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Good News Translation

2 Samuel 23:19

He was the most famous of "The Thirty" and became their leader, but he was not as famous as "The Three."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abishai;   Courage;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Abishai;   Captain;   Giants;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Uriah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abishai;   Mighty Men;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Giant;   Ithrite, the;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Army;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Attain;   Text of the Old Testament;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.
Hebrew Names Version
Wasn't he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the [first] three.
King James Version
Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
English Standard Version
He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.
New Century Version
and was more honored than the Three. He became their commander even though he was not one of them.
New English Translation
From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.
Amplified Bible
He was the most honored of the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three.
New American Standard Bible
He was the most honored among the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the reputation of the three.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For he was most excellent of the three, & was their captaine, but he attained not vnto the first three.
Legacy Standard Bible
Of the thirty he was most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.
Contemporary English Version
and certainly just as famous as the rest of the Thirty Warriors. He was the commander of the Thirty Warriors, but he still did not become one of the Three Warriors.
Complete Jewish Bible
He had the most honor of these three and was therefore made their leader; however, he did not achieve the status of the first three.
Darby Translation
Was he not most honourable of three? and he was their captain; but he did not attain to the [first] three.
Easy-to-Read Version
Abishai was as famous as the Three Heroes. He became their leader, even though he was not one of them.
George Lamsa Translation
And he was honored above the thirty men; therefore he became their chief and performed heroic deeds equal to thirty men.
Lexham English Bible
Among the thirty, is it not that he was honored and became a commander for them? But he did not come up to the three.
Literal Translation
With honor he was honored more than the three. And he was the commander to them, but he did not come to the first three.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& the noblest amonge thre, & was their ruler. But he came not vnto the thre.
American Standard Version
Was he not most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
Bible in Basic English
Was he not the noblest of the thirty? so he was made their captain: but he was not equal to the first three.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For he was most excellent of the three, and was their captayne: Howbeit he attayned not vnto [the first] three.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He was most honourable of the three; therefore he was made their captain; howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
King James Version (1611)
Was hee not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captaine: howbeit, hee attained not vnto the first three.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Of those three he was most honourable, and he became a chief over them, but he reached not to the first three.
English Revised Version
Was he not most honourable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.
Berean Standard Bible
Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and was the noblere among thre, and he was the prince of hem; but he cam not to the thre firste men.
Young's Literal Translation
Of the three is he not the honoured? and he becometh their head; and unto the [first] three he hath not come.
Update Bible Version
Was he not most honorable of the thirty? therefore he was made their captain: nevertheless he didn't attain to the three.
Webster's Bible Translation
Was he not most honorable of three? therefore he was their captain: yet he attained not to the [first] three.
World English Bible
Wasn't he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the [first] three.
New King James Version
Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.
New Living Translation
Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.
New Life Bible
He was the most honored of the thirty. So he became their captain. But he was not as strong as the three.
New Revised Standard
He was the most renowned of the Thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the Three.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Was he not most honourable, of the three, and so became their captain? Nevertheless, unto the three, he attained not.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not.
Revised Standard Version
He was the most renowned of the thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He was most honored of the thirty, therefore he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.

Contextual Overview

8 These are the names of David's famous soldiers: the first was Josheb Basshebeth from Tachemon, who was the leader of "The Three"; he fought with his spear against eight hundred men and killed them all in one battle. 9 The second of the famous three was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. One day he and David challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites fell back, 10 but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so cramped that he could not let go of his sword. The Lord won a great victory that day. After it was over, the Israelites returned to where Eleazar was and stripped the armor from the dead. 11 The third of the famous three was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of peas. The Israelites fled from the Philistines, 12 but Shammah stood his ground in the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. The Lord won a great victory that day. 13 Near the beginning of harvest time three of "The Thirty" went down to Adullam Cave, where David was, while a band of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley. 14 At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem. 15 David grew homesick and said, "How I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!" 16 The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp, drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out as an offering to the Lord 17 and said, " Lord , I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!" So he refused to drink it. Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he attained: 2 Samuel 23:9, 2 Samuel 23:13, 2 Samuel 23:16, 1 Chronicles 11:25, Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23, 1 Corinthians 15:41

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 18:17 - Benaiah Ecclesiastes 4:12 - and a

Cross-References

Genesis 3:19
You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again."
Genesis 23:9
to sell me Machpelah Cave, which is near the edge of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for its full price, here in your presence, so that I can own it as a burial ground."
Genesis 23:10
Ephron himself was sitting with the other Hittites at the meeting place at the city gate; he answered in the hearing of everyone there,
Genesis 47:30
I want to be buried where my fathers are; carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." Joseph answered, "I will do as you say."
Genesis 50:13
they carried his body to Canaan and buried it in the cave at Machpelah east of Mamre in the field which Abraham had bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burial ground.
Genesis 50:25
Then Joseph asked his people to make a vow. "Promise me," he said, "that when God leads you to that land, you will take my body with you."
Job 30:23
I know you are taking me off to my death, to the fate in store for everyone.
Ecclesiastes 6:3
We may have a hundred children and live a long time, but no matter how long we live, if we do not get our share of happiness and do not receive a decent burial, then I say that a baby born dead is better off.
Ecclesiastes 12:5
You will be afraid of high places, and walking will be dangerous. Your hair will turn white; you will hardly be able to drag yourself along, and all desire will be gone. We are going to our final resting place, and then there will be mourning in the streets.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Was he not most honourable of three?.... He was; who, besides the exploit here mentioned, did many other things; he went down with David into Saul's camp, and took away his spear and cruse, which were at his bolster, 1 Samuel 26:6; he relieved David when in danger from Ishbibenob the giant, 2 Samuel 21:16; he beat the Edomites, and slew eighteen thousand of them in the valley of salt, 1 Chronicles 18:12:

therefore he was their captain; of the other two, or was head over them, took rank before them:

howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three; for fortitude, courage, and warlike exploits, namely, to the Tachmonite, Eleazar, and Shammah.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

i. e., “Was he not the most honorable of the three of the second order, howbeit, he attained not to the three,” the triad, namely, which consisted of Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah. That two triads are mentioned is a simple fact, although only five names are given.


 
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