2 Samuel 19:21 Meaning and Explanation
“But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Abishai protests that Shimei deserves death for having cursed the LORD's anointed king.
What Does 2 Samuel 19:21 Mean?
Abishai, David's nephew and a fierce warrior, objects to any leniency. He argues that Shimei must die for cursing the LORD's anointed, the king set apart by God. By the strict measure of the law and royal honor, Abishai's demand for justice is not unreasonable; Shimei's offense was real and grave.
Justice rightly recoils at the dishonoring of God's anointed. Yet the day of the king's return is meant to be a day of mercy, not retribution. The tension here is ancient: what is deserved against what is given. Into this clash steps a grace that does not deny the wrong but chooses to spare, foreshadowing the mercy offered to all who have offended the King.
2 Samuel 19:21 in the Original Language
mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), 'anointed' -- the one set apart with oil for God's service; the root behind the title Messiah.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 19:21
What does 2 Samuel 19:21 mean?
Abishai protests that Shimei deserves death for having cursed the LORD's anointed king.