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Friday, August 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

2 Samuel 15:4

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."

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!
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!
Bible in Basic English
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!
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 After this, Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself, and an escort of fifty men. 2 He would get up early and go and stand by the road at the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. And after the man had told him what tribe he was from, 3 Absalom would say, "Look, the law is on your side, but there is no representative of the king to hear your case." 4 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." 5 When the man would approach Absalom to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him. 6 Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment, and so he won their loyalty.

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
I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will become the mother of nations, and there will be kings among her descendants."
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Don't be worried about the boy and your slave Hagar. Do whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I have promised.
2 Samuel 7:12
When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong.
2 Samuel 16:11
And David said to Abishai and to all his officials, "My own son is trying to kill me; so why should you be surprised at this Benjaminite? The Lord told him to curse; so leave him alone and let him do it.
2 Chronicles 32:21
The Lord sent an angel that killed the soldiers and officers of the Assyrian army. So the emperor went back to Assyria disgraced. One day when he was in the temple of his god, some of his sons killed him with their swords.
Galatians 4:28
Now, you, my friends, are God's children as a result of his promise, just as Isaac was.
Philemon 1:12
I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my 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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