King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Barzillai said to the king, "How much longer can I live, that I should go up with the king to Yerushalayim?
Berean Standard Bible:
But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
American Standard Version:
And Barzillai said unto the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Barzillai{H1271} said{H559} unto the king{H4428}, How long{H3117} have I to live{H8141}{H2416}, that I should go up{H5927} with the king{H4428} unto Jerusalem{H3389}?
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Corinthians 7:29
- But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
James 4:14
- Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Psalms 39:5
- Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. Selah.
Psalms 39:6
- Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Job 14:14
- If a man die, shall he live [again]? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Genesis 47:8
- And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old [art] thou?
Genesis 47:9
- And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage [are] an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Samuel 19:34
2 Samuel 19:34 captures a moment during the aftermath of Absalom's rebellion against King David. The verse specifically highlights the interaction between King David and Barzillai the Gileadite, a wealthy elder who had provided support to David during his flight from Absalom. As David prepares to return to Jerusalem to reclaim his throne, he invites Barzillai to accompany him, promising to provide for him in the capital.
In this verse, Barzillai respectfully declines the king's invitation, using the poignant question, "How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?" His response reflects a realistic acceptance of his own advanced age and impending mortality. Barzillai recognizes that his days are numbered and that the journey and the change of life that would come with moving to Jerusalem would be of little benefit to him at this stage. He also implies that he would rather spend his remaining days in his own familiar surroundings.
The themes present in this verse include loyalty, as Barzillai has previously demonstrated his allegiance to David; humility, as Barzillai does not seek to capitalize on his past generosity; wisdom, as he understands the limitations of his age; and the gratitude of a king for the support he has received, even from those outside his immediate circle of power. The historical context is set during a period of transition as David seeks to restore his reign and regain the trust and loyalty of his subjects following a tumultuous civil conflict. Barzillai's character and words offer a glimpse into the societal values of hospitality, respect for elders, and the reciprocal relationships between rulers and their subjects in ancient Israelite society.
*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: H1271
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּרְזִלַּי
Transliteration: Barzillay
Pronunciation: bar-zil-lah'-ee
Description: from בַּרְזֶל; iron-hearted; Barzillai, the name of three Israelites; Barzillai. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - 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. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H2416
There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַי
Transliteration: chay
Pronunciation: khah'-ee
Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H3389
There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem.