2 Samuel 14:21
New International Version
The king said to Joab, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

New Living Translation
So the king sent for Joab and told him, “All right, go and bring back the young man Absalom.”

English Standard Version
Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

King James Bible
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

New King James Version
And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”

New American Standard Bible
Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I will certainly do this thing; go then, bring back the young man Absalom.”

NASB 1995
Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”

NASB 1977
Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have done this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Amplified Bible
Then the king said to Joab, “Listen, I will most certainly do this thing; now go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

American Standard Version
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.

Contemporary English Version
David turned to Joab and said, "It seems that I have already given my decision. Go and bring Absalom back."

English Revised Version
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the king told Joab, "This is what you'll do. Bring back the young man Absalom."

Good News Translation
Later on the king said to Joab, "I have decided to do what you want. Go and get the young man Absalom and bring him back here."

International Standard Version
Then the king addressed Joab, "Look! I'll do this thing that you've requested. Go bring back the young man Absalom."

Majority Standard Bible
Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

NET Bible
Then the king said to Joab, "All right! I will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom!

New Heart English Bible
Then the king said to Joab, "Look now, I have done according to your word. Go, bring back the young man Absalom."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

World English Bible
The king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, and bring the young man Absalom back.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king says to Joab, “Now behold, you have done this thing; and go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith unto Joab, 'Lo, I pray thee, thou hast done this thing; and go, bring back the young man Absalom.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will say to Joab, Behold now, I did this word: and go and turn back the boy Absalom.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to Joab: Behold I am appeased and have granted thy request: Go therefore and fetch back the boy Absalom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king said to Joab: “Behold, your word has succeeded in appeasing me. Therefore, go and call back the boy Absalom.”

New American Bible
Then the king said to Joab: “I am granting this request. Go and bring back young Absalom.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the king said to Joab, “Very well, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done as you have said; go therefore, bring me the young man Absalom again.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The King said to Yuab: “Behold, I have done according to what you have spoken. Go bring to me the boy Abishlum”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king said unto Joab: 'Behold now, I have granted this request; go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done to thee according to this thy word: go, bring back the young man Abessalom.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Absalom's Return to Jerusalem
20Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.” 21Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22Joab fell facedown in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “your servant knows that he has found favor with you, my lord the king, because the king has granted his request.”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 13:39
And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.

2 Samuel 19:8-10
So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home. / And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom. / But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

1 Kings 2:33-34
Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.” / So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.

1 Kings 1:32-34
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. / “Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. / There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

1 Kings 2:5-6
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. / So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Kings 2:8-9
Keep an eye on Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim who is with you. He called down bitter curses against me on the day I went to Mahanaim, but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: ‘I will never put you to the sword.’ / Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”

Genesis 45:9-11
Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. / You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. / And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

Genesis 50:17-21
‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. / His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” / But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ...

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

Luke 15:20-24
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. / The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ / But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ...

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

John 8:11
“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

Acts 7:60
Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Romans 12:19-21
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” / On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Treasury of Scripture

And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

I have done

2 Samuel 14:11
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

1 Samuel 14:39
For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

Mark 6:26
And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

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2 Samuel 14
1. Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah to incline the king's heart to fetch Absalom,
21. brings him home to Jerusalem
25. Absalom's beauty, hair, and children
28. After two years, Absalom is brought into the king's presence by Joab














Then the king said
This phrase introduces the response of King David, a central figure in the narrative of 2 Samuel. The Hebrew word for "king" is "melek," which signifies not only a ruler but one who is divinely appointed. David's kingship is a fulfillment of God's promise and covenant, highlighting his role as a shepherd of Israel. His words carry the weight of authority and divine responsibility, reflecting the gravity of his decisions.

to Joab
Joab, the son of Zeruiah, is a key military commander under David. His name in Hebrew, "Yo'av," means "Yahweh is father," indicating a heritage of faith. Joab's role is complex; he is both a loyal servant and a man of action, often taking matters into his own hands. His involvement in this narrative underscores the political and familial tensions within David's reign.

I hereby grant this request
The phrase signifies David's decision to act upon Joab's counsel. The Hebrew root for "grant" is "nathan," meaning to give or bestow. This act of granting is not merely a passive allowance but an active decision that reflects David's willingness to reconcile with his estranged son. It is a moment of grace and mercy, echoing the divine forgiveness that God extends to His people.

Go, bring back
This command is a directive for action. The Hebrew verb "shuv" for "bring back" also means to return or restore. It is a powerful word often used in the context of repentance and restoration. David's command to bring Absalom back is not just a physical return but a symbolic act of restoring broken relationships and healing familial rifts.

the young man Absalom
Absalom, whose name means "father of peace" in Hebrew, is a figure of both beauty and tragedy. His youth is emphasized here, reminding readers of the potential and promise that has been marred by rebellion and conflict. Absalom's account is a cautionary tale of pride and ambition, yet David's desire to bring him back reflects the enduring hope for redemption and reconciliation.

(21) I have done.--This is the Hebrew text; the margin has thou hast done. The former is simply a form of granting Joab's request; the latter would convey an implied censure on Joab's stratagem, although in the next clause there is a compliance with his wish.

Verse 21. - I have done this thing. This is an Oriental form of assent, just as we say in English, "It is done," that is, as good as done, now that the order is given. A few manuscripts, nevertheless, support a Mas-soretic emendation (K'ri), namely, "Thou hast done this: go therefore," etc. But both the Septuagint and Vulgate agree with the written text (K'tib), and it is less flat and commonplace than the supposed emendation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the king
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

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

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Joab,
יוֹאָ֔ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

“I hereby grant
עָשִׂ֖יתִי (‘ā·śî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

request.
הַדָּבָ֣ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

Go,
וְלֵ֛ךְ (wə·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

bring back
הָשֵׁ֥ב (hā·šêḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

the young man
הַנַּ֖עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

Absalom.”
אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites


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OT History: 2 Samuel 14:21 The king said to Joab Behold now (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 14:20
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