And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”
- KJV Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
- NKJV Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”
- NASB Moreover, Absalom would say, “Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!”
- NLT I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”
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
Absalom wishes aloud that he were judge so everyone could get justice from him. He openly courts the people's loyalty by promising what David supposedly withholds.
Overview
By lamenting that he holds no judicial office, Absalom presents himself as the answer to the people's frustrations. His promise of impartial justice is a hollow pretext masking raw ambition for power. The appeal is seductive because it dresses self-interest in the language of fairness, a tactic David's true heir, Christ, reverses by genuinely securing justice and righteousness for his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Judg 9:29If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
- Luke 14:8–11“When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.
- 2 Pet 2:19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
- Prov 27:2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
- Prov 25:6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
- Judg 9:1–5Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 15:4 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.