saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
- KJV And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
- NKJV And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.
- NASB and he said, “Far be it from me, Lord, that I would do this! Should I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
- NLT “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.
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 refused to drink the water, calling it the blood of men who risked their lives, and poured it out before the LORD.
Overview
By naming the water "the blood of the men," David honors their sacrifice as belonging to God alone. His restraint models humble leadership that values others' lives above personal desire, and foreshadows how the New Testament treats blood poured out in sacrifice as sacred, supremely the blood of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Lev 17:10If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people.
- Ps 72:14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.
- 1 Sam 2:30Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
- 1 Sam 26:11But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”
- John 6:52–54At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
- Judg 5:18Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.
- Matt 26:28This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Gen 9:4But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
- 1 Cor 15:30And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
- Mark 14:24He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
- Gen 44:17But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
- 2 Sam 20:20“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!
- 1 Kgs 21:3But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
- 1 Chr 11:19saying, “Far be it from me, my God, to do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they had brought it at the risk of their lives, David refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
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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 23:17 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.