1 Chronicles 21:3

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב יוֹסֵף֩ יְהוָ֨ה עַל־עַמּ֤וֹ ׀ כָּהֵם֙ מֵאָ֣ה פְעָמִ֔ים הֲלֹא֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֻּלָּ֥ם לַאדֹנִ֖י לַעֲבָדִ֑ים לָ֣מָּה יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ זֹאת֙ אֲדֹנִ֔י לָ֛מָּה יִהְיֶ֥ה לְאַשְׁמָ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Transliteration

And wayyōʾmer yôʾāb, yōsēp YHWH unto ʿammô like them a hundred pĕʿāmîm. hălōʾ ʾădōnî the hammelek, all of them to my lord as laʿăbādîm. lāmmâ yĕbaqqēš zōʾt ʾădōnî? lāmmâ yihyê lĕʾašmâ to yiśrāʾēl?

Grammar Details

*wayyōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
*yôʾāb*: proper noun - Joab
*yōsēp*: hiphil imperfect jussive, 3rd masculine singular - may he add
*YHWH*: proper noun - LORD/Yahweh
*ʿammô*: masculine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his people
*pĕʿāmîm*: feminine plural noun - times
*hălōʾ*: interrogative particle - are not
*ʾădōnî*: masculine singular noun + 1st person singular suffix - my lord
*hammelek*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the king
*laʿăbādîm*: preposition + masculine plural noun - as servants
*lāmmâ*: interrogative - why
*yĕbaqqēš*: piel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he seeks
*zōʾt*: feminine singular demonstrative pronoun - this thing
*yihyê*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - it will be
*lĕʾašmâ*: preposition + feminine singular noun - as guilt/liability

Word Meanings

*yōsēp*: may he add/increase/multiply
*pĕʿāmîm*: times/instances/occurrences
*ʾašmâ*: guilt/sin/offense/cause of punishment
*yĕbaqqēš*: seeks/requests/demands/desires

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Gen 20:9 : 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
Exod 32:21 : 21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?
Num 32:9-9 : 9 For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which Jehovah had given them. 10 And Jehovah's anger was kindled in that day, and he sware, saying,
Deut 1:11 : 11 Jehovah, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!
1 Sam 2:24 : 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make Jehovah's people to transgress.
1 Kgs 14:16 : 16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he hath sinned, and wherewith he hath made Israel to sin.
1 Chr 19:13 : 13 Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.
Ps 115:14 : 14 Jehovah increase you more and more, You and your children.
Prov 14:28 : 28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
Isa 26:15 : 15 Thou hast increased the nation, O Jehovah, thou hast increased the nation; thou art glorified; thou hast enlarged all the borders of the land.
Isa 48:19 : 19 thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the grains thereof: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

2 Sam 24:1-4
4 verses
88%
1And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
3And Joab said unto the king, Now Jehovah thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be, a hundredfold; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
4Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
1 Chr 21:2
80%
2And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.
1 Chr 21:4-7
4 verses
79%
4Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
5And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
6But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
7And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
1 Chr 21:17
75%
17And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O Jehovah my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued.
2 Sam 24:9-10
2 verses
74%
9And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
10And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, O Jehovah, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
2 Sam 20:19-20
2 verses
73%
19I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
20And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
1 Chr 27:23-24
2 verses
73%
23But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven.
24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.
2 Sam 18:1-4
4 verses
73%
1And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but thou art worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succor us out of the city.
4And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate-side, {H3027} and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
2 Sam 21:3
72%
3and David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of Jehovah?
2 Sam 14:19-22
4 verses
72%
19And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken; for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid;
20to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
21And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.
22And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found favor in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath performed the request of his servant.
2 Sam 19:13
71%
13And 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.
1 Kgs 1:20
70%
20And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
2 Sam 14:31-32
2 verses
70%
31Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
32And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me.
1 Sam 21:11
70%
11And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?
2 Sam 3:24
70%
24Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
1 Kgs 2:31-32
2 verses
70%
31And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house.
32And Jehovah will return his blood upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, and my father David knew it not, [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.
2 Sam 3:18
70%
18now then do it; for Jehovah hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
2 Sam 3:29
70%
29let 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.
2 Sam 19:22
70%
22And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
2 Sam 20:11
70%
11And there stood by him one of Joab's young men, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, let him follow Joab.
2 Sam 15:15
70%
15And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose.
2 Sam 10:7
69%
7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
1 Sam 26:19
69%
19Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be Jehovah that hath stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before Jehovah: for they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.
2 Sam 11:25
69%
25Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another; make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
2 Chr 2:17
69%
17And Solomon numbered all the sojourners that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
2 Sam 19:43
69%
43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right] in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
1 Kgs 3:8
69%
8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
2 Sam 19:36
69%
36Thy servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
1 Sam 17:29
69%
29And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
1 Sam 30:23
69%
23Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which Jehovah hath given unto us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.
2 Sam 19:5
69%
5And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, who this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
2 Sam 2:27
69%
27And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother.
1 Kgs 20:15
69%
15Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty - two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.