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Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

2 Samuel 23:3

The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Fear of God;   Jesus, the Christ;   Prophets;   Psalms;   Rock;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Duty;   King;   Kings, Duties of;   Magistrates;   Nation, the;   Ruler's Duty;   Rulers;   The Topic Concordance - Foundation;   Government;   Justice;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Clouds;   Fear, Godly;   Justice;   Kings;   Magistrates;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Justice;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Justice;   King;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - King, Kingship;   Psalms, Theology of;   Samuel, First and Second, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - David;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Samuel, the Books of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fear;   Poetry;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ethics;   Giant;   Ithrite, the;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Pre-Eminence ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Samuel first and second books of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Da'vid;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Poetry of the Hebrews;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christ, Offices of;   David;   Fear;   Psalms, Book of;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Names of God;   Poetry;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The God of Israel spoke;the Rock of Israel said to me,“The one who rules the people with justice,who rules in the fear of God,
Hebrew Names Version
The God of Yisra'el said, The Rock of Yisra'el spoke to me: One who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,
King James Version
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Lexham English Bible
The God of Israel said to me, the rock of Israel has spoken; ‘He who rules over mankind rules righteously, in the fear of God.
English Standard Version
The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,
New Century Version
The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘Whoever rules fairly over people, who rules with respect for God,
New English Translation
The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God,
Amplified Bible
"The God of Israel, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,
New American Standard Bible
"The God of Israel said it; The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over mankind righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,
Geneva Bible (1587)
The God of Israel spake to me, ye strength of Israel saide, Thou shalt beare rule ouer men, being iust, and ruling in the feare of God.
Legacy Standard Bible
The God of Israel said,The Rock of Israel spoke to me,‘He who rules over men as a righteous one,Who rules in the fear of God,
Contemporary English Version
Our Mighty Rock, the God of Jacob, told me, "A ruler who obeys God and does right
Complete Jewish Bible
The God of Isra'el spoke; the Rock of Isra'el said to me, ‘A ruler over people must be upright, ruling in the fear of God;
Darby Translation
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, The ruler among men shall be just, Ruling in the fear of God;
Easy-to-Read Version
The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me, ‘Whoever rules people fairly, who rules with respect for God,
George Lamsa Translation
The God of Israel said, the Mighty One of Israel spoke to me: He who governs men must be righteous, ruling over those who revere God.
Good News Translation
The God of Israel has spoken; the protector of Israel said to me: "The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God,
Literal Translation
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: One ruling over man righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He sayde: The God of Israel hath spoke vnto me, the strength of Israel, the gouernoure amonge men, the righteous gouernoure in the feare of God.
American Standard Version
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, That ruleth in the fear of God,
Bible in Basic English
The God of Israel said, the word of the Rock of Israel came to me: When an upright king is ruling over men, when he is ruling in the fear of God,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The God of Israel spake to me, euen the most mightie of Israel sayde: A ruler ouer men being iust, ruling in ye feare of God:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'Ruler over men shall be the righteous, even he that ruleth in the fear of God,
King James Version (1611)
The God of Israel said, the Rocke of Israel spake to me: he that ruleth ouer men must be iust, ruling in the feare of God:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The God of Israel says, A watchman out of Israel spoke to me a parable: I said among men, How will ye strengthen the fear of the anointed?
English Revised Version
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, that ruleth in the fear of God,
Berean Standard Bible
The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, 'He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Dauid seide, God of Israel spak to me, the stronge of Israel, the `iust Lord of men, `is Lord in the drede of God.
Young's Literal Translation
He said -- the God of Israel -- to me, He spake -- the Rock of Israel: He who is ruling over man [is] righteous, He is ruling in the fear of God.
Update Bible Version
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: One that rules over man righteously, That rules in the fear of God,
Webster's Bible Translation
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God.
World English Bible
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: One who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,
New King James Version
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: "He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.
New Life Bible
The God of Israel has spoken. The Rock of Israel said to me, ‘When one is right and good in ruling over men, ruling in the fear of God,
New Revised Standard
The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Said the God of Israel, Unto me, spake the Rock of Israel: - One Ruling over Men, A Righteous One, ruling in the reverence of God,
Douay-Rheims Bible
The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God.
Revised Standard Version
The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,

Contextual Overview

1 These are the last words of David: "David, the son of Jesse, speaks— David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel. 2 "The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, 4 is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.' 5 "Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. 6 But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them. 7 One must use iron tools to chop them down; they will be totally consumed by fire."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

