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Friday, September 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

2 Samuel 19:13

And, unto Amasa, shall ye say, Art not, thou, my bone and my flesh? So, let God do to me, and, so, let him add, if thou become not, prince of the army, before me continually, instead of Joab.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Amasa;   Amnesty;   Armies;   Clemency;   David;   Enemy;   Joab;   Judah;   Nepotism;   Treason;   Thompson Chain Reference - Amasa;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Judah, the Tribe of;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Amasa;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Joab;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sexuality, Human;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prophet;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Amasa;   Joab;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adonijah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amasa;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Amasa;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Joram;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Amasa ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Amasa;   Captain;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Am'asa;   Brother;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amasa;   Flesh;   Joab;   Samuel, Books of;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Amasa;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Brother;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
And tell Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab!’”
Hebrew Names Version
Say you to `Amasa, Aren't you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren't captain of the host before me continually in the room of Yo'av.
King James Version
And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
Lexham English Bible
To Amasa you shall say: ‘Are you not my bones and my flesh? May God punish me if you are not the commander of my army before me forever, in place of Joab.'"
English Standard Version
And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.'"
New Century Version
And say to Amasa, ‘You are part of my own family. May God punish me terribly if I don't make you commander of the army in Joab's place!'"
New English Translation
Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my flesh and blood? God will punish me severely, if from this time on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!'"
Amplified Bible
"Say to Amasa [the commander of Absalom's troops], 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.'"
New American Standard Bible
"And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more so, if you will not be commander of the army for me continually, in place of Joab.'"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Also say ye to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captaine of the hoste to me for euer in the roume of Ioab.
Legacy Standard Bible
And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.'"
Contemporary English Version
And tell Amasa, "You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab."
Complete Jewish Bible
You are my kinsmen, my flesh and bone; so why are you the last to bring back the king?'
Darby Translation
And say to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually instead of Joab.
Easy-to-Read Version
Also tell Amasa, ‘You are part of my family. I swear that I will make you captain of the army in Joab's place.'"
George Lamsa Translation
And he said to Amasa, Behold, you are my flesh and my bone. God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of my army permanently instead of Joab.
Good News Translation
David also told them to say to Amasa, "You are my relative. From now on I am putting you in charge of the army in place of Joab. May God strike me dead if I don't!"
Literal Translation
And say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my flesh? So shall God do to me, and more so He shall do, if you are not commander of the army before me all the days, instead of Joab.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And saye vnto Amasa: Art not thou my bone and my flesh? God do this & that vnto me, yf thou shalt not be the chefe captayne before me in Ioabs steade, as longe as thou lyuest.
American Standard Version
And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
Bible in Basic English
And say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God's punishment be on me, if I do not make you chief of the army before me at all times in place of Joab!
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And say ye to Amasa: Art thou not of my bone and of my fleshe? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captayne of the hoast to me for euer in the roome of Ioab.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh; wherefore then should ye be the last to bring back the king?
King James Version (1611)
And say ye to Amasa: Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captaine of the hoste before me continually in the roome of Ioab.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And ye shall say to Amessai, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? and now God do so to me, and more also, if thou shalt not be commander of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
English Revised Version
And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
Berean Standard Bible
And say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!'"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And seie ye to Amasa, Whether thou art not my boon and my fleisch? God do these thingis to me, and adde these thingis, if thou schalt not be maistir of chyualrye bifore me in al tyme aftir Joab.
Young's Literal Translation
And to Amasa say ye, Art not thou my bone and my flesh? Thus doth God do to me, and thus He doth add, if thou art not head of the host before me all the days instead of Joab.'
Update Bible Version
And say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not captain of the host before me continually in the place of Joab.
Webster's Bible Translation
And say ye to Amasa, [Art] thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
World English Bible
Say you to Amasa, Aren't you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren't captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
New King James Version
And say to Amasa, "Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab."'
New Living Translation
And David told them to tell Amasa, "Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place."
New Life Bible
And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be the captain of my army at all times instead of Joab.'"
New Revised Standard
And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? So may God do to me, and more, if you are not the commander of my army from now on, in place of Joab.'"
Douay-Rheims Bible
And say ye to Amasa: Art not thou my bone, and my flesh? So do God to me and add more, if thou be not the chief captain of the army before me always in the place of Joab.
Revised Standard Version
And say to Ama'sa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of my army henceforth in place of Jo'ab.'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.'"

