2 Samuel 19:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joab urges David to rise and reassure his servants, warning that otherwise everyone will abandon him by nightfall.
What Does 2 Samuel 19:7 Mean?
Joab moves from rebuke to command and counsel. He tells David to get up, go out, and speak kindly to his men. Then he swears a solemn oath that if the king refuses, not one soldier will remain by morning, a desertion worse than any disaster David has known since his youth.
Leadership often requires setting aside private feeling to tend to others. To speak comfortably is to speak to the heart, to reassure and steady those who look to you. The faithful need their leader's presence and word; withholding them risks losing everything. Sometimes the most loving act is simply to rise and show up for the people who depend on us.
2 Samuel 19:7 in the Original Language
nicham-related comfort here is dabar al-leb (דָּבַר עַל־לֵב), literally 'speak to the heart' -- to console and reassure tenderly.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 19:7
What does 2 Samuel 19:7 mean?
Joab urges David to rise and reassure his servants, warning that otherwise everyone will abandon him by nightfall.