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!”
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!”
- KJV 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!
- 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!”
- 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 her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
- 2 Sam 23:15–16David longed, and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
- Isa 12:3Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation.
- John 4:14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
- Ps 63:1A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
- Ps 143:6I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
- Ps 42:1–2For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.
- Num 11:4–5The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat 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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