2 Samuel 4:11
New International Version
How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!”

New Living Translation
How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?”

English Standard Version
How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?”

Berean Standard Bible
How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”

King James Bible
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

New King James Version
How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?”

New American Standard Bible
How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and eliminate you both from the earth?”

NASB 1995
“How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hand and destroy you from the earth?”

NASB 1977
“How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hand, and destroy you from the earth?”

Legacy Standard Bible
How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hand and purge you from the earth?”

Amplified Bible
How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous and just man in his own house on his bed, shall I not require his blood from your hand and remove you from the earth?”

Christian Standard Bible
How much more when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house on his own bed! So now, should I not require his blood from you and purge you from the earth? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How much more when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house on his own bed! So now, should I not require his blood from your hands and wipe you off the earth?”

American Standard Version
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

Contemporary English Version
You evil men have done something much worse than he did. You've killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed. I'll make you pay for that. I'll wipe you from the face of the earth!

English Revised Version
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How much more [should I reward] wicked men who kill an innocent man on his own bed in his home? The LORD has rescued me from every trouble. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, I'll now seek revenge for his murder and rid the land of you."

Good News Translation
How much worse it will be for evil men who murder an innocent man asleep in his own house! I will now take revenge on you for murdering him and will wipe you off the face of the earth!"

International Standard Version
How much worse will it be, then, when evil men kill an innocent man on his own bed in his own house! Shouldn't I avenge his blood—which you are responsible for shedding —by removing you from the earth?"

Majority Standard Bible
How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”

NET Bible
Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?"

New Heart English Bible
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?"

Webster's Bible Translation
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

World English Bible
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, should I not now require his blood from your hand, and rid the earth of you?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Also—when wicked men have slain the righteous man in his own house, on his bed; and now, do I not require his blood from your hand, and have taken you away from the earth?”

Young's Literal Translation
Also -- when wicked men have slain the righteous man in his own house, on his bed; and now, do not I require his blood of your hand, and have taken you away from the earth?'

Smith's Literal Translation
Much more when wicked men killed a just man in his house upon his bed; and now shall I not seek out his blood from your hand and take you away from the earth?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
How much more now when wicked men have slain an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood at your hand, and take you away from the earth?

Catholic Public Domain Version
How much more so now, when impious men have put to death an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood from your hand, and take you away from the earth?”

New American Bible
How much more now, when wicked men have slain an innocent man in bed at home, must I require his blood from you and purge you from the land!”

New Revised Standard Version
How much more then, when wicked men have killed a righteous man on his bed in his own house! And now shall I not require his blood at your hand, and destroy you from the earth?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
How much more, when wicked men have slain a man in his own house upon his bed? Now I will avenge his blood at your hands and destroy you from the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And also wicked men killed a man in his house on his bed. Behold, I shall avenge his blood from your hands and I shall destroy you from the Earth!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now evil men have slain a righteous men in his house on his bed: now then I will require his blood of your hand, and I will destroy you from off the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Kills the Murderers
10when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news! 11How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!” 12So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.…

Cross References
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.

Exodus 21:12
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.

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.

Deuteronomy 19:10
Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

1 Samuel 24:6
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

1 Samuel 26:9-11
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” / 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. / But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

2 Samuel 1:14-16
So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” / Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. / For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

2 Samuel 3:27-30
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. / Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. / 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.” ...

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 55:23
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

Proverbs 6:16-17
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Matthew 26:52
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.


Treasury of Scripture

How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

when wicked

1 Kings 2:32
And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

Proverbs 25:26
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

Habakkuk 1:4,12
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth…

require

2 Samuel 3:27,39
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother…

Genesis 9:5,6
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man…

Exodus 21:12
He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.

from

Genesis 4:11
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

Genesis 6:13
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Genesis 7:23
And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

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2 Samuel 4
1. The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner
2. Baanah and Rechab slay Ish-Bosheth, and bring his head to Hebron
9. David causes them to be slain, and Ish-Bosheth's head to be buried.














