1 Kings 2:9 Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood."

◄ 1 Kings 2:9 ►

New International Version
But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

New Living Translation
But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”

English Standard Version
Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

King James Bible
Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

New King James Version
Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.”

New American Standard Bible
But now do not leave him unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood.”

NASB 1995
“Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood.”

NASB 1977
“Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood.”

Amplified Bible
But now do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what to do to him, and you will bring his gray head down to Sheol [covered] with blood.”

Christian Standard Bible
So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”

American Standard Version
Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.

Contemporary English Version
Now you must punish him. He's an old man, but you're wise enough to know that you must have him killed.

English Revised Version
Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to the grave with blood.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now, don't let him go unpunished. You are wise and know what to do to him: Put that gray-haired, old man into his grave by slaughtering him."

Good News Translation
But you must not let him go unpunished. You know what to do, and you must see to it that he is put to death."

International Standard Version
But don't let him off unpunished, since you're a wise man and you'll know what you need to do to him. Find a way that he dies in his old age by shedding his blood."

Majority Standard Bible
Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.?

NET Bible
But now don't treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death."

New Heart English Bible
Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood."

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do to him; but his hoary head do thou bring down to the grave with blood.

World English Bible
Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and now, do not acquit him, for you [are] a wise man, and you have known that which you do to him, and have brought down his old age with blood to Sheol.”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, acquit him not, for a wise man thou art, and thou hast known that which thou dost to him, and hast brought down his old age with blood to Sheol.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now thou shalt not let him go unpunished; for thou a wise man, and thou knowest what thou wilt do to him; and bring down his gray hairs with blood to hades.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Do not thou hold him guiltless. But thou art a wise man, and knowest what to do with him, and thou shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to hell.

Catholic Public Domain Version
yet do not choose to treat him as if he were innocent. Since you are a wise man, you will know what to do with him. And you shall lead away his grey hair to death with blood.”

New American Bible
But you must not let him go unpunished. You are wise; you will know what to do to send his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; you will know what you ought to do to him, and you must bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Now therefore hold him not guiltless; for you are a wise man, and know what you ought to do to him; and bring his folly on his head; and you shall bring down his hoary head with blood to Sheol.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Now you shall not pronounce him innocent, for you are a wise man and know what that you will do to him, and return his foolishness on his head and bring down his old age in blood to Sheol.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to the grave with blood.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But thou shalt by no means hold him guiltless, for thou art a wise man, and wilt know what thou shalt do to him, and shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to the grave.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

David Instructs Solomon
…8Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’ 9Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Samuel 19:23
So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

1 Kings 2:6
So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

2 Samuel 16:5-13
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. / He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left. / And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! ...

2 Samuel 3:39
And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

2 Samuel 19:21-22
But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” / And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

1 Kings 2:44
The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.

1 Kings 1:52
And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”

2 Samuel 7:14
I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

1 Samuel 24:12
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

1 Samuel 26:10
David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Hebrews 10:30
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for you are a wise man, and know what you ought to do to him; but his hoar head bring you down to the grave with blood.

Judges 5:30
Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?

1 Samuel 2:3
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Psalm 1:5
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exodus 22:28
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Job 9:28
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

wise

1 Kings 3:12,28
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee…

his

1 Kings 2:6
Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

Genesis 42:38
And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Genesis 44:31
It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

with

Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

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Blood Clear Consider Free Goes Grave Gray Guiltless Hair Head Hoar Hoary Hold Innocent Ought Oughtest Punishment Sheol Underworld Unpunished White Wilt Wise

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Blood Clear Consider Free Goes Grave Gray Guiltless Hair Head Hoar Hoary Hold Innocent Ought Oughtest Punishment Sheol Underworld Unpunished White Wilt Wise

1 Kings 2

1. David, having given a charge to Solomon
3. of Reverence
5. of Joab
7. of Barzillai
8. of Shimei
10. Solomon succeeds
12. Adonijah, moving Bathsheba to ask unto Solomon for Abishag,
13. is put to death
26. Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood
28. Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain
35. Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadfok in Abiathar's
36. Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going to Gath, is put to death.

Berean Study Bible

But do not let him go unpunished
This phrase reflects the justice and retribution that were integral to the ancient Israelite understanding of law and order. The Hebrew root for "unpunished" is often associated with the idea of leaving someone without consequences for their actions. In the context of King David's final instructions to Solomon, it underscores the importance of upholding justice as a divine mandate. Historically, this reflects the broader Ancient Near Eastern legal traditions where kings were seen as enforcers of divine justice.

for you are a wise man
The acknowledgment of Solomon's wisdom is prophetic and foundational for his reign. The Hebrew word for "wise" (חָכָם, chakam) is deeply connected to the idea of skillful living and discernment. Solomon's wisdom is a central theme in the biblical narrative, and it is this wisdom that will guide him in making difficult decisions. This phrase also foreshadows Solomon's request for wisdom from God, which becomes a defining characteristic of his rule.

