David longed, and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
Parallel translations
- KJV And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
- BSB David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
- NKJV And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
- NASB And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!”
- NLT David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.”
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 expresses a longing for water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, near his enemy-held hometown.
Overview
David's wistful wish, likely not a command, reveals his homesickness and humanity. The episode becomes a lesson in costly devotion, as his men take his offhand longing as a call to risk everything, illustrating the kind of wholehearted love God's people are to have.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- John 4:14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
- Isa 41:17The poor and needy seek water, and there is none. Their tongue fails for thirst. I, Yahweh, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
- John 7:37Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
- John 4:10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
- Ps 42:1–2For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.
- Ps 63:1A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
- Isa 44:3For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring:
- Num 11:4–5The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
- Ps 119:81My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.
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 23:15 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.