New International Version For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.” New Living Translation I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.” English Standard Version For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” Berean Standard Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” Berean Literal Bible For I your servant know that I have sinned. And behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king.” King James Bible For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. New King James Version For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” New American Standard Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned; so behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” NASB 1995 “For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” NASB 1977 “For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” Legacy Standard Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” Amplified Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” Berean Annotated Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph (YHWH has added) to come down to meet my lord the king. Christian Standard Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” Holman Christian Standard Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” American Standard Version For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. Contemporary English Version I know I was wrong. That's why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you." English Revised Version For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. GOD'S WORD® Translation I know I've sinned. Today I've come as the first of all the house of Joseph to meet you." Good News Translation I know, sir, that I have sinned, and this is why I am the first one from the northern tribes to come and meet Your Majesty today." International Standard Version because your servant knows that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first one from the entire house of Joseph to meet your majesty the king." NET Bible For I, your servant, know that I sinned, and I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king." New Heart English Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, look, I have come today the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king." Webster's Bible Translation For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore behold, I have come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” World English Bible For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore behold, I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor your servant has known that I have sinned; and behold, I have come today, first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king.” Berean Literal Bible For I your servant know that I have sinned. And behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king.” Young's Literal Translation for thy servant hath known that I have sinned; and lo, I have come to-day, first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king.' Smith's Literal Translation For thy servant knew that I sinned: and behold, I came this day the first for all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor I thy servant acknowledge my sin: and therefore I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph, and am come down to meet my lord the king. Catholic Public Domain Version For as your servant, I acknowledge my sin. And for this reason, today, I arrive as the first from all the house of Joseph, and I descend to meet my lord the king.” New American Bible For your servant knows that I have done wrong. But I now am the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down today to meet my lord the king.” New Revised Standard Version For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, see, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor your servant does know that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated I, your Servant, know that I have sinned and, behold, I have come today, I have preceded all of the house of Yoseph and I came down to meet my Lord the King!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For thy servant doth know that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.' Brenton Septuagint Translation For thy servant knows that I have sinned: and, behold, I am come to-day before all Israel and the house of Joseph, to go down and meet my lord the king. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Shimei Pardoned…19and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. 20For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 21But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”… Cross References For your servant knows that I have sinned, 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!” 2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 1 Samuel 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. so here I am today 1 Samuel 3:4 Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. Genesis 22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. as the first of all the house of Joseph 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. / And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph. Obadiah 1:18 Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble—Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” For the LORD has spoken. Genesis 48:19-20 But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” / So that day Jacob blessed them and said: “By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim before Manasseh. to come down to meet my lord the king.” 1 Kings 2:19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand. 1 Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him. 1 Kings 1:31 Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” 1 Kings 1:51-52 It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’” / And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” Genesis 50:17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. Exodus 10:17 Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.” 1 Samuel 24:17-19 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. / And you have declared this day how you have treated me well, for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. / When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day. Treasury of Scripture For your servant does know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. I am come Psalm 78:34-37 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God… Jeremiah 22:23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail! Hosea 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Joseph 2 Samuel 19:9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 2 Samuel 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. Genesis 48:14,20 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn… Jump to Previous Conscious First House Joseph Meet Purpose Servant Sin Sinned Today To-Day WholeJump to Next Conscious First House Joseph Meet Purpose Servant Sin Sinned Today To-Day Whole2 Samuel 19 1. Joab causes the king to cease his mourning9. The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back 11. David sends to the priest to incite them of Judah 18. Shimei is pardoned 24. Mephibosheth excused 32. Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family 41. The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them For your servant knows that I have sinned, Shimei openly admits his offense against David, whom he had cursed during Absalom’s rebellion. Having supported David’s humiliation, he now seeks mercy from the king he wronged. 1Sa 26:21 Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son.… so here I am today With David returning to Jerusalem after Absalom’s defeat, Shimei acts quickly to seek pardon before judgment falls upon him. 1Sa 3:4 Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered… as the first of all the house of Joseph Though Shimei was a Benjaminite from the house of Saul, he comes with the northern tribes in recognizing David’s restored rule. His early arrival publicly signals submission to David. 1Ch 5:1-2 These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel.… to come down to meet my lord the king.” Shimei approaches David as the rightful king, abandoning the defiance he showed when David fled Jerusalem. 1Ki 2:19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him… Persons / Places / Events 1. ShimeiA member of the house of Saul who previously cursed King David but now seeks forgiveness. 2. David The King of Israel, returning to Jerusalem after Absalom's rebellion. 3. House of Joseph Represents the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, indicating a broader representation of Israel. 4. Absalom's Rebellion A significant event where David's son Absalom attempted to overthrow his father, leading to David's temporary exile. 5. Jordan River The location where David is met by Shimei and others as he returns to Jerusalem. Teaching Points Acknowledgment of SinShimei's confession highlights the importance of recognizing and admitting our wrongdoings. Seeking Forgiveness Approaching those we have wronged is a crucial step in the process of reconciliation. The Role of Mercy David's response to Shimei exemplifies the power of mercy and grace in leadership and personal relationships. Reconciliation and Unity The return of David and the meeting with Shimei symbolize the restoration of unity within the nation. God's Sovereignty in Restoration Trust in God's plan for restoration and healing, even after significant conflict or sin. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 19:20?2. How does 2 Samuel 19:20 demonstrate the importance of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation? 3. What can we learn from Shimei's acknowledgment of sin in 2 Samuel 19:20? 4. How does Shimei's plea connect with Jesus' teachings on forgiveness in Matthew 6:14-15? 5. In what ways can we apply Shimei's humility to our own repentance process? 6. How does David's response in 2 Samuel 19:20 reflect God's mercy towards us? 7. How does 2 Samuel 19:20 demonstrate the theme of forgiveness in the Bible? 8. What historical context surrounds Shimei's plea for forgiveness in 2 Samuel 19:20? 9. How does David's response in 2 Samuel 19:20 reflect God's mercy? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 19? (20) The house of Joseph.--Shimei was not strictly of "the house of Joseph," but of Benjamin; and it is plain that Joseph, as the name of the most prominent member, stands for all the tribes outside of Judah. This usage is well recognised at a later time (see 1Chronicles 5:1-2; Amos 5:15), and it has hence been argued that it indicates a late date for the composition of the book; but it is also found in Psalm 80:1-2; Psalm 81:5 (the date of which it would be rash to attempt to fix), in the reign of Solomon, 1Kings 11:28, and probably very early in Judges 1:35. There is no reason why the expression may not have been used at the earliest date when there began to be a certain separation and distinction between Judah and the other tribes, which was soon after the conquest of Canaan. . . . Verse 20. - The first.., of all the house of Joseph. Shimei, who was a Benjamite, could not have thus claimed to be the representative of the northern tribes, had he remained on the western bank, where "half the people of Israel" were assembled. Strictly, "the house of Joseph" signified the tribe of Ephraim (Judges 1:22, 35; and comp. Psalm 78:67), and in this sense Shimei did not belong to it. But Ephraim claimed a supremacy over all Israel; and one cause of the opposition to David certainly was the transference of the leadership to the tribe of Judah. Even the long reign of Solomon failed to weld the tribes together, and as soon as the reins of power fell into the weak hands of Rehobeam, an Ephraimite. Jeroboam, whom Solomon had made "ruler ever all the charge of the house of Joseph" (1 Kings 11:28), quickly wrested the ten tribes from him. In Amos 5:6 "the house of Joseph" signifies all the northern tribes, for the reason given in 1 Chronicles 5:1, 2; and such is its sense here. And Shimei compressed many powerful arguments in the phrase. For as a Benjamite he offered David the allegiance of the tribe which had given Israel its first king; while, as an Israelite, he professed also to represent the leading house of Ephraim, and all the northern tribes which usually followed its bidding. Shimei’s single sentence moves step-by-step from confession (“I have sinned”) to urgent action (“here I am today”), to exemplary leadership (“first of the house of Joseph”), and finally to surrendered allegiance (“to meet my lord the king”). The verse showcases the heart of repentance: honest admission, immediate approach, influential example, and humble submission to the rightful king—foreshadowing how every sinner must come to Christ for full, royal forgiveness. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּ֚י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction your servant עַבְדְּךָ֔ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant knows יָדַ֣ע (yā·ḏa‘) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3045: To know that כִּ֖י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I have sinned, חָטָ֑אתִי (ḥā·ṭā·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn so here I am וְהִנֵּֽה־ (wə·hin·nêh-) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! today הַיּ֗וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day as the first רִאשׁוֹן֙ (ri·šō·wn) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank of all לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the house בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of Joseph יוֹסֵ֔ף (yō·w·sêp̄) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites to come down לָרֶ֕דֶת (lā·re·ḏeṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend to meet לִקְרַ֖את (liq·raṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way my lord אֲדֹנִ֥י (’ă·ḏō·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller the king.” הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king Additonal Resources 2 Samuel 19:20 Blue Letter Bible2 Samuel 19:20 Bible Gateway 2 Samuel 19:20 Bible.com 2 Samuel 19:20 NIV |
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