Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Go in to the king, and speak like this to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
- KJV And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
- NKJV Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
- NASB Then go to the king and speak to him in this way.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
- NLT Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you.” Then Joab told her what to say.
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
Joab tells the woman exactly what to say, putting the words in her mouth. The whole appeal is his contrivance, delivered through her.
Overview
By scripting her speech, Joab orchestrates a persuasive scenario to lead David toward recalling Absalom. The method echoes Nathan's earlier use of a story to expose David's heart, though Joab's aim is political reconciliation rather than prophetic rebuke. The verse highlights Joab's role as the hidden author of the drama about to unfold before the king.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Sam 14:19So 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.
- Exod 4:15You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do.
- Isa 59:21“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.
- Deut 18:18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
- Num 23:5Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”
- Isa 51:16I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
- Jer 1:9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 14:3 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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