You will know what you ought to do to him
This phrase emphasizes the expectation of discernment and moral responsibility. The Hebrew concept of "knowing" (יָדַע, yada) goes beyond intellectual understanding to include experiential knowledge and insight. Solomon is expected to act with both justice and mercy, guided by his God-given wisdom. This reflects the biblical principle that leaders are accountable to God for their actions and decisions.

to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood
This phrase is a vivid expression of the consequences of wrongdoing. "Gray head" symbolizes old age and the culmination of one's life journey. "Sheol" in Hebrew thought is the realm of the dead, a place of shadowy existence. The phrase "in blood" indicates a violent end, suggesting that the individual's actions have warranted such a fate. This reflects the biblical theme of divine justice, where the wicked ultimately face the consequences of their actions. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness with which God views sin and injustice.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - Now therefore [lit., "and now." Possibly the "now" is a note of time in apposition to the "day" of ver. 8, or rather the time of David's oath. "I then unadvisedly swam unto him, but now the law must have its course." Probably it is merely inferential, - quae cum ita sint] hold him not guiltless [rather, thou shalt not leave him unpunished (Vatablus, Gesen., Bahr, al.); cf. Exodus 20:7; Jeremiah 30:11]; for thou art a wise man [φρόνιμος rather than σοφός (LXX.) Gesen. renders here, "endued with ability to judge." David clearly desires that wisdom and justice, not malice or passion, should be Solomon's guide], and knowest what thou oughtest to [lit., shalt or shouldest] do to him; but [Heb. and] his hoar head [mentioned, not maliciously, but with the idea that punishment, which had been long delayed, must overtake him nevertheless. The age of Joab and Shimei would make the Divine Nemesis the more conspicuous. Men would "see that there was a God that judgeth in the earth"] bring thou down to the grave with blood. The Auth. Version here needlessly alters the order of the original, which should be followed wherever it can be (and it generally can) without sacrifice of idiom and elegance. In this case the alteration, by the slight prominence it gives to "hoar head" and to "blood," gives a factitious harshness to the sentence. The Hebrew stands thus: "And thou shalt bring down his hoar head with blood to Sheol." This order of the words also exhibits somewhat more clearly the sequence of thought, which is this: "Thou art wise, therefore thou knowest what by law thou shouldest do. What thou shalt do is, thou shalt bring down," etc. It is clear from these words that if David was actuated by malice, by a "passionate desire to punish those who had wronged him" (Plumptre, Dict. Bib., art. "Solomon"), or by "fierce and profound vindictiveness" (Stanley, "Jewish Church," vol. 2. p. 135), he was profoundly unconscious of it. If it was "a dark legacy of hate" (ibid.) he was bequeathing to Solomon, then he stands before us in these last hours either as an unctuous hypocrite, or as infatuated and inconsistent to the last degree. That the man who, in his opening words (ver. 3), enjoined upon his son, in the most emphatic manner, a strict and literal obedience to the law of Heaven, should in these subsequent words, delivered almost in the same breath, require him to satiate a long-cherished and cruel revenge upon Joab and Shimei (the latter of whom he had twice delivered from death), is an instance of self contradiction which is almost, if not quite, without parallel. But as I have showed elsewhere, at some length, it is a superficial and entirely erroneous view of David's last words, which supposes them to have been inspired by malice or cruelty. His absorbing idea was clearly this, that he had not "kept the charge of the Lord;" that he, the chief magistrate, the "revenger to execute wrath," by sparing Joab and Shimei, the murderer and the blasphemer, both of whose lives were forfeited to justice, had failed in his duty, had weakened the sanctions of law, and compromised the honour of the Most High. He is too old and too weak to execute the sentence of the law now, but for the safety of his people, for the security of his throne, it must be done, and therefore Solomon, who was under no obligation to spare the criminals his father had spared, must be required to do it. Of the Jewish king it might be said with a special propriety, "Rex est lex loquens," and seldom has the voice of law spoken with greater dignity and fidelity than by David in this dying charge. To say, as Harwood does, (Lange, American Trans., p. 32) that "nothing but sophistry can justify his [David's] charge to Solomon, not to let the unfortunate man [Shimei] die in peace," merely shows how imperfectly the writer has entered into the spirit of the theocratic law, that law under which David lived, and by which alone he could be governed and govern others.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Now therefore,
וְעַתָּה֙ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

hold him guiltless,
תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ (tə·naq·qê·hū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

for
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you
אָ֑תָּה (’āt·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are a wise
חָכָ֖ם (ḥā·ḵām)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2450: Wise

man.
אִ֥ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

You know
וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ (wə·yā·ḏa‘·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

what
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you ought to do
תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ (ta·‘ă·śeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to him
לּ֔וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

to bring his gray head
שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ (śê·ḇā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7872: Hoary head, old age

down
וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ (wə·hō·w·raḏ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Sheol
שְׁאֽוֹל׃ (šə·’ō·wl)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death)

in blood.”
בְּדָ֖ם (bə·ḏām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

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OT History: 1 Kings 2:9 Now therefore don't hold him guiltless (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)