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Sunday, August 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Christian Standard Bible ®

2 Samuel 15:21

But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!”

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Friendship;   Gath;   Ittai;   Loyalty;   Servant;   Thompson Chain Reference - Constancy;   Friendship;   Friendship-Friendlessness;   Social Duties;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Gath;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ittai;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gath;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ittai;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ittai;   Oaths;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahithophel ;   Gittites ;   Ittai ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   David;   Jerusalem;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Oath;   Text of the Old Testament;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be.
King James Version
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
Lexham English Bible
But Ittai answered the king and said, "As Yahweh lives and my lord the king lives, surely in the place wherever my lord the king shall be, if for death or if for life, surely there your servant will be."
English Standard Version
But Ittai answered the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be."
New Century Version
But Ittai said to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will stay with you, whether it means life or death."
New English Translation
But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or alive, there I will be as well!"
Amplified Bible
But Ittai answered the king, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, most certainly wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or life, there will your servant be also."
New American Standard Bible
But Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there assuredly shall your servant be!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Ittai answered the King, and sayde, As the Lorde liueth, and as my lord the King liueth, in what place my lord the King shalbe, whether in death or life, euen there surely will thy seruant bee.
Legacy Standard Bible
But Ittai answered the king and said, "As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be."
Contemporary English Version
Ittai answered, "Your Majesty, just as surely as you and the Lord live, I will go where you go, no matter if it costs me my life."
Complete Jewish Bible
But Ittai answered the king, "As Adonai lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there too."
Darby Translation
And Ittai answered the king and said, [As] Jehovah liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
Easy-to-Read Version
But Ittai answered the king, "As the Lord lives, and as long as you live, I will stay with you, in life or death!"
George Lamsa Translation
But Ittai answered the king and said, As the LORD lives and as the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there will your servant be also.
Good News Translation
But Ittai answered, "Your Majesty, I swear to you in the Lord 's name that I will always go with you wherever you go, even if it means death."
Literal Translation
And Ittai replied to the king and said, As Jehovah lives, and my lord the king lives, surely in the place where my lord the king is, there your servant shall be, whether for death or for life.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ithai answered, and sayde: As truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as my lorde the kynge lyueth, loke in what place my lorde the kynge shalbe, (whether it chaunce to life or death) there shal thy seruaunt be also.
American Standard Version
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.
Bible in Basic English
And Ittai the Gittite in answer said, By the living Lord, and by the life of my lord the king, in whatever place my lord the king may be, for life or death, there will your servant be.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ithai aunswered the king, & said: As the Lord lyueth, and as my lord the king lyueth, in what place my lorde the king shalbe, whether in death or lyfe, euen there also will thy seruaunt be.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Ittai answered the king, and said: 'As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.'
King James Version (1611)
And Ittai answered the King, and said, As the Lord liueth, and as my lord the king liueth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, euen there also will thy seruant be.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Ethi answered the king and said, As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, in the place wheresoever my lord shall be, whether it be for death or life, there shall thy servant be.
English Revised Version
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.
Berean Standard Bible
But Ittai answered the king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Ethai answeride to the kyng, and seide, The Lord lyueth, and my lord the kyng lyueth, for in what euer place thou schalt be, my lord the kyng, ether in deeth ethir in lijf, there thi seruaunt schal be.
Young's Literal Translation
And Ittai answereth the king and saith, `Jehovah liveth, and my lord the king liveth, surely in the place where my lord the king is -- if for death, if for life, surely there is thy servant.'
Update Bible Version
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your slave be.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Ittai answered the king, and said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
World English Bible
Ittai answered the king, and said, As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be.
New King James Version
But Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be."
New Living Translation
But Ittai said to the king, "I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death."
New Life Bible
But Ittai said to the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant will be where my lord the king may be, in death or in life."
New Revised Standard
But Ittai answered the king, "As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But Ittai answered the king, and said, - By the life of Yahweh, and by the life of my lord the king, surely, in whatsoever place, my lord the king, may be, whether for death or for life, there will, thy servant, be.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Ethai answered the king, saying: As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth: in what place soever thou shalt be, my lord, O king, either in death, or in life, there will thy servant be.
Revised Standard Version
But It'tai answered the king, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be."
THE MESSAGE
But Ittai answered, "As God lives and my master the king lives, where my master is, that's where I'll be—whether it means life or death."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be."

Contextual Overview

13Then an informer came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” 14David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants.” 16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house 18while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the people of Gath—six hundred men who came with him from there—marched past the king. 19The king said to Ittai of Gath, “Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you’re both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. 20Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.” 21But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!” 22“March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

As the Lord: 1 Samuel 20:3, 1 Samuel 25:26, 2 Kings 2:2, 2 Kings 2:4, 2 Kings 2:6, 2 Kings 4:30

surely: Ruth 1:16, Ruth 1:17, Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24, Matthew 8:19, Matthew 8:20, John 6:66-69, Acts 11:23, Acts 21:13, 2 Corinthians 7:3

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 17:12 - As the Lord 1 Chronicles 12:18 - came upon Amasai

Cross-References

Genesis 15:15
But you will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age.
Genesis 15:19
the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
Exodus 33:2
I will send an angel ahead of you and will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hethites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
Exodus 34:11
Observe what I command you today. I am going to drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hethites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
Deuteronomy 7:1
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and he drives out many nations before you—the Hethites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and powerful than you—
Matthew 8:28
When he had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Ittai answered the king, and said,.... With an oath, as follows:

[as] the Lord liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth; which he took to confirm what he after says, and to put an end to the debate between them:

surely, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be; signifying that he would attend him wherever he went, hazard his life in his cause, and live and die with him.


 
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