2 Samuel 2:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Abner proposes that young men from each side come forward to fight as a contest, and Joab agrees.
What Does 2 Samuel 2:14 Mean?
Abner calls across to Joab, proposing that the young men rise and 'play' before them, a grim euphemism for armed combat staged as a contest between picked champions. Joab agrees. What is framed as sport is in truth a deadly trial meant to settle, or to ignite, the larger conflict.
Calling bloodshed 'play' is the language by which violence dresses itself as something less than it is. The lightness of the word hides the weight of what follows. Scripture is honest about how easily men make a game of one another's lives. The reader is meant to feel the chill beneath the casual phrase and to grieve the cheapening of what God has made precious.
2 Samuel 2:14 in the Original Language
sachaq (שָׂחַק), 'play' -- to laugh, sport, or make merry; here a bitterly ironic name for mortal combat.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 2:14
What does 2 Samuel 2:14 mean?
Abner proposes that young men from each side come forward to fight as a contest, and Joab agrees.