2 Samuel 2:26

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Abner called out to Joab and said, 'Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long will you delay telling the people to stop pursuing their brothers?'

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long shall it be before you tell the people to return from pursuing their brothers?

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    And Abner called vnto Ioab, and sayde: Shal the swerde the deuoure without ende? Knowest thou not, that it wyll be bytter at the last? How longe wil it be or thou saie vnto the people, that they leaue of from their brethre:

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Then Abner called to Ioab, and said, Shall the sworde deuoure for euer? Knowest thou not, that it will be bitternesse in the latter ende? Howe long then shall it be, or thou bid the people returne from following their brethren?

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Then Abner called to Ioab, and said: Shall the sword deuour for euer? Knowest thou not, that it wil be bitternesse in the latter ende? Howe long then shall it be yer thou bid the people returne from folowing their brethren?

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brothers?"

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    and Abner calleth unto Joab, and saith, `For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?'

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Then crying out to Joab, Abner said, Are fighting and destruction to go on for ever? do you not see that the end will only be bitter? how long will it be before you send the people back and make them give up attacking their countrymen?

  • World English Bible (2000)

    Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?"

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Then Abner called out to Joab,“Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?”

Referenced Verses

  • Jer 46:14 : 14 Announce it in Egypt, proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it also in Memphis and Tahpanhes: 'Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword has devoured those around you.'
  • Jer 46:10 : 10 For that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord of Hosts— a day of vengeance to avenge his foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, till it is drunk with their blood. For the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the Euphrates River.
  • Acts 7:26 : 26 The next day, he appeared to two of them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why are you hurting each other?'
  • Hos 11:6 : 6 A sword will whirl through their cities; it will destroy their gates and consume them because of their plans.
  • 2 Sam 2:14 : 14 Then Abner said to Joab, 'Let the young men come forward and compete before us.' And Joab said, 'Let them come forward.'
  • 2 Sam 2:16 : 16 Each man seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell together. So the place was called the Field of Flints, which is in Gibeon.
  • 2 Sam 11:25 : 25 David said to the messenger, 'Say this to Joab: Don’t let this thing upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Press your attack against the city and destroy it. Encourage him.'
  • Job 18:2 : 2 How long will you keep putting an end to words? Consider, and then we will speak.
  • Job 19:2 : 2 How long will you torment my soul and crush me with words?
  • Ps 4:2 : 2 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have given me relief when I was in trouble. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
  • Prov 17:14 : 14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; so stop the dispute before it breaks out.
  • Isa 1:20 : 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
  • Jer 2:30 : 30 In vain I have struck your children; they accepted no discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravenous lion.
  • Jer 4:21 : 21 How long must I see the banner and hear the sound of the trumpet?
  • Jer 12:12 : 12 On all the barren heights in the wilderness, destroyers have come. For the sword of the LORD is devouring from one end of the land to the other; no flesh has peace.

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 2:24-25
    2 verses
    76%

    24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. As the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah, on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

    25The men of Benjamin rallied to Abner, formed a single group, and took their stand on the top of a hill.

  • 2 Sam 2:27-29
    3 verses
    76%

    27Joab answered, 'As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the people would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.'

    28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or fought anymore.

    29Abner and his men marched through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan, traveled through the Bithron, and arrived at Mahanaim.

  • 2 Sam 3:21-31
    11 verses
    72%

    21Then Abner said to David, 'Let me go at once and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and you may rule over all that your heart desires.' So David sent Abner away in peace.

    22Just then, David’s men and Joab returned from a raid, bringing a large amount of plunder, but Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away in peace.

    23When Joab and all the soldiers who were with him arrived, they were told, 'Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king sent him away in peace.'

    24So Joab went to the king and said, 'What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone!'

    25'You know Abner son of Ner! He came to deceive you and to learn about your comings and goings and everything you are doing.'

    26Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David knew nothing about it.

    27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside inside the gate, as if to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, killing him in revenge for the blood of his brother Asahel.

    28Later, when David heard about this, he declared, 'I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD regarding the blood of Abner son of Ner.

