2 Samuel 11:8
New International Version
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him.

New Living Translation
Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.

English Standard Version
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king.

Berean Standard Bible
Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

King James Bible
And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

New King James Version
And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.

New American Standard Bible
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the king’s house, and a gift from the king was sent after him.

NASB 1995
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and a present from the king was sent out after him.

NASB 1977
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and a present from the king was sent out after him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and a present from the king went out after him.

Amplified Bible
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet (spend time at home).” Uriah left the king’s palace, and a gift from the king was sent out after him.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

American Standard Version
And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of food from the king.

Contemporary English Version
Then David told Uriah, "Go home and clean up." Uriah left the king's palace, and David had dinner sent to Uriah's house.

English Revised Version
And David said to Uriah, Go down thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Go home," David said to Uriah, "and wash your feet." Uriah left the royal palace, and the king sent a present to him.

Good News Translation
Then he said to Uriah, "Go on home and rest a while." Uriah left, and David had a present sent to his home.

International Standard Version
Then David told Uriah, "Go on down to your house and relax a while." So Uriah left the king's palace, and the king sent a gift along after him.

Majority Standard Bible
Then he said to Uriah, ?Go down to your house and wash your feet.? So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

NET Bible
Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your home and relax." When Uriah left the palace, the king sent a gift to him.

New Heart English Bible
And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house, and wash your feet." So Uriah went out from the presence of the king, and a gift from the king was sent after him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

World English Bible
David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and a gift from the king was sent after him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David says to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet”; and Uriah goes out of the king’s house, and there goes out a gift from the king after him,

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith to Uriah, 'Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet;' and Uriah goeth out of the king's house, and there goeth out after him a gift from the king,

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will say to Uriah, Go down to thy house and wash thy feet And Uriah will go forth from the house of the king and a loan of the king will go forth after him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said to Urias: Go into thy house, and wash thy feet. And Urias went out from the king's house, and there went out after him a mess of meat from the king.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And David said to Uriah, “Go into your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah departed from the house of the king. And a meal from the king followed after him.

New American Bible
David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the king’s house, and a portion from the king’s table was sent after him.

New Revised Standard Version
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then David said to Uriah, Go down to your house and wash your feet. And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David said to Uriah: “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out from the house of the King, and a gift of the King went out after him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David said to Uriah: 'Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet.' And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of food from the king.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to Urias, Go to thy house, and wash thy feet: and Urias departed from the house of the king, and a portion of meat from the king followed him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David and Bathsheba
7When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing with the war. 8Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. 9But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.…

Cross References
Genesis 38:17-20
“I will send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah answered. But she replied, “Only if you leave me something as a pledge until you send it.” / “What pledge should I give you?” he asked. She answered, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. / Then Tamar got up and departed. And she removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments again. ...

Ruth 3:3-4
Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. / When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.”

1 Samuel 18:25-27
Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. / When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, / David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

1 Kings 21:8-10
Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. / In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. / But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

Esther 6:6-11
Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king be delighted to honor more than me?” / And Haman told the king, “For the man whom the king is delighted to honor, / have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one with a royal crest placed on its head. ...

Proverbs 7:16-18
I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt. / I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon. / Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!

Isaiah 22:12-13
On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth. / But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Jeremiah 5:7-8
“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes. / They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

Hosea 4:10-11
They will eat but not be satisfied; they will be promiscuous but not multiply. For they have abandoned the LORD to give themselves / to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.

Amos 6:4-6
You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. / You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments. / You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

Matthew 14:3-4
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, / because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Mark 6:17-18
For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. / For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

Luke 22:3-6
Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. / And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ...

John 13:27-30
And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” / But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him. / Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

go down

Psalm 44:21
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Isaiah 29:15
Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Luke 12:2
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

wash

Genesis 18:4
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Genesis 19:2
And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Psalm 55:21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

a mess

Genesis 43:34
And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

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2 Samuel 11
1. While Joab besieges Rabbah, David commits adultery with Bathsheba
6. Uriah, sent for by David to cover the adultery, would not go home.
14. He carries to Joab the letter of his death
18. Joab sends the news thereof to David
26. David takes Bathsheba as his wife














Then he said to Uriah
This phrase introduces a pivotal moment in the narrative. David, the king of Israel, is speaking to Uriah, one of his mighty men. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies not just speaking but commanding or instructing, indicating David's authority. Historically, Uriah is a Hittite, yet he is fully integrated into Israel's military, showcasing the inclusivity of David's reign and the loyalty of his men. This moment is laden with irony, as David's intentions are not as noble as they appear.