How much more
This phrase introduces a rhetorical question that emphasizes the gravity of the situation. In Hebrew, the expression often serves to heighten the seriousness of an action or consequence. It suggests that if lesser offenses are punishable, then certainly greater offenses warrant even more severe judgment. This reflects a principle of justice that is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where God’s standards are absolute and unwavering.

when wicked men
The term "wicked" in Hebrew is "רָשָׁע" (rasha), which denotes those who are morally wrong or guilty. The Bible consistently portrays wickedness as a deviation from God’s law and character. In this context, the "wicked men" are those who have acted contrary to God’s justice and righteousness, highlighting the moral corruption that David, as a king after God’s own heart, is called to oppose.

have killed
The act of killing, "הָרַג" (harag) in Hebrew, is a direct violation of the commandment "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). This word underscores the premeditated and violent nature of the act. In biblical law, murder is a capital offense, reflecting the sanctity of life as created in the image of God (Genesis 9:6).

an innocent man
The Hebrew word for "innocent" is "צַדִּיק" (tzaddik), meaning righteous or just. This term is used to describe someone who is blameless or without guilt in a particular matter. The innocence of the victim amplifies the atrocity of the crime, as it is not only a legal injustice but a moral outrage against God’s order.

in his own house on his own bed
This phrase paints a vivid picture of betrayal and violation of personal sanctuary. The home, and particularly one’s bed, is a place of safety and rest. The violation of this space by murder is an egregious breach of trust and hospitality, which were highly valued in ancient Near Eastern culture. It underscores the heinousness of the crime and the depth of the offenders' depravity.

should I not now demand his blood from your hand
The phrase "demand his blood" refers to the biblical principle of justice and retribution, often expressed as "life for life" (Exodus 21:23). The "hand" symbolizes responsibility and agency. In this context, David is asserting his role as the executor of divine justice, holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions.

and remove you from the earth
The concept of removal, "בָּעַר" (ba'ar) in Hebrew, often implies purging or cleansing. This reflects the biblical theme of removing evil from the community to maintain holiness and righteousness. The earth, "אֶרֶץ" (eretz), signifies the land given by God, which must be kept pure from defilement. David’s declaration is not only a personal vendetta but a fulfillment of his kingly duty to uphold God’s justice and maintain the sanctity of the land.

(11) A righteous person--i.e., righteous, not at fault, so far as the matter in hand and his relation to the assassins is concerned.

Take you away from the earth.--"Rather, put you away out of the land. The word is one specially used of removing evil or the guilt of evil from the land (Deuteronomy 19:13; Deuteronomy 19:19, &c.). The guilt of murder defiled the land, until expiated by the execution of the murderer. (Numbers 35:33.)"--Kirkpatrick.

Verse 11. - A righteous person. Ishbosheth was probably a weak rather than a wicked man; but David is not speaking of him generally, and, as regards Rechab and Baanah, he was quite guiltless, and their crime was not in revenge for any wrong done them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
How much more,
אַ֞ף (’ap̄)
Conjunction
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

when
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

wicked
רְשָׁעִ֗ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

men
אֲנָשִׁ֣ים (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

kill
הָרְג֧וּ (hā·rə·ḡū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

a righteous
צַדִּ֛יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

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

in his own house
בְּבֵית֖וֹ (bə·ḇê·ṯōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

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

his own bed,
מִשְׁכָּב֑וֹ (miš·kā·ḇōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4904: Place of lying, a couch, act of lying

shall I not now
וְעַתָּ֗ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

require
אֲבַקֵּ֤שׁ (’ă·ḇaq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

his blood
דָּמוֹ֙ (dā·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

your hands
מִיֶּדְכֶ֔ם (mî·yeḏ·ḵem)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

and wipe you off
וּבִעַרְתִּ֥י (ū·ḇi·‘ar·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

the earth!”
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT History: 2 Samuel 4:11 How much more when wicked men have (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 4:10
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