And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So 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.
- BSB Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And 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 14:19And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:
- Exod 4:15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
- Isa 59:21As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
- Deut 18:18I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
- Num 23:5And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
- Isa 51:16And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
- Jer 1:9Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
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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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