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!
Parallel translations
- WEB David longed, and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from 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 whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
- Isa 41:17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
- John 7:37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
- John 4:10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
- Ps 42:1–2As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
- Ps 63:1O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
- Isa 44:3For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
- Num 11:4–5And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
- Ps 119:81My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy 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
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