    29May the guilt fall upon Joab and his entire family! May they always be afflicted with a discharge, skin disease, a need to rely on a crutch, death by the sword, or lack of bread.'

    30(Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

    31Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, 'Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.' And King David himself walked behind the bier.

  • 2 Sam 2:21-22
    2 verses
    72%

    21Abner said to him, 'Turn aside to your right or to your left; seize one of the young men and take his armor.' But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

    22Again Abner said to Asahel, 'Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you down? How could I then show my face to your brother Joab?'

  • 1 Kgs 2:31-33
    3 verses
    71%

    31The king said to him, 'Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and my father's house the guilt of the blood that Joab shed without cause.

    32The LORD will bring back his blood on his own head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than himself—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army—killing them with the sword without my father David knowing it.

    33Their blood will come back on the head of Joab and his descendants forever, but there will be peace from the LORD forever for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne.

  • 1 Kgs 2:5-6
    2 verses
    70%

    5Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—how he killed the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He shed their blood as if in war during a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with the blood.

    6Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

  • 2 Sam 19:12-13
    2 verses
    70%

    12Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Say to the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house?'

    13You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring the king back?'

  • 2 Sam 3:37-38
    2 verses
    70%

    37So on that day all the people and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.

    38Then the king said to his men, 'Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?'

  • 2 Sam 2:14
    70%

    14Then Abner said to Joab, 'Let the young men come forward and compete before us.' And Joab said, 'Let them come forward.'

  • 2 Sam 20:20
    70%

    20Joab replied, "Far be it from me to devour or destroy the city!

  • 2 Sam 3:19
    70%

    19Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tell David everything that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

  • 2 Sam 3:8-9
    2 verses
    69%

    8Abner became very angry over Ishbosheth's words and said, 'Am I a dog's head at Judah's disposal? Today I am loyal to the house of Saul your father, to his relatives and friends, and I have not delivered you into David's hand. Yet now you accuse me of sinning with this woman!'

    9May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not carry out what the Lord swore to David.

  • 1 Sam 26:14-16
    3 verses
    69%

    14Then David called out to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, saying, "Won't you answer, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you calling to the king?"

    15David said to Abner, "Aren't you a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king.

    16What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you deserve to die because you did not guard your lord, the LORD's anointed. Now, look around! Where are the king's spear and the jar of water that were near his head?"

  • 1 Chr 21:3
    69%

    3But Joab replied, "May the LORD multiply His people a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of yours? Why does my lord require this? Why should it bring guilt upon Israel?"

  • 2 Sam 2:31
    68%

    31But David’s men had struck down three hundred and sixty men from Benjamin and Abner’s followers, who died in battle.

  • 2 Sam 2:17
    68%

    17The battle that day was fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

  • 2 Sam 3:33-34
    2 verses
    68%

    33The king sang a lament for Abner, saying: 'Should Abner die as a fool dies?

    34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked.' And all the people wept over him.

  • 2 Sam 18:16
    68%

    16Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab had restrained them.

  • 2 Sam 20:10-11
    2 verses
    68%

    10Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach. His intestines spilled to the ground, and he died without Joab striking him again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

    11One of Joab's men stood by Amasa and said, "Whoever is loyal to Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!"

  • Judg 20:23
    67%

    23The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and they inquired of the LORD. They asked, "Shall we go up again to wage war against the Benjaminites, our brothers?" The LORD answered, "Go up against them."

  • 2 Sam 3:16-17
    2 verses
    67%

    16But her husband followed her, weeping as he went, all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, 'Go back home.' So he returned.

    17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, 'For some time you have wanted to make David your king.

  • 2 Sam 16:11
    67%

    11David then said to Abishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son who came from my own body is trying to take my life. How much more now this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.

  • 1 Sam 26:8
    67%

    8Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won't need to strike him twice."

  • 2 Sam 2:12
    67%

    12Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

  • 2 Sam 20:6
    67%

    6So David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba, son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord's servants and pursue him quickly, or he may find fortified cities and escape from us."