2 Samuel 14:11
New International Version
She said, “Then let the king invoke the LORD his God to prevent the avenger of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he said, “not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

New Living Translation
Then she said, “Please swear to me by the LORD your God that you won’t let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he replied, “not a hair on your son’s head will be disturbed!”

English Standard Version
Then she said, “Please let the king invoke the LORD your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed.” He said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

King James Bible
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

New King James Version
Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

New American Standard Bible
Then she said, “May the king please remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

NASB 1995
Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

NASB 1977
Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood may not continue to destroy, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to bring about ruin, so that they would not destroy my son.” And he said, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

Amplified Bible
Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And David said, “As the LORD lives, not a single hair [from the head] of your son shall fall to the ground.”

Christian Standard Bible
She replied, “Please, may the king invoke the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not increase the loss, and they will not eliminate my son! ” “As the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son will fall to the ground.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
She replied, “Please, may the king invoke the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not increase the loss, and they will not eliminate my son!"” As the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son will fall to the ground.”

American Standard Version
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

Contemporary English Version
"Please," she replied, "swear by the LORD your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!" He said, "I swear by the living LORD that no one will touch even a hair on his head!"

English Revised Version
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shalt not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
She said, "Your Majesty, please pray to the LORD your God in order to keep an avenger from doing more harm by destroying my son." "I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives," he said, "not a hair on your son's head will fall to the ground."

Good News Translation
She said, "Your Majesty, please pray to the LORD your God, so that my relative who is responsible for avenging the death of my son will not commit a greater crime by killing my other son." "I promise by the living LORD," David replied, "that your son will not be harmed in the least."

International Standard Version
Then she said, "Your majesty, please remember the LORD your God, so that blood avengers don't do any more damage! Otherwise, they'll destroy my son!" So he promised, "As the LORD lives, not even a single hair from your son's head will fall to the ground!"

Majority Standard Bible
?Please,? she replied, ?may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!? ?As surely as the LORD lives,? he vowed, ?not a hair of your son?s head will fall to the ground.?

NET Bible
She replied, "In that case, let the king invoke the name of the LORD your God so that the avenger of blood may not kill! Then they will not destroy my son!" He replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, not a single hair of your son's head will fall to the ground."

New Heart English Bible
Then the king said, "Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

World English Bible
Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And she says, “Please let the king remember by your God YHWH, that the redeemer of blood does not add to destroy, and they do not destroy my son”; and he says, “YHWH lives; if there falls [even one] hair of your son to the earth.”

Young's Literal Translation
And she saith, 'Let, I pray thee, the king remember by Jehovah thy God, that the redeemer of blood add not to destroy, and they destroy not my son;' and he saith, 'Jehovah liveth; if there doth fall of the hair of thy son to the earth.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will say, The king will remember now, Jehovah thy God, the nearest relation of blood being multiplied to destroy, and they shall not destroy my son. And he will say, Jehovah living, if there shall fall from the hair of thy son to the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And she said: Let the king remember the Lord his God, that the next of kin be not multiplied to take revenge, and that they may not kill my son. And he said: As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And she said, “Let the king remember the Lord his God, so that close blood relatives may not be multiplied in order to take revenge, and so that they may by no means kill my son.” And he said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair from your son shall fall to the ground.”

New American Bible
But she said, “Please, let the king remember the LORD your God, that the avenger of blood may not go too far in destruction and that my son may not be done away with.” He replied, “As the LORD lives, not a hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then she said, “Please, may the king keep the LORD your God in mind, so that the avenger of blood may kill no more, and my son not be destroyed.” He said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then she said, Let my lord the king remember that the LORD your God would not suffer the avengers of blood to destroy any more, wherefore let them not destroy my son. And the king said to her, As the LORD God lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she said: “My Lord the King will remember that LORD JEHOVAH God does not destroy with a multitude of dedication of blood, and let them not destroy my son.” The King said to her: “As LORD JEHOVAH God lives, surely a hair of the head of your son will not fall on the ground!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said she: 'I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son.' And he said: 'As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she said, Let now the king remember concerning his Lord God in that the avenger of blood is multiplied to destroy, and let them not take away my son. And he said, As the lord lives, not a hair of thy son shall fall to the ground.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Absalom's Return to Jerusalem
10“If anyone speaks to you,” said the king, “bring him to me, and he will not trouble you again!” 11“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.” 12Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” “Speak,” he replied.…

Cross References
Exodus 21:12-14
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. / If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. / But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

Numbers 35:19-21
The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him. / Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him, / or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.

Deuteronomy 19:11-13
If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities, / the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die. / You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.

Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

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

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.”

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Matthew 18:33
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’

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

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 Kings 2:28-34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...

1 Kings 2:5-6
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. / So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Kings 2:31-33
And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. / The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. / Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

Psalm 103:8-10
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said she, I pray you, let the king remember the LORD your God, that you would not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.

let the king

Genesis 14:22
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Genesis 24:2,3
And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: …

Genesis 31:50
If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.

thou, etc.

