2 Samuel 23:7
 2 Samuel 23:7 
New International Version (©2011)
Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie."

New Living Translation (©2007)
One must use iron tools to chop them down; they will be totally consumed by fire."

English Standard Version (©2001)
but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But the man who touches them Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they will be completely burned with fire in their place."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
The man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear. They will be completely burned up on the spot.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Whoever handles them wears heavy duty clothing, carries strong tools, and burns them to ashes on the spot!

NET Bible (©2006)
The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
A person who touches them uses iron [tools] or the shaft of a spear. Fire will burn them up completely wherever they are."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But the man that shall touch them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

American King James Version
But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

American Standard Version
But the man that toucheth them Must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear: And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to nothing.

Darby Bible Translation
And the man that will touch them provideth himself with iron and the staff of a spear; And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

English Revised Version
But the man that toucheth them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

World English Bible
But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."

Young's Literal Translation
And the man who cometh against them Is filled with iron and the staff of a spear, And with fire they are utterly burnt In the cessation.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-7 These words of David are very worthy of regard. Let those who have had long experience of God's goodness, and the pleasantness of heavenly wisdom, when they come to finish their course, bear their testimony to the truth of the promise. David avows his Divine inspiration, that the Spirit of God spake by him. He, and other holy men, spake and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. In many things he had his own neglect and wrong conduct to blame. But David comforted himself that the Lord had made with him an everlasting covenant. By this he principally intended the covenant of mercy and peace, which the Lord made with him as a sinner, who believed in the promised Saviour, who embraced the promised blessing, who yielded up himself to the Lord, to be his redeemed servant. Believers shall for ever enjoy covenant blessings; and God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, shall be for ever glorified in their salvation. Thus pardon, righteousness, grace, and eternal life, are secured as the gift of God through Jesus Christ. There is an infinite fulness of grace and all blessings treasured up in Christ, for those who seek his salvation. This covenant was all David's salvation, he so well knew the holy law of God and the extent of his own sinfulness, that he perceived what was needful for his own case in this salvation. It was therefore all his desire. In comparison, all earthly objects lost their attractions; he was willing to give them up, or to die and leave them, that he might enjoy full happiness, Ps 73:24-28. Still the power of evil, and the weakness of his faith, hope, and love, were his grief and burden. Doubtless he would have allowed that his own slackness and want of care were the cause; but the hope that he should soon be made perfect in glory, encouraged him in his dying moments.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear,.... To remove these thorns, or sons of Belial, out of the way, or to defend himself against them; or weapons of war must be made use of to conquer and destroy them, according to the sense of Ben Gersom, and which De Dieu follows; a man that meddles with them must expect to be as much hurt and wounded by them, all over the body, as if not only the point or iron head of a spear, but the wood or handle of the spear, were thrust up in him; but the former sense seems best:

and they shall be utterly burnt with fire in the same place: where the thorns grew, or whither they are removed, or are sitting; where persons are sitting to warm themselves by them: and this may be understood of the destruction of wicked rulers, when their kingdom is taken from them, and they are consumed root and branch; and was true not only of Saul, and his posterity, as some apply it, and of Jeroboam, and those like to him, as the above Jewish writer; but of the wicked Jews, and their rulers, those sons of Belial, who rejected the yoke of Christ, and would not have him to rule over them; to whom the Lord sent the Roman armies fenced with swords and spears, and burnt their city, and destroyed them in the same place; and may take in antichrist, and antichristian states, those sons of Belial, of the wicked and lawless one, the son of perdition, whose city, Rome, shall be burnt with fire; and even all wicked men, at the great day of judgment, to which the Targum refers these words; when they, whose end, like thorns, is to be burnt, will be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.


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David's Last Song
5Although my house be not so with God; yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. 6But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

Matthew 3:10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"
Hebrews 6:8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Isaiah 33:12 The peoples will be burned to ashes; like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze."
Ezekiel 2:6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.