Lectionary Calendar
Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
Geneva Bible
2 Samuel 20:20
And Ioab answered, & said, God forbid, God forbid it me, that I should deuoure, or destroy it.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Joab protested: “Never! I would never devour or demolish!
Joab protested: “Never! I would never devour or demolish!
Hebrew Names Version
Yo'av answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Yo'av answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
King James Version
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Lexham English Bible
Then Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow or I should destroy.
Then Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow or I should destroy.
English Standard Version
Joab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!
Joab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!
New Century Version
Joab answered, "I would prefer not to destroy or ruin anything!
Joab answered, "I would prefer not to destroy or ruin anything!
New English Translation
Joab answered, "Get serious! I don't want to swallow up or destroy anything!
Joab answered, "Get serious! I don't want to swallow up or destroy anything!
Amplified Bible
Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me that I would swallow up or destroy!
Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me that I would swallow up or destroy!
New American Standard Bible
Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I would consume or destroy!
Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I would consume or destroy!
Legacy Standard Bible
And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
Contemporary English Version
Joab answered, "No, no! I'm not trying to wipe you out or destroy your town!
Joab answered, "No, no! I'm not trying to wipe you out or destroy your town!
Complete Jewish Bible
Yo'av answered, "Heaven forbid! Heaven forbid that I should swallow or destroy anything!
Yo'av answered, "Heaven forbid! Heaven forbid that I should swallow or destroy anything!
Darby Translation
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Easy-to-Read Version
Joab answered, "I don't want to destroy anything. I don't want to ruin your city.
Joab answered, "I don't want to destroy anything. I don't want to ruin your city.
George Lamsa Translation
And Joab answered and said to her, Far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said to her, Far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy.
Good News Translation
"Never!" Joab answered. "I will never ruin or destroy your city!
"Never!" Joab answered. "I will never ruin or destroy your city!
Literal Translation
And Joab answered and said, Far be it! Far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it! Far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ioab answered and sayde: That be farre, that be farre fro me, that I shulde swalowe vp and destroye.
Ioab answered and sayde: That be farre, that be farre fro me, that I shulde swalowe vp and destroye.
American Standard Version
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Bible in Basic English
And Joab, answering her, said, Far, far be it from me to be a cause of death or destruction;
And Joab, answering her, said, Far, far be it from me to be a cause of death or destruction;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ioab aunswered, and sayd: God forbyd, God forbid it me that I should either deuour, or destroy.
And Ioab aunswered, and sayd: God forbyd, God forbid it me that I should either deuour, or destroy.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Joab answered and said: 'Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said: 'Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
King James Version (1611)
And Ioab answered and saide, Farre be it, farre be it from me, that I should swallow vp or destroy.
And Ioab answered and saide, Farre be it, farre be it from me, that I should swallow vp or destroy.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should ruin or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should ruin or destroy.
English Revised Version
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Berean Standard Bible
"Far be it!" Joab declared. "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!
"Far be it!" Joab declared. "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Joab answeride, and seide, Fer be, fer be this fro me; Y `caste not doun, nether Y distrye.
And Joab answeride, and seide, Fer be, fer be this fro me; Y `caste not doun, nether Y distrye.
Young's Literal Translation
And Joab answereth and saith, `Far be it -- far be it from me; I do not swallow up nor destroy.
And Joab answereth and saith, `Far be it -- far be it from me; I do not swallow up nor destroy.
Update Bible Version
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
World English Bible
Joab answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Joab answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
New King James Version
And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy!
And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy!
New Living Translation
And Joab replied, "Believe me, I don't want to devour or destroy your town!
And Joab replied, "Believe me, I don't want to devour or destroy your town!
New Life Bible
Joab answered, "Far be it from me! Far be it that I should swallow up or destroy!
Joab answered, "Far be it from me! Far be it that I should swallow up or destroy!
New Revised Standard
Joab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!
Joab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then answered Joab and said, - Far be it! far be it from me! I will neither swallow up nor lay waste.
Then answered Joab and said, - Far be it! far be it from me! I will neither swallow up nor lay waste.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab answering said: God forbid, God forbid that I should, I do not throw down, nor destroy.
And Joab answering said: God forbid, God forbid that I should, I do not throw down, nor destroy.
Revised Standard Version
Jo'ab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!
Jo'ab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!
THE MESSAGE
Joab protested, "Believe me, you've got me all wrong. I'm not here to hurt anyone or destroy anything—not on your life! But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bicri by name, revolted against King David; hand him over, him only, and we'll get out of here." The woman told Joab, "Sounds good. His head will be tossed to you from the wall."
Joab protested, "Believe me, you've got me all wrong. I'm not here to hurt anyone or destroy anything—not on your life! But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bicri by name, revolted against King David; hand him over, him only, and we'll get out of here." The woman told Joab, "Sounds good. His head will be tossed to you from the wall."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
Contextual Overview
14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel vnto Abel, and Bethmaachah and all places of Berim: and they gathered together, and went also after him. 15 So they came, and besieged him in Abel, neere to Bethmaachah: and they cast vp a mount against the citie, and the people thereof stood on the ramper, and al the people that was with Ioab, destroyed and cast downe the wall. 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the citie, Heare, heare, I pray you, say vnto Ioab, Come thou hither, that I may speake with thee. 17 And when hee came neere vnto her, the woma said, Art thou Ioab? And he answered, Yea. And she said to him, Heare the wordes of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do heare. 18 Then shee spake thus, They spake in the olde time, saying, They shoulde aske of Abel. and so haue they continued. 19 I am one of them, that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: and thou goest about to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou deuoure the inheritance of the Lorde? 20 And Ioab answered, & said, God forbid, God forbid it me, that I should deuoure, or destroy it. 21 The matter is not so, but a man of mout Ephraim (Sheba ye sonne of Bichri by name) hath lift vp his had against ye King, euen against Dauid: deliuer vs him onely, and I will depart from the citie. And the woman saide vnto Ioab, Beholde, his head shalbe throwen to thee ouer the wall. 22 Then the woman went vnto all the people with her wisedome, and they cut off the head of Sheba the sonne of Bichri, and cast it to Ioab: the he blewe the trumpet, and they retired from the citie, euery man to his tent: and Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the King.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Far be it: 2 Samuel 23:17, Job 21:16, Job 22:18
that I should: 2 Samuel 20:10, Proverbs 28:13, Jeremiah 17:9, Luke 10:29
Reciprocal: Genesis 44:7 - General 2 Samuel 17:16 - be swallowed 1 Kings 1:38 - the Cherethites Job 2:3 - destroy him Luke 6:41 - but 2 Corinthians 2:7 - swallowed
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Joab answered and said, far be it from me, far be it from me,.... He repeats these words, to show how detestable it was to him to do what she suggested:
that I should swallow up or destroy; any in a violent and unrighteous manner, and especially a city of which she had given such a character for its greatness and worth, and for the peaceableness and fidelity of its inhabitants.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Joab’s character is strongly brought out in the transaction. Politic, decided, bold, and unscrupulous, but never needlessly cruel or impulsive, or even revengeful. No life is safe that stands in his way, but from policy he never sacrifices the most insignificant life without a purpose. (Compare 2 Samuel 2:27-30.)
