2 Samuel 20:20

New American Standard Bible (1995)

Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
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.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
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!

New English Translation
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!

New American Standard Bible
Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I would consume or destroy!

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Ioab answered, & said, God forbid, God forbid it me, that I should deuoure, or destroy it.

Legacy Standard Bible
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!

Complete Jewish Bible
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.

Easy-to-Read Version
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.

Good News Translation
"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.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
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.

Bible in Basic English
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.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.

Berean Standard Bible
"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.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

New King James Version
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!

New Life Bible
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!

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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
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!

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."

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him. ¹⁵ They came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall. ¹⁶ Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, 'Come here that I may speak with you.'" ¹⁷ So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." ¹⁸ Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask advice at Abel,' and thus they ended the dispute. ¹⁹ "I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" ²⁰ Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!²¹ "Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." ²² Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

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.)