Contextual Overview

9 And it came to pass that all the people were reproaching one another, throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, - the king, delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and, he, rescued us out of the hand of the Philistines, but, now, he hath fled out of the land, away from Absolom; 10 and, Absolom, whom we anointed over us, hath died in the battle. Now, therefore, why are, ye, silent as to bringing back the king? 11 And, King David, sent unto Zadok and unto Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak ye unto the elders of Judah, saying, Wherefore should ye be behindhand, in bringing back the king unto his home, - seeing that, the speech of all Israel, hath come unto the king, regarding his home? 12 Mine own brethren, are ye, my bone and my flesh, are ye, - wherefore then should ye be behindhand in bringing back the king? 13 And, unto Amasa, shall ye say, Art not, thou, my bone and my flesh? So, let God do to me, and, so, let him add, if thou become not, prince of the army, before me continually, instead of Joab. 14 Thus bowed he the heart of all the men of Judah, as one man, - and they sent unto the king, Return, thou, and all thy servants. 15 Then the king returned, and came as far as the Jordan, - and, Judah, came to Gilgal, to go and meet the king, to escort the king over the Jordan.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Amasa: 2 Samuel 17:25, 1 Chronicles 2:16, 1 Chronicles 2:17, 1 Chronicles 12:18

God: Ruth 1:17, 1 Kings 19:2

room of Joab: 2 Samuel 19:5-7, 2 Samuel 3:29, 2 Samuel 3:30, 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 18:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:23 - bone Genesis 29:14 - art my Judges 9:2 - your bone 1 Samuel 3:17 - God 1 Samuel 14:44 - God 1 Samuel 20:13 - The Lord do 2 Samuel 3:9 - So do God 2 Samuel 3:39 - too hard 2 Samuel 5:1 - we 2 Samuel 20:4 - Amasa 2 Samuel 20:5 - So Amasa 1 Kings 2:23 - God 2 Kings 4:13 - to the captain 2 Kings 6:31 - God do so 1 Chronicles 11:1 - Behold

Cross-References

Genesis 13:13
Now, the men of Sodom were base and sinful, - against Yahweh, exceedingly.
Genesis 18:20
So Yahweh said, The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah, because it hath become great, - And their sin, because it hath become exceeding grievous,
Genesis 19:1
So the two messengers went in towards Sodom at eventide, Lot, being seated in the gate of Sodom, - so Lot beheld and rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.
Genesis 19:5
And they called unto Lot and said to him, Where are the men who have come in unto thee tonight? Bring them forth unto us, and let us know them!
Genesis 19:6
And Lot went forth unto them to the entrance; but the door, closed he behind him.
Genesis 19:8
Behold, I pray you, I, have two daughters who have not known man, I must needs now bring, them, forth unto you, and do ye to them, as may be good in your eyes, - Only to these men, ye may do nothing; for on this account, have they come under the shade of my roof.
Genesis 19:9
And they said, Stand back, And they said, This one, by himself, hath come in to sojourn and must always be acting the judge, Now, will we do more wickedly to thee, than to them. So they pressed sere upon the man - upon Lot - exceedingly, and drew near to break open the door.
Genesis 19:12
And the men said unto Lot, Whom besides hast thou here? Son-in-law and thy sons and thy daughters, and all that thou hast in the city, bring thou forth out of the place;
Genesis 19:15
But as soon as, the dawn had sprung up, the messengers hastened Lot saying, - Arise! take thy wife and thy two daughters that are at hand, lest thou be swept away in the punishment of the city.
Genesis 19:16
And he lingered - so the men laid hold of his hand and of the hand of his wife and of the hand of his two daughters, in the tenderness of Yahweh towards him, - and they brought him out and led him forth outside the city.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And say ye to Amasa,.... Who was the general of Absalom's army, and who might fear he should never be pardoned, whoever was, and looked upon his case as desperate; who had led on the army with Absalom against the king's threes, and fought them:

[art] thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? nearly related to him, being his sister's son:

God do so to me, and more also: than he had done to Absalom; or he imprecates the greatest evil upon himself that could be thought of or named:

if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab; signifying that he would not only pardon the treason he had been guilty of, but raise him to the highest post in the army; and to assure him of it, of which he might be doubtful, considering what he had done to merit his displeasure, he makes this oath or imprecation. Joab had got his ill will by many instances, as by the murder of Abner, and now by slaying Absalom against his orders; and by his rude and insolent behaviour to him when lamenting the death of his son; he wanted to be rid of him, and now, having an opportunity of putting a valiant man into his place, and thereby attaching him to his interest, he was determined to make use of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Of my bone ... - Render as in preceding verse, “art thou not my bone and my flesh?” It is curious to note how the phrase is used in 2 Samuel 5:1 of common descent from Israel, in 2 Samuel 19:12 of the closer kindred of the tribe of Judah, and in this verse of the yet nearer kindred between David and Amasa his sister’s son.

Captain ... in the room of Joab - It is very plain that David felt the weight of Joab’s overbearing influence to be very oppressive (compare 2 Samuel 19:22; 2 Samuel 3:39; 2 Samuel 16:10). He was, at this time, very angry with Joab for killing Absalom; and so, thinking it of vital importance to win over Amasa and the army of Judah, he did not scruple to offer him Joab’s high post.


 
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