2 Samuel 14:20
2 Samuel 14:20 in Multiple Translations
Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”
To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
This he did, hoping that the face of this business might be changed: and my lord is wise, with the wisdom of the angel of God, having knowledge of everything on earth.
He did so to show the other side of the situation, but Your Majesty is as wise as an angel of God, and you know everything that happens in this country.”
For to the intent that I should chage the forme of speach, thy seruant Ioab hath done this thing: but my lord is wise according to the wisdome of an Angel of God to vnderstande all things that are in the earth.
in order to bring round the appearance of the thing hath thy servant Joab done this thing, and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of a messenger of God, to know all that [is] in the land.'
Your servant Joab has done this thing to change the face of the matter. My lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.”
To bring about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth.
That I should come about with this form of speech, thy servant Joab, commanded this: but thou, my lord, O king, art wise, according to the wisdom of ail angel of God, to understand all things upon earth.
He did it in order to cause you to think differently about this matter. Your Majesty, you are as wise as God’s angels, and it seems that you know everything that happens on the earth, so you know why Joab sent me here.”
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 14:20
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2 Samuel 14:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Samuel 14:20
Study Notes — 2 Samuel 14:20
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Samuel 14:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 14:20
- Sermons on 2 Samuel 14:20
Context — Absalom’s Return to Jerusalem
20Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”
21Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22Joab fell facedown in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his request.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 14:17 | And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’” |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 19:27 | and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes. |
| 3 | Job 32:21–22 | I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man. For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 5:23 | So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. |
| 5 | 1 Corinthians 8:1–2 | Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. |
| 6 | Proverbs 29:5 | A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. |
| 7 | Job 38:16–41 | Have you journeyed to the vents of the sea or walked in the trenches of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you surveyed the extent of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this. Where is the way to the home of light? Do you know where darkness resides, so you can lead it back to its border? Do you know the paths to its home? Surely you know, for you were already born! And the number of your days is great! Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle? In which direction is the lightning dispersed, or the east wind scattered over the earth? Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives, to satisfy the parched wasteland and make it sprout with tender grass? Does the rain have a father? Who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb does the ice emerge? Who gives birth to the frost from heaven, when the waters become hard as stone and the surface of the deep is frozen? Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear and her cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth? Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you? Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’? Who has put wisdom in the heart or given understanding to the mind? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Or who can tilt the water jars of the heavens when the dust hardens into a mass and the clods of earth stick together? Can you hunt the prey for a lioness or satisfy the hunger of young lions when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket? Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food? |
| 8 | Proverbs 26:28 | A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin. |
| 9 | Genesis 3:5 | “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” |
2 Samuel 14:20 Summary
[In 2 Samuel 14:20, the woman praises the king's wisdom, comparing it to the wisdom of the angel of God, showing that he has the ability to understand and discern situations, much like Solomon in 1 Kings 3:12. This wisdom allows him to make informed decisions, like granting Joab's request to bring back Absalom, as seen in 2 Samuel 14:21. The woman's statement highlights the importance of seeking wisdom and guidance from God, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6. By acknowledging and respecting the king's wisdom, the woman demonstrates humility and trust in his leadership.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the woman's statement about the king's wisdom in 2 Samuel 14:20?
The woman's statement highlights the king's exceptional wisdom, comparing it to the wisdom of the angel of God, emphasizing his ability to discern and understand the circumstances, as seen in 1 Kings 3:12 where God grants Solomon wisdom.
Why does the woman attribute the change of affairs to Joab in 2 Samuel 14:20?
The woman attributes the change of affairs to Joab because he is the one who instructed her on what to say to the king, as mentioned in 2 Samuel 14:19, showing Joab's influence and involvement in the situation.
What does the woman mean by saying the king has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God?
The woman means that the king has extraordinary wisdom, similar to that of heavenly beings, enabling him to understand and judge situations accurately, as seen in Psalm 119:99-100 where the psalmist acknowledges God's wisdom and understanding.
How does this verse relate to the overall story of Absalom's return?
This verse is crucial in the story of Absalom's return as it sets the stage for the king's decision to allow Absalom to come back, as seen in 2 Samuel 14:21, demonstrating the king's wisdom and Joab's influence in the matter.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can acknowledge and respect the wisdom and authority of those in leadership positions, just like the woman in 2 Samuel 14:20?
- How can I, like the king, cultivate wisdom and discernment in my own life, and what role does prayer and seeking God's guidance play in this process?
- In what ways can I be like Joab, using my influence and position to bring about positive change and reconciliation, as seen in his efforts to restore Absalom to the king?
- What are some situations in my life where I need to seek wisdom and guidance, and how can I, like the woman, acknowledge and trust in God's sovereignty and wisdom?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 14:20
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 14:20
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:20
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:20
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:20
Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 14:20
Sermons on 2 Samuel 14:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Clergy: From God or Man? by Stan Thompson | Stan Thompson challenges the traditional clergy-laity system by emphasizing the importance of following God's Word over man-made traditions and denominational teachings. He highlig |
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(Grace Baptist) Wait on the Lord by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of David and his battle with the Philistines. Instead of repeating the same strategy as before, God instructs David to stand by the |
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Brokenness by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of God breaking us in order to use us effectively. He uses the example of Jacob being broken for twenty years in his father-in |
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Christian Ethics by Paris Reidhead | Paris Reidhead addresses the complexities of Christian ethics in a culture rife with idolatry, particularly in Corinth, where meat offered to idols posed a dilemma for believers. H |
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The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our minds. He lists seven or eight things that we should avoid in order to cultivate a love for God. Th |
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Church Life Revisited- 1 Corinthians 13 by Ron Bailey | This sermon focuses on Paul's criteria for what is useful in the church, emphasizing the importance of edification and building up the covenant community. Paul's key question throu |
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The Danger of Loving a Theological System More Than the Savior by Daniel L. Akin | In this sermon, Danny Akin addresses the issue of extreme Calvinism and its negative impact on believers. He emphasizes the importance of loving Jesus and his church above any theo |