Numbers 35:19,27
The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him…

Deuteronomy 19:4-10
And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; …

Joshua 20:3-6
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood…

As the Lord

1 Samuel 14:45
And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

1 Samuel 28:10
And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

Jeremiah 4:2
And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

not one hair

1 Kings 1:52
And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

Matthew 10:30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Acts 27:34
Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

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2 Samuel 14
1. Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah to incline the king's heart to fetch Absalom,
21. brings him home to Jerusalem
25. Absalom's beauty, hair, and children
28. After two years, Absalom is brought into the king's presence by Joab














Then she said
This phrase introduces the plea of the wise woman of Tekoa, who is speaking to King David. Her words are part of a carefully crafted narrative orchestrated by Joab to reconcile David with his estranged son Absalom. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies a declaration or proclamation, indicating the seriousness and intentionality behind her words.

Please may the king invoke
The word "please" (נָא, na) is a polite entreaty, showing respect and deference to the king's authority. The term "invoke" suggests a formal request for the king to call upon divine authority. In ancient Israel, the king was seen as God's representative, and his invocation carried significant weight.

the LORD your God
This phrase emphasizes the personal relationship between David and Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The use of "your God" personalizes the appeal, reminding David of his duty to act justly under God's guidance. The Hebrew name for God here, יהוה (YHWH), is the sacred, covenantal name of God, underscoring the seriousness of the request.

so that the avenger of blood
The "avenger of blood" (גֹּאֵל הַדָּם, go'el ha-dam) refers to the family member responsible for avenging the death of a relative, as outlined in the Mosaic Law (Numbers 35:19). This concept was integral to maintaining justice and order in ancient Israelite society, but it also posed challenges for mercy and reconciliation.

will not multiply the destruction
The phrase "multiply the destruction" suggests an escalation of violence and retribution. The Hebrew root for "multiply" (רָבָה, rabah) implies an increase or abundance, highlighting the potential for ongoing bloodshed if the cycle of vengeance is not broken.

and my son will not be destroyed
The plea for her son's life is central to the woman's appeal. The Hebrew word for "destroyed" (שָׁחַת, shachat) conveys a sense of ruin or annihilation. This plea for mercy reflects the broader biblical theme of seeking forgiveness and restoration over judgment and destruction.

'As surely as the LORD lives,'
This oath formula (חַי־יְהוָה, chai-YHWH) is a solemn vow invoking God's eternal nature as a witness to the truth of the statement. It underscores the seriousness and binding nature of David's promise, reflecting the deep-seated belief in God's active presence and justice.

he vowed
The act of vowing (נִשְׁבַּע, nishba) in the Hebrew context is a binding commitment, often made before God. It reflects the weight of David's promise and his intention to uphold it, demonstrating his role as a just and merciful king.

not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground
This idiomatic expression signifies complete protection and safety. It reassures the woman of the king's commitment to her son's well-being. The imagery of a single hair not falling emphasizes the thoroughness of the king's promise, reflecting God's meticulous care and protection over His people.

(11) Let the king remember the Lord.--Having thus far succeeded, the crafty woman still further leads on the king to bind himself with the solemnity of an oath.

Verse 11. - I pray thee, let the king remember, etc. Thenius says that the woman plays well the part of a talkative gossip, but really she was using the skill for which Joab employed her in bringing the king to give her son a free pardon. Nothing short of this would serve Absalom, who already was so far forgiven as to be in no fear of actual punishment. It is remarkable that David does not hesitate finally to grant this without making further inquiry, though he must have known that a mother's pleas were not likely to be very impartial. Moreover, while in ver. 9 she had acknowledged that there might be a breach of the law in pardoning a murderer, she now appeals to the mercy of Jehovah, who had himself provided limits to the anger of the avenger of blood (see Numbers 35.). He had thus shown himself to be a God of equity, in whom mercy triumphed over the rigid enactments of law. The words which follow more exactly mean, "That the avenger of blood do not multiply destruction, and that they destroy not my son." Moved by this entreaty, the king grants her son full pardon, under the solemn guaranty of an oath.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Please,”
נָ֨א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

she replied,
וַתֹּאמֶר֩ (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“may the king
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

invoke
יִזְכָּר־ (yiz·kār-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

to prevent the avenger
גֹּאֵ֤ל (gō·’êl)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1350: To redeem, act as kinsman

of blood
הַדָּם֙ (had·dām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

from increasing
מֵהַרְבַּ֞ת (mê·har·baṯ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

the devastation,
לְשַׁחֵ֔ת (lə·ša·ḥêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

so that my son
בְּנִ֑י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

may not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be destroyed!”
יַשְׁמִ֖ידוּ (yaš·mî·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed

“As surely as the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

lives,”
חַי־ (ḥay-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

he vowed,
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“not
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

a hair
מִשַּׂעֲרַ֥ת (miś·śa·‘ă·raṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8185: Hairiness

of your son's head
בְּנֵ֖ךְ (bə·nêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

will fall
יִפֹּ֛ל (yip·pōl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

to the ground.”
אָֽרְצָה׃ (’ā·rə·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT History: 2 Samuel 14:11 Then said she Please let the king (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 14:10
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