2 Samuel 3:29
New International Version
May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

New Living Translation
Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

English Standard Version
May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”

Berean Standard Bible
May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

King James Bible
Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

New King James Version
Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

New American Standard Bible
May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.”

NASB 1995
“May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

NASB 1977
“May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

Legacy Standard Bible
May it whirl on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who takes hold of a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread not be cut off from the house of Joab.”

Amplified Bible
Let the guilt fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house (family); and may there never disappear from the house of Joab one who suffers with a discharge or one who is a leper or one who walks with a crutch [being unfit for war], or one who falls by the sword, or one who lacks food.”

Christian Standard Bible
May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole family, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole house, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves.”

American Standard Version
let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

Contemporary English Version
Joab and his family are the guilty ones. I pray that Joab's family will always be sick with sores and other skin diseases. May they all be cowards, and may they die in war or starve to death."

English Revised Version
let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
May the blame fall on the head of Joab and all of his family. May there always be members of Joab's family who have oozing sores and skin diseases, who can only work a spindle, who die in battle, and who never have any food."

Good News Translation
May the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a woman's work or is killed in battle or doesn't have enough to eat!"

International Standard Version
May judgment rest on Joab's head and on his father's entire household. May Joab's dynasty never be without one who has a discharge, who is a leper, who walks with a cane, who commits suicide, or who lacks food!"

Majority Standard Bible
May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.?

NET Bible
May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab's house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!"

New Heart English Bible
May it whirl over the head of Joab, and on all his father's house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."

Webster's Bible Translation
Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

World English Bible
Let it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
it stays on the head of Joab, and on all the house of his father, and there is not cut off from the house of Joab one who has discharging, and leprous, and laying hold on a staff, and falling by a sword, and lacking bread.”

Young's Literal Translation
it doth stay on the head of Joab, and on all the house of his father, and there is not cut off from the house of Joab one having an issue, and leprous, and laying hold on a staff, and falling by a sword, and lacking bread.'

Smith's Literal Translation
It will stay upon the head of Joab and to all the house of his father; and there shall not be cut off from the house of Joab, him flowing, and the leprous, and him holding fast upon a staff, and him falling upon a sword, and him diminished in bread.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And may it come upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house: and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue of seed, or that is a leper, or that holdeth the distaff, or that falleth by the sword, or that wanteth bread.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And may it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon the entire house of his father. And may there not fail to be, in the house of Joab, one who suffers from a flow of seed, or one who is leprous, or one who is effeminate, or one who falls by the sword, or one who is in need of bread.”

New American Bible
May the blood of Abner, son of Ner, be on the head of Joab and all his family. May Joab’s family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or one with a skin disease, or a man who holds the distaff, or one falling by the sword, or one in need of food!”

New Revised Standard Version
May the guilt fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let it rest on the head of Joab and on the head of all his father's house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or who is a leper or who is a beggar holding a bowl or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
It shall rest on the head of Yuab and on the head of all the house of his father, and there shall not fail of the household of Yuab gonorrhea and leprosy, and he who holds a beggar’s bowl and he who falls on a sword and he who lacks bread!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all the house of his father; and let there not be wanting of the house of Joab one that has an issue, or a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that wants bread.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joab Murders Abner
28Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 21:6-9
Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken, / and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. / Accept this atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.” And the bloodshed will be atoned for. ...

1 Kings 2:32-33
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.”

Genesis 4:10-11
“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. / Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Numbers 35:33
Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Leviticus 20:9
If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Joshua 7:24-25
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor. / “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.

1 Samuel 2:31-33
Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no one in it will reach old age. / You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age. / And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, I will cause your eyes to fail and your heart to grieve. All your descendants will die by the sword of men.

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
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.

2 Kings 9:26
‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, so will I repay you on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, according to the word of the LORD, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground.”

Psalm 109:9-10
May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. / May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes.

Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Matthew 27:25
All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Acts 28:4
When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”


Treasury of Scripture

Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls on the sword, or that lacks bread.

rest

1 Samuel 1:16
Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Judges 9:24,56,57
That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren…

1 Kings 2:31-34
And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father…

let there

1 Samuel 2:32-36
And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever…

2 Kings 5:27
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Psalm 109:8-19
Let his days be few; and let another take his office…

fail [heb] be cut off

Leviticus 13:44-46
He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head…

2 Kings 5:1
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

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Bread Discharge Distaff Fail Fall Falleth Falls Father's Head Hold Holds House Issue Joab Leper Rest Staff Sword
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2 Samuel 3
1. During the war David becomes stronger
2. Six sons are born to him in Hebron
6. Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth
7. revolts to David
13. David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal
17. Abner confers with the Israelites, feasted by David, and dismissed
22. Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner
28. David curses Joab
31. and mourns for Abner














May it whirl over the head of Joab
The phrase "may it whirl" suggests a curse or a divine judgment that is intended to be relentless and inescapable. In the Hebrew context, the idea of something "whirling" over one's head can be likened to a storm or a whirlwind, symbolizing chaos and destruction. Joab, a key military leader under King David, is here the subject of a curse due to his actions against Abner, which were seen as treacherous and unjust. This reflects the biblical principle that God is just and that wrongdoing, especially when it involves betrayal and murder, will not go unpunished.

and over the head of his father’s whole family
This part of the verse extends the curse to Joab's entire family, indicating the seriousness of his crime. In ancient Israelite culture, the family was a central unit, and the actions of one member could bring consequences upon the whole household. This reflects the biblical theme of corporate responsibility and the idea that sin can have far-reaching effects beyond the individual.

