2 Samuel 23:20 net — Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of A…

NET Bible

"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day."

— 2 Samuel 23:20, NET Bible

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2 Samuel 23:20 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 23 — Context

17

and said,“O LORD, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.

18

Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among the three.

19

From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.

20

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day.

21

He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian. The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

22

Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame among the three elite warriors.

23

He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

2 Samuel 23:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 23:20 say?
2 Samuel 23:20 in the NET Bible reads: “Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day.”
Where is 2 Samuel 23:20 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 23:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 20.
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 23:20.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 23:20 in?
2 Samuel 23:20 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 23:20?
2 Samuel 23:20 reads (NET): “Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day.” 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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