2 Samuel 11:25 net — David said to the messenger,“Tell Joab,‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword wi…

NET Bible

"David said to the messenger,“Tell Joab,‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.”"

— 2 Samuel 11:25, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

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2 Samuel 11:25 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “Then 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.”

  • ASV

    “Then 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. ”

  • WEB

    “Then David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall tell Joab, 'Don't let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it.' Encourage him."”

  • DRB

    “And David said to the messenger: Thus shalt thou say to Joab: Let not this thing discourage thee: for various is the event of war: and sometimes one, sometimes another is consumed by the sword: encourage thy warriors against the city, and exhort them that thou mayest overthrow it.”

  • BBE

    “Then David said to the man, Go and say to Joab, Do not let this be a grief to you; for one man may come to his death by the sword like another: put up an even stronger fight against the town, and take it: and do you put heart into him.”

  • KJVA

    “Then 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 Samuel 11 — Context

22

So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him.

23

The messenger said to David,“The men overpowered us and attacked us in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way to the door of the city gate.

24

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”

25

David said to the messenger,“Tell Joab,‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.”

26

When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him.

27

When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace. She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the LORD.

2 Samuel 11:25 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 11:25 say?
2 Samuel 11:25 in the NET Bible reads: “David said to the messenger,“Tell Joab,‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.””
Where is 2 Samuel 11:25 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 11:25 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 11, verse 25.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 11:25.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 11:25 in?
2 Samuel 11:25 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 11:25?
2 Samuel 11:25 reads (NET): “David said to the messenger,“Tell Joab,‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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