May the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge
A "discharge" in the biblical context often refers to a chronic medical condition that would render a person ceremonially unclean according to Levitical law (Leviticus 15). This part of the curse implies a perpetual state of impurity and exclusion from the community's religious life, highlighting the severity of Joab's actions and the divine displeasure they incurred.

or a leper
Leprosy in the Bible is often associated with sin and divine judgment. Lepers were required to live outside the camp and were considered unclean. This curse upon Joab's house signifies a state of perpetual disgrace and separation from the community, underscoring the gravity of his betrayal and murder of Abner.

or who leans on a staff
Leaning on a staff suggests weakness or disability. In the ancient world, physical strength was highly valued, and a lack of it could mean vulnerability and dependence. This part of the curse implies that Joab's family would be marked by physical frailty, a fitting consequence for his violent and strong-arm tactics.

or falls by the sword
This phrase indicates a violent death, which is ironic given Joab's own violent actions. The sword, a symbol of warfare and death, becomes a tool of divine retribution. This reflects the biblical principle of "reaping what you sow" (Galatians 6:7), where Joab's life of violence would result in a legacy of violence for his descendants.

or lacks food
Lacking food signifies poverty and destitution. In a society where land and resources were tied to one's survival and status, this curse implies a loss of prosperity and blessing. It serves as a reminder of the biblical teaching that true security and provision come from living in accordance with God's will, and that sin can lead to material and spiritual deprivation.

(29) Let it rest on the head of Joab.--The strong curse here pronounced by David shows that Joab's act could not be justified as that of the "Goel," or lawful avenger of his brother's blood, for Abner had slain Asahel in battle, unwillingly and in self-defence. It is also to be remembered that Hebron was a city of refuge (Joshua 21:13), and that here not even the "Goel" might slay the murderer without a trial (Numbers 35:22-25). The curse falls "on his father's house," since Abishai also (2Samuel 3:30) had been concerned with him in the murder.

The phrase, "that leaneth on a staff," has been understood by many as "holding a distaff," i.e., a person unfit for war. The word has the sense of "distaff" in Proverbs 31:19, and is so rendered here by the Vulgate; but the sense given by the English--which is also that of the LXX. and Targum--is better, and more in accordance with the other particulars.

For "on the sword" read "by the sword," there being no reference to the idea of suicide. On the violent end of Joab see 1Kings 2:31-34. . . .

Verse 29. - Let it rest on the head of Joab. The Hebrew word is very strong, "Let it roll itself," or throw itself upon Joab's head. The force of the expression thus indicates the great excitement under which David was labouring; yet even so it was no slight matter to utter so bitter a curse upon a man so powerful, and whose military skill was so essential to the maintenance of his throne. To a man of David's strong sense of justice, it was a small matter that by Abner's murder the kingdom of the ten tribes was lost perhaps forever; what he hated was the wickedness of this mean act of personal revenge. And thus his imprecations are all such as would be humiliating to a family so distinguished for great physical as well as mental gifts, as the house of Zeruiah. Nor was David content with this; for we gather from 1 Chronicles 11:6 that during the intervening years Joab was deprived of his office, and that he regained it only by an act of daring bravery. (For the miserable condition of one suffering with an issue, see Leviticus 15:2, etc.; and for that of a leper, Leviticus 13, 14.) Instead of one that leaneth on a staff, some translate "a distaff holder," that is, a poor effeminate creature, fit only for woman's work. The true sense is probably a cripple - one who needs a crutch. That falleth on the sword; more correctly the Revised Version, that falleth by the sword. The two last imprecations mean that if any of the race of Joab and Abishai escape these personal blemishes, yet that his fate shall be, in war an inglorious death, and in peace a life of poverty. This curse of David is regarded in the Talmud ('Sanhedr.,' 48.2) as very sinful. Undeniably it was uttered in violent anger, and while Joab's act was utterly base and perfidious, yet he had the excuse for it of Asahel's death and David's double-dealing. The latter made him conclude that the man who had killed his brother was also to usurp his place. Possibly this suspicion was not without reason. As David was strong enough to deprive Joab of his command, it is plain that he had nothing to fear from telling him his plans. Joab would have assented, the blood feud have been appeased by a money payment, and all gone well. But David, it seems, wished to hold Joab in check by giving at least a share in the command to the veteran Abner.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May it whirl
יָחֻ֙לוּ֙ (yā·ḥu·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2342: To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear, to wait, to pervert

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the heads
רֹ֣אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

of Joab
יוֹאָ֔ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

and
וְאֶ֖ל (wə·’el)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the entire
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

house
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of his father,
אָבִ֑יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

and may the house
מִבֵּ֣ית (mib·bêṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Joab
יוֹאָ֡ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

never
וְֽאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be without
יִכָּרֵ֣ת (yik·kā·rêṯ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

one having a discharge
זָ֠ב (zāḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2100: To flow freely, to have a, flux, to waste away, to overflow

or skin disease
וּמְצֹרָ֞ע (ū·mə·ṣō·rā‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6879: To be struck with leprosy, to be leprous

or who leans
וּמַחֲזִ֥יק (ū·ma·ḥă·zîq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

on a staff
בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ (bap·pe·leḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6418: A circuit, a spindle, a crutch

or falls
וְנֹפֵ֥ל (wə·nō·p̄êl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

by the sword
בַּחֶ֖רֶב (ba·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

or starves.”
וַחֲסַר־ (wa·ḥă·sar-)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2638: Needy, lacking, in want of


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OT History: 2 Samuel 3:29 Let it fall on the head (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 3:28
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