God: Genesis 33:20, Exodus 3:15, Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:6, Exodus 20:2

the Rock: 2 Samuel 22:2, 2 Samuel 22:32, Deuteronomy 32:4, Deuteronomy 32:30, Deuteronomy 32:31, Psalms 42:9

He that ruleth: or, Be thou ruler, etc. Psalms 110:2

must be just: Exodus 23:6-8, Deuteronomy 16:18-20, Psalms 82:3, Psalms 82:4, Proverbs 31:9, Isaiah 11:4, Isaiah 11:5, Isaiah 32:1, Jeremiah 23:5, Zechariah 9:9, Hebrews 1:8

ruling: Exodus 18:21, 2 Chronicles 19:7-9, Nehemiah 5:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 44:17 - God forbid Deuteronomy 1:16 - Hear Deuteronomy 25:1 - General 1 Samuel 15:1 - hearken 2 Samuel 8:15 - David executed 1 Kings 10:9 - to do 2 Chronicles 9:8 - to do judgment 2 Chronicles 19:9 - in the fear Nehemiah 7:2 - feared God Job 34:17 - even Psalms 58:1 - Do Psalms 69:6 - O God of Israel Psalms 75:2 - When Psalms 99:4 - strength Proverbs 16:10 - A divine sentence Proverbs 17:7 - much Song of Solomon 2:10 - spake Isaiah 16:5 - judging Jeremiah 22:3 - Execute Jeremiah 33:15 - and he Luke 6:48 - rock Acts 24:25 - righteousness Philippians 4:8 - are just Hebrews 7:2 - King of righteousness

Cross-References

Genesis 10:15
Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites,
Genesis 23:5
The Hittites replied to Abraham,
Genesis 23:7
Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites
Genesis 25:10
This was the field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites and where he had buried his wife Sarah.
Genesis 27:46
Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them."
Genesis 49:30
This is the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a permanent burial site.
1 Samuel 26:6
"Who will volunteer to go in there with me?" David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother. "I'll go with you," Abishai replied.
2 Samuel 23:39
Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The God of Israel said,.... To David, or by him; he who was the covenant God of Israel literally considered, and is the covenant God and Father of the whole spiritual Israel, and who is owned, believed in, and worshipped by them:

the Rock of Israel spake to me; the same with the God of Israel in other words, who is the strength and security of Israel; or the second divine Person, the Son and Word of God, is meant, who is often called a rock in Scripture; and is the rock on which the Israel or church of God is built, and in whom it remains safe and firm, the gates of hell not being able to prevail against it; and so here is an instance and proof of a trinity of persons in the Godhead; the God of Israel, Jehovah the Father; the Rock of Israel, Jehovah the Son; and the Spirit of Jehovah, as in 2 Samuel 23:2, who is Jehovah the Spirit: now what was said by these three divine Persons to David, and by him, and concerning himself as a type of the Messiah, follows:

he that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God; which is a character every king among men ought to have, administering justice to their subjects; ruling not only according to the laws of the land, but according to the law of God; having his fear before their eyes, and acting with a view to his honour and glory, whose vicegerents they are, and to whom they are accountable; they should rule with gentleness and humanity, considering they are men, and not brutes, they rule over. Agamemnon in Homer is often called "king of men". This character, in all respects, was found in David, 2 Samuel 8:15; and may be here given as an instruction to his son and successor, Solomon; and is in all respects applicable to the Messiah, who is a "ruler" or King by the designation of his father; a ruler "over men", even over all men, yea, over the greatest of men, King of kings, and Lord of lords, and especially, and in an eminent sense, King of saints; and he is "just", a King that reigns in righteousness, righteous in all his ways and works, and particularly just as a King, as well as in all his other characters, see Jeremiah 23:5; and upon whom, as man and Mediator, the Spirit of "the fear of the Lord" rests, and under the influence of which, as such, he has acted, Isaiah 11:1; so the Targum applies these words to the Messiah thus,

"the true Judge said, he would appoint to me a King, who is the Messiah, who shall arise and rule in the fear of the Lord:''

and they may be rendered, there shall be "a ruler over men, just, ruling in the fear of God"; or ruling, appointing, ordering, and directing the worship of God, and the ordinances of it under the Gospel dispensation, as Christ did, see Matthew 28:18.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 23:3. The Rock of Israel — The Fountain whence Israel was derived.

He that ruleth over men must be just — More literally, מושל באדם צדיק moshel baadam tsaddik, He that ruleth in man is the just one; or, The just one is the ruler among men.

Ruling in the fear of God. — It is by God's fear that Jesus Christ rules the hearts of all his followers; and he who has not the fear of God before his eyes, can never be a Christian.


 
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