2 Samuel 23:17 asv — And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopa…

American Standard Version

"And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. "

— 2 Samuel 23:17, American Standard Version

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2 Samuel 23:17 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 23 — Context

14

And David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

15

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!

16

And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah.

17

And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

18

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three.

19

Was he not most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

20

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he slew the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.

2 Samuel 23:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 23:17 say?
2 Samuel 23:17 in the American Standard Version reads: “And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. ”
Where is 2 Samuel 23:17 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 23:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 17.
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 23:17.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 23:17 in?
2 Samuel 23:17 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 23:17?
2 Samuel 23:17 reads (ASV): “And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. ” 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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