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1 Chronicles 11:19

and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
1 Chronicles 11:19 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
  • BSB saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
  • NKJV And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.
  • NASB and he said, “Far be it from me before my God that I would do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For they brought it at the risk of their lives.” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
  • NLT “God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.

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 said he could not drink what was virtually the blood of men who risked their lives, so he poured it out. He honored their sacrifice by refusing to consume it selfishly.

Overview

David equates drinking the water with drinking the men's blood, since they jeopardized their lives to obtain it, and reverence forbade such a thing. His restraint shows a king who values his men's lives above his own comfort and devotes their costly gift to God. This regard for the preciousness of life poured out points toward the One whose blood was truly given, and who calls His own a costly, redeemed people.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • 2 Sam 23:17He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
  • Ps 72:14He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.
  • Judg 5:18Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
  • Rom 16:4who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles.
  • 1 Cor 15:30Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?
  • Mark 14:24He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many.
  • Job 31:31if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?’
  • 1 Kgs 21:3Naboth said to Ahab, “May Yahweh forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”
  • Rom 6:1–2What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
  • John 6:55For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
  • Judg 9:17(for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
  • 1 Sam 19:5for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”
  • Lev 17:10“‘Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

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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 11:19 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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