2 Samuel 23:19 kjv — Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

King James Version

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

— 2 Samuel 23:19, King James Version

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2 Samuel 23:19 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 23 — Context

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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.

17

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

18

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

19

Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was 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 many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

21

And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22

These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.

2 Samuel 23:19 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 23:19 say?
2 Samuel 23:19 in the King James Version reads: “Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.”
Where is 2 Samuel 23:19 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 23:19 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 19.
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 23:19.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 23:19 in?
2 Samuel 23:19 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 23:19?
2 Samuel 23:19 reads (KJV): “Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.” 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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