2 Samuel 3:25
New International Version
You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

New Living Translation
You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!”

English Standard Version
You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

Berean Standard Bible
Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

King James Bible
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

New King James Version
Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

New American Standard Bible
You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”

NASB 1995
“You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing.”

NASB 1977
“You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn of your going out and coming in, and to find out all that you are doing.”

Legacy Standard Bible
You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to know of your going out and your coming in and to know all that you are doing.”

Amplified Bible
You know Abner the son of Ner, that he [only] came to deceive you [with flattering words] and to learn of your going out and coming in, and to find out what you are doing.”

Christian Standard Bible
You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your military activities and everything you’re doing.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your activities and everything you’re doing.”

American Standard Version
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

Contemporary English Version
You know Abner--he came to trick you. He wants to find out how strong your army is and to know everything you're doing."

English Revised Version
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Certainly you must know that Ner's son Abner came to deceive you, to find out about your movements and learn everything you're doing!"

Good News Translation
He came here to deceive you and to find out everything you do and everywhere you go. Surely you know that!"

International Standard Version
You know Ner's son Abner came to mislead you, to learn your troop movements, and to learn everything you're doing!"

Majority Standard Bible
Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

NET Bible
You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!"

New Heart English Bible
Don’t you know the evil ways of Abner the son of Ner? He came to deceive you and to observe your movements and to learn everything that you are doing."

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going-out and thy coming-in, and to know all that thou doest.

World English Bible
You know Abner the son of Ner. He came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You have known Abner son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

Young's Literal Translation
Thou hast known Abner son of Ner, that to deceive thee he came, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou knewest Abner son of Ner, for to deceive thee he came, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all which thou doest.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner, that to this end he came to thee, that he might deceive thee, and to know thy going out, and thy coming in, and to know all thou dost?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do you not know, about Abner, the son of Ner, that he came to you for this, so that he might deceive you, and might know of your departure and your return, and so that he might know all that you do?”

New American Bible
Don’t you know Abner? He came to trick you, to learn your comings and goings, to learn everything you do.”

New Revised Standard Version
You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do you not know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in and to know all that you are doing?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do you not know that Abnir, son of Nir, has come to trick you and to know your exit and your entrance and to know everything that you do?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Knowest thou not the mischief of Abenner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all things that thou doest?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joab Murders Abner
24So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! 25Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” 26As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 15:10-12
Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’” / Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. / While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

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 2:32-33
The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. / 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.”

1 Samuel 29:4
But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

2 Samuel 20:9-10
“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him. / Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 14:19
So the king asked, “Is the hand of Joab behind all this?” The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave me orders; he told your maidservant exactly what to say.

1 Samuel 26:19
Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

1 Samuel 24:9
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?

2 Samuel 19:22
And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

2 Samuel 16:21-23
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” / So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. / Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

1 Samuel 18:21-25
“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.” / Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’” / But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.” ...

1 Samuel 23:9-12
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” / And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. / Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. ...

1 Samuel 22:8
Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

1 Samuel 18:17
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

1 Samuel 20:30-33
Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? / For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!” / “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?” ...


Treasury of Scripture

You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.

that he came

2 Samuel 3:27
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

2 Kings 18:32
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.

John 7:12,47
And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people…

and to know

2 Samuel 10:3
And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

Genesis 42:9,12,16
And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come…

Numbers 27:17
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

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2 Samuel 3
1. During the war David becomes stronger
2. Six sons are born to him in Hebron
6. Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth
7. revolts to David
13. David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal
17. Abner confers with the Israelites, feasted by David, and dismissed
22. Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner
28. David curses Joab
31. and mourns for Abner














Surely you realize
This phrase suggests a call to awareness and discernment. In the Hebrew text, the word often translated as "surely" is "הֲלֹא" (halo), which implies a rhetorical question expecting affirmation. It is a reminder of the need for vigilance and wisdom, especially in leadership. The context here is a warning against naivety, urging the listener to be perceptive about the intentions of others.

Abner son of Ner
Abner, whose name means "father of light," was a prominent military leader and the cousin of King Saul. His lineage, "son of Ner," is significant as it ties him to the royal family, emphasizing his influence and authority. Historically, Abner was a key figure in the power dynamics of Israel, and his actions had significant political implications. Understanding his background helps us appreciate the gravity of his interactions with David.

came to deceive you
The Hebrew root for "deceive" is "רָמָה" (ramah), which means to betray or mislead. This highlights the theme of deception and the potential for betrayal in political and personal relationships. In the biblical narrative, deception often leads to conflict and strife, reminding believers of the importance of integrity and truthfulness.

and to observe your movements
The phrase "observe your movements" suggests espionage or surveillance. The Hebrew word "לָדַעַת" (lada'at) means "to know" or "to learn," indicating a deliberate effort to gather intelligence. This reflects the strategic nature of Abner's visit, as he sought to understand David's plans and strengths. It underscores the need for wisdom and caution in dealing with those who may have ulterior motives.

and to find out everything you are doing
This phrase emphasizes the thoroughness of Abner's intentions. The Hebrew "לָדַעַת" (lada'at) is repeated, reinforcing the idea of seeking comprehensive knowledge. In a broader biblical context, this serves as a warning about the dangers of being too open or transparent with those who may not have one's best interests at heart. It calls for discernment and the prudent sharing of information.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Surely you realize
יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ (yā·ḏa‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Abner
אַבְנֵ֣ר (’aḇ·nêr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ner
נֵ֔ר (nêr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5369: Ner -- father of Abner, also the father of Kish

came
בָּ֑א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to deceive you
לְפַתֹּתְךָ֖ (lə·p̄at·tō·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6601: To open, be, roomy, to be, simple, delude

and to track
וְלָדַ֜עַת (wə·lā·ḏa·‘aṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3045: To know

your movements
מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֙ (mō·w·ṣā·’ă·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4161: A place or act of going forth, issue, export, source, spring

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you are
אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

doing.”
עֹשֶֽׂה׃ (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT History: 2 Samuel 3:25 You know Abner the son of Ner (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 3:24
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