And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
Parallel translations
- WEB David longed, and said, “Oh that one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
- BSB David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
- NKJV And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
- NASB And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
- NLT David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David longed aloud for water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate. His homesick wish sets the stage for his men's daring devotion.
Overview
David voices a deep yearning for water from his hometown well, perhaps recalling childhood or simply expressing weariness in war. The wish is not a command, yet his men take it as one. This moment reveals the affection David inspired and prepares for a striking act of self-sacrifice and David's worshipful response.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 4:10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
- 2 Sam 23:15–16And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
- Isa 12:3Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
- John 4:14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
- Ps 63:1O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
- Ps 143:6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
- Ps 42:1–2As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
- Num 11:4–5And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
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Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 11:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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