of his privy council.
Revised Standard Version
He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.

Contextual Overview

8 These are the names of David's men of war: Ishbaal the Hachmonite, chief of the three; his axe was lifted up against eight hundred put to death at one time. 9 After him was Eleazar, the son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three great fighters, who was with David in Pas-dammim when the Philistines came together there for the fight; and when the men of Israel had gone in flight, 10 He was with David and went on fighting the Philistines till his hand became tired and stiff from gripping his sword: and that day the Lord gave a great salvation, and the people came back after him only to take the goods of the Philistines. 11 After him was Shammah, the son of Ela the Hararite. And the Philistines came together in Lehi, where there was a bit of land full of seed; and the people went in flight from the Philistines. 12 But he kept his place in the middle of the bit of land, and kept back their attack and overcame the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great salvation. 13 And three of the thirty went down at the start of the grain-cutting, and they came to David at the strong place of Adullam; and the band of Philistines had taken up their position in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And at that time David had taken cover in the strong place, and an armed force of the Philistines was in Beth-lehem. 15 And David, moved by a strong desire, said, If only someone would give me a drink of water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town! 16 And the three men, forcing their way through the Philistine army, got water from the water-hole of Beth-lehem, by the doorway into the town, and took it back to David: but he would not take it, but, draining it out, made an offering of it to the Lord. 17 And he said, Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this; how may I take as my drink the life-blood of men who have put their lives in danger? So he would not take it. These things did the three great men of war.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

more honourable: or, honourable among the thirty, 1 Chronicles 27:6

over his guard: or, over his council, Heb. at his command, 2 Samuel 8:8, 2 Samuel 20:23, 1 Samuel 22:14

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 20:7 - General 1 Chronicles 11:12 - the three 2 Chronicles 12:10 - the chief Ecclesiastes 4:12 - and a

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He was more honourable than the thirty,.... Whose names are after recorded:

but he attained not to the [first] three; the first triumvirate, Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah; he was not equal to them for fortitude, courage, and military exploits:

and David set him over his guard; his bodyguard, the Cherethites and Pelethites, 2 Samuel 8:18; who are called in the Hebrew text "his hearing" m, because they hearkened to his orders and commands, and obeyed them.

m אל משמעתו "ad auditum suum", Pagninus, Montanus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

David set him over his guard - “Made him of his privy council,” would be a better rendering. See 1 Samuel 22:14 note. This position, distinct from his office as captain of the Cherethites and Pelethites, is clearly indicated 1 Chronicles 27:34.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 23:23. David set him over his guard. — The Vulgate renders this, Fecitque eun sibi David auricularium a secreto, "David made him his privy counsellor;" or, according to the Hebrew, He put him to his ears, i.e., confided his secrets to him. Some think he made him a spy over the rest. It is supposed that the meaning of the fable which attributes to Midas very long ears, is, that this king carried the system of espionage to a great length; that he had a multitude of spies in different places.


 
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