2 Samuel 19:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →David appeals to Judah as his own kin, his bone and flesh, asking why they should be last to bring him home.
What Does 2 Samuel 19:12 Mean?
David's message to Judah turns on kinship. They are his brothers, his bone and his flesh, the tribe from which he sprang. The phrase recalls the language of deepest belonging in Scripture. He uses no threat, only the tender claim of shared blood, to draw his own people back to him.
The appeal of bone and flesh speaks of a bond meant to bind, not divide. David leads with relationship rather than reproach. So too the One who calls us is not ashamed to name us His own; He shares our flesh and calls us brethren. The nearness of kinship becomes the very ground on which reconciliation is sought.
2 Samuel 19:12 in the Original Language
etsem ubasar (עֶצֶם וּבָשָׂר), 'bone and flesh' -- a covenant idiom for the closest shared kinship and belonging.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 19:12
What does 2 Samuel 19:12 mean?
David appeals to Judah as his own kin, his bone and flesh, asking why they should be last to bring him home.