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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

2 Samuel 14:20

Your servant Joab has done this to change the way things are now. But my lord is wise like the angel of God, to know all that is on the earth."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Angel (Holy Trinity);   Angel (a Spirit);   David;   Dishonesty;   Flattery;   Intercession;   Joab;   Kindness;   Obsequiousness;   Tact;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Angels;   Flattery;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Joab;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Mediator, Mediation;   Servant, Service;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Angel;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Angel;   Priests and Levites;   Samuel, Books of;   Wisdom;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels (2);   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Absalom;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jo'ab;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Form;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;   Angelology;   Wisdom;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Joab your servant has done this to address the issue indirectly, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, knowing everything on earth.”
Hebrew Names Version
to change the face of the matter has your servant Yo'av done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the eretz.
King James Version
To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
Lexham English Bible
In order to change the situation, your servant Joab did this thing. But my lord has wisdom, as the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is on the earth."
English Standard Version
In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth."
New Century Version
Joab did it so you would see things differently. My master, you are wise like an angel of God who knows everything that happens on earth."
New English Translation
Your servant Joab did this so as to change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land."
Amplified Bible
"In order to change the appearance of things [between Absalom and you, his father] your servant Joab did this thing. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth."
New American Standard Bible
"In order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is on the earth."
Geneva Bible (1587)
For to the intent that I should chage the forme of speach, thy seruant Ioab hath done this thing: but my lord is wise according to the wisdome of an Angel of God to vnderstande all things that are in the earth.
Legacy Standard Bible
in order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth."
Contemporary English Version
but only to show you the other side of this problem. You must be as wise as the angel of God to know everything that goes on in this country."
Complete Jewish Bible
Your servant Yo'av did this in order to bring about some change in the situation. But my lord is wise, he has the wisdom of an angel of God when it comes to understanding anything going on in the land."
Darby Translation
in order to turn the appearance of the thing has thy servant Joab done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Joab did this so that you would see things differently. My lord, you are as wise as God's angel. You know everything that happens on earth."
George Lamsa Translation
Because he wanted to do it through me, that is why your servant Joab has done this thing; and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth.
Good News Translation
But he did it in order to straighten out this whole matter. Your Majesty is as wise as the angel of God and knows everything that happens."
Literal Translation
Your servant Joab has done this thing to turn about the face of the matter, and my lord is wise according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is in the land.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that I shulde turne this matter of this faßshio, this hath Ioab thy seruaunt done. But my lorde is wyse, as the wyßdome of an angell of God, so that he knoweth all thynges vpon earth.
American Standard Version
to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
Bible in Basic English
This he did, hoping that the face of this business might be changed: and my lord is wise, with the wisdom of the angel of God, having knowledge of everything on earth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For to the intent that I shoulde chaunge the fourme of speach, hath thy seruaunt Ioab done this thing: And my lorde is wyse, according to the wisdome of an angel of God, to vnderstande all thinges that are in the earth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing; and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.'
King James Version (1611)
To fetch about this forme of speech hath thy seruant Ioab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisedome of an Angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
In order that this form of speech might come about it was that thy servant Joab has framed this matter: and my lord is wise as is the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
English Revised Version
to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the Angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that Y schulde turne the figure of this word; for thi seruaunt Joab comaundide this thing. Forsothe thou, my lord the kyng, art wijs, as an aungel of God hath wisdom, that thou vnderstonde alle thingis on erthe.
Young's Literal Translation
in order to bring round the appearance of the thing hath thy servant Joab done this thing, and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of a messenger of God, to know all that [is] in the land.'
Update Bible Version
to change the face of the matter has your slave Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
To bring about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all [things] that [are] on the earth.
World English Bible
to change the face of the matter has your servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
New King James Version
To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth."
New Living Translation
He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand everything that happens among us!"
New Revised Standard
In order to change the course of affairs your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
for the purpose of turning round the face of the matter, hath thy servant Joab done this thing, - my lord being wise, as with the wisdom of a messenger of God, in knowing all that is done in the land.
Douay-Rheims Bible
That I should come about with this form of speech, thy servant Joab commanded this: but thou, my lord, O king, art wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to understand all things upon earth.
Revised Standard Version
In order to change the course of affairs your servant Jo'ab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
in order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth."

Contextual Overview

1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah saw that the king missed Absalom very much. 2 So Joab sent for a wise woman from Tekoa, and said to her, "Pretend to be filled with sorrow. Dress as if you were filled with sorrow, and do not pour oil on yourself. Dress like a woman who has been filled with sorrow for the dead many days. 3 Then go to the king and speak to him in this way." And Joab told her what to say. 4 When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showing honor, and said, "Help, O king." 5 The king said to her, "What is your trouble?" And she answered, "I am a woman whose husband has died. 6 Your woman servant had two sons. But they fought together in the field and there was no one to pull them apart. So one hit the other and killed him. 7 Now the whole family has come against your woman servant. They say, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So I would be without a son to receive what belonged to his parents when I die. They would put out the last of the fire which is left to me. My husband would be left without a name and with no children on the earth." 8 Then the king said to the woman, "Go to your house. I will say what should be done about your trouble." 9 The woman of Tekoa said to the king, "O my lord the king, the sin is on me and my father's family. But the king and his throne are without guilt." 10 The king said, "If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me. And he will not touch you again."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fetch: 2 Samuel 5:23

according: 2 Samuel 14:17, 2 Samuel 19:27, Job 32:21, Job 32:22, Proverbs 26:28, Proverbs 29:5

to know: Genesis 3:5, Job 38:16-41, 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:2

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 16:18 - and prudent 1 Samuel 29:9 - as an angel 2 Samuel 13:3 - Shimeah 2 Samuel 18:13 - for there is no 1 Kings 10:3 - hid from the king

Cross-References

Genesis 9:26
He also said, "Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.
Genesis 14:3
All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
Genesis 14:4
They had been ruled by Chedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the thirteenth year they went against him.
Genesis 14:5
Then in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and won a war against the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shavehkiriathaim,
Genesis 14:6
and the Horites in their Mount Seir as far as El-paran near the desert.
Genesis 14:9
They fought against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five.
Genesis 14:17
After Abram returned from destroying Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's valley).
Genesis 14:19
And Melchizedek honored Abram and said, "May good come to Abram from God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth.
Genesis 24:27
He said, "Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of my boss Abraham. He has not kept His loving-kindness and His truth from my boss. He has led me in the way to the house of my boss's brothers."
Genesis 28:22
I have set up this stone as a pillar to be God's house. And I will give You a tenth part of all You give to me."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing,.... Feigned a story in such form and manner as had been delivered to the king, that it might be accommodated and applied to the case of Absalom, and to transfer it in a figure to the king, to use the apostle's phrase, 1 Corinthians 4:8;

and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God; as not only to understand the design of this fable or parable, but of such sagacity and penetration as to find out the author of it; and even

to know all [things] that [are] in the earth; either in the whole world, or rather in the land of Israel; and it is to be understood not of all actions natural and moral done by men in it, which would be to ascribe omniscience to him; but of all political things, all things respecting civil government; that he had such a spirit of discerning of men and things, that nothing could be said or done, or scheme formed, but he got intelligence of it, and insight into it; and which was carrying the compliment to a great height.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 14:20. According to the wisdom of an angel of God — This is quite in the style of Asiatic flattery. A European is often addressed, "Saheb can do every thing; we can do nothing; none can prevent the execution of Saheb's commands; Saheb is God." See WARD.


 
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