2 Samuel 4:11 net — Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood fro…

NET Bible

"Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?”"

— 2 Samuel 4:11, NET Bible

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2 Samuel 4:11 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 4 — Context

8

They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king,“Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against Saul and his descendants!”

9

David replied to Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite,“As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered my life from all adversity,

10

when someone told me that Saul was dead– even though he thought he was bringing good news– I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him!

11

Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?”

12

So David issued orders to the soldiers and they put them to death. Then they cut off their hands and feet and hung them near the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

2 Samuel 4:11 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 4:11 say?
2 Samuel 4:11 in the NET Bible reads: “Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?””
Where is 2 Samuel 4:11 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 4:11 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 4, verse 11.
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 4:11.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 4:11 in?
2 Samuel 4:11 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 4:11?
2 Samuel 4:11 reads (NET): “Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?”” 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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