Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
- KJV Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
- NKJV Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
- NASB Now then, let your hands be strong and be valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
- NLT Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”
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 urges them to be strong and valiant, noting Judah has anointed him king. He gently invites their allegiance.
Overview
With Saul dead, David encourages the men of Jabesh Gilead to courage and informs them of his anointing over Judah. He does not coerce but appeals to them, leaving room for their loyalty to grow. This patient, non-coercive approach contrasts with the political maneuvering that follows under Abner and points to a kingship grounded in trust rather than force.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- 2 Sam 10:12Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
- 1 Sam 31:12all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
- Gen 15:1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
- 1 Sam 4:9Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
- 1 Cor 16:13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- 1 Sam 31:7When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.
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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 2:7 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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