2 Samuel 15:19 Meaning and Explanation
“Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David urges Ittai the Gittite to turn back and spare himself, since he is a foreigner and an exile with no obligation to share David's danger.
What Does 2 Samuel 15:19 Mean?
David turns to Ittai, the leader of the Gittites, and urges him to go back. Why should Ittai share this hardship? He is a foreigner and himself an exile, newly come, with no debt of loyalty that should bind him to a fleeing king. David selflessly releases him to find safety.
Here is the generosity of a true leader, who will not drag others into his own suffering. David thinks of Ittai's welfare even in his own distress, unwilling to spend another man's life for his cause. Such love refuses to use people. It points toward the King who never compels but invites, and who bears His own cross rather than lay it upon the unwilling.
2 Samuel 15:19 in the Original Language
ger (גֵּר), 'stranger' -- a resident foreigner living among Israel, as Ittai was a newcomer from Gath.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 15:19
What does 2 Samuel 15:19 mean?
David urges Ittai the Gittite to turn back and spare himself, since he is a foreigner and an exile with no obligation to share David's danger.