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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- 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 23:17And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
- Ps 72:14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
- Judg 5:18Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
- Rom 16:4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
- 1 Cor 15:30And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
- Mark 14:24And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
- Job 31:31If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
- 1 Kgs 21:3And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
- Rom 6:1–2What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
- John 6:55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
- Judg 9:17(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
- 1 Sam 19:5For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
- Lev 17:10And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth 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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