Go down to your house
The phrase "go down" (יָרַד, yarad) in Hebrew often implies a descent, both physically and metaphorically. David's instruction for Uriah to return home is a strategic move to cover his own sin with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife. The house, in ancient Israelite culture, was not just a physical structure but a symbol of family and legacy. David's command is an attempt to manipulate Uriah's familial duties for his own purposes.

and wash your feet
In the ancient Near East, washing one's feet was a common practice for comfort and hospitality, especially after a journey. The Hebrew word for "wash" (רָחַץ, rachats) suggests purification and rest. David's suggestion is ostensibly an act of kindness, encouraging Uriah to relax and enjoy the comforts of home. However, it is also a subtle attempt to ensure Uriah spends the night with Bathsheba, thus concealing David's adultery.

So Uriah left the palace
Uriah's departure from the palace (בַּיִת, bayit) signifies his obedience and loyalty. The palace, a symbol of royal authority and power, contrasts with Uriah's humble and dutiful character. This moment highlights Uriah's integrity, as he follows the king's orders without question, unaware of the underlying deceit.

and a gift from the king followed him
The "gift" (מַשָּׂא, massa) represents David's attempt to curry favor and ensure Uriah's compliance. In the cultural context, gifts from a king were signs of honor and favor, yet here it is a tool of manipulation. The Hebrew root can also imply a burden, reflecting the moral weight of David's actions. This gift, intended to sweeten Uriah's return home, underscores the tragic irony of the situation, as Uriah's loyalty and honor stand in stark contrast to David's duplicity.

(8) A mess of meat.--Lit. a present. The same word is used in Genesis 43:34, and no doubt refers to some choice dish sent by the king to the guest whom he wished to honour.

Verse 8. - A mess (of meat); really, a royal present (see Esther 2:18; Jeremiah 40:5; Amos 5:11, where it is translated burdens of wheat, but really means presents of wheat, forced from the poor); though originally a portion of food sent to a guest from the table of the giver of a feast (Genesis 43:34). Uriah, as one of David's thirty-seven heroes, would hold a high rank in the army, though the statement given by Josephus, that he was Joab's armour bearer, is probably a mere conjecture, made with the view of explaining what seemed to him strange, that a foreigner should hold so distinguished a place among the captains of Israel. David sends for him, on the pretext that he wanted full information of Joab's plans, and the state of the army, and the progress of the siege of Rabbah. And so prompt is Uriah, that he goes to the king still soiled with travel, and without calling at his house. And David makes his inquiries, listens with apparent interest to the narrative of the war, and, after receiving a full report, bids Uriah go home and rest and refresh himself after the journey. He sends him, moreover, a present, such probably as was usual after special service, but large and liberal, so as to put Uriah in good humour. But the old soldier cared for war more than for pleasure, and, instead of going to his house, spent the night in the guard room with the soldiers and others who were in attendance upon the king (see 1 Kings 14:27, 28). All would be eager for news of friends and relatives, and it was a far greater delight to Uriah to chat with his old comrades than to be resting luxuriously in his own home.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then [he]
דָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Uriah,
לְא֣וּרִיָּ֔ה (lə·’ū·rî·yāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 223: Uriah -- 'flame of Yah', the name of a Hittite and of two Israelites

“Go down
רֵ֥ד (rêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to your house
לְבֵיתְךָ֖ (lə·ḇê·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and wash
וּרְחַ֣ץ (ū·rə·ḥaṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7364: To wash, wash off or away, bathe

your feet.”
רַגְלֶ֑יךָ (raḡ·le·ḵā)
Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

So Uriah
אֽוּרִיָּה֙ (’ū·rî·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 223: Uriah -- 'flame of Yah', the name of a Hittite and of two Israelites

left
וַיֵּצֵ֤א (way·yê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

the palace,
מִבֵּ֣ית (mib·bêṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

and a gift
מַשְׂאַ֥ת (maś·’aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4864: A raising, rising, an utterance, a beacon, a present

from the king
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

followed
וַתֵּצֵ֥א (wat·tê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

him.
אַחֲרָ֖יו (’a·ḥă·rāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part


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OT History: 2 Samuel 11:8 David said to Uriah Go down (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 11:7
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