King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
Complete Jewish Bible:
You are my kinsmen, my flesh and bone; so why are you the last to bring back the king?'
Berean Standard Bible:
You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’
American Standard Version:
Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye are my brethren{H251}, ye are my bones{H6106} and my flesh{H1320}: wherefore then are ye the last{H314} to bring back{H7725} the king{H4428}?
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Samuel 5:1
- ¶ Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh.
Ephesians 5:30
- For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Genesis 2:23
- And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Judges 9:2
- Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether [is] better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, [which are] threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I [am] your bone and your flesh.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Samuel 19:12
2 Samuel 19:12 is a part of the narrative that follows the tragic events surrounding King David's son, Absalom, who led a rebellion against his father, causing David to flee Jerusalem. The verse is spoken by David after Absalom's defeat and death, as the king is making his way back to reclaim his throne. In this context, David is addressing the people of Judah, who have delayed in supporting his return to power.
The verse reflects the deep familial and tribal bonds that were central to the social and political fabric of ancient Israel. David emphasizes his kinship with the people of Judah, calling them his "brethren," and even more intimately, his "bones and flesh." This language underscores the personal and communal relationships that were expected to translate into political loyalty.
The historical context of 2 Samuel 19:12 is the tension between the tribe of Judah, to which David belonged, and the other tribes of Israel. David's question, "wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?" expresses his disappointment and confusion over the lack of immediate support from his own tribe. It also highlights the complexity of political allegiances during this period, as the people had to navigate between their loyalty to a king and the practical considerations of power shifts.
The themes present in this verse include loyalty, kinship, leadership, and the expectation that familial ties should naturally lead to political support. David's words serve as a rebuke to the tribe of Judah for not leading the effort to restore him to the throne of Israel, and they also reveal the vulnerability of a king who, despite his power, relies on the support of his people to maintain his rule. This verse captures a moment of fragile transition, as well as the emotional and political intricacies involved in the restoration of a monarch in the face of rebellion and civil strife.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H251
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָח
Transliteration: ʼâch
Pronunciation: awkh
Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. - Strong's Number: H6106
There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶצֶם
Transliteration: ʻetsem
Pronunciation: eh'tsem
Description: from עָצַם; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame; body, bone, [idiom] life, (self-) same, strength, [idiom] very. - Strong's Number: H1320
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשָׂר
Transliteration: bâsâr
Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. - Strong's Number: H314
There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחֲרוֹן
Transliteration: ʼachărôwn
Pronunciation: akh-ar-one'
Description: or (shortened) אַחֲרֹן; from אָחַר; hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western; after (-ward), to come, following, hind(-er, -ermost, -most), last, latter, rereward, ut(ter) most. - Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.