2 Samuel 4:11 Meaning and Explanation
“How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David reasons that if that earlier killer deserved death, far more do these men who murdered an innocent man in his bed.
What Does 2 Samuel 4:11 Mean?
David moves from the lesser case to the greater. If the man at Ziklag deserved death, how much more these two, who slew a defenseless, righteous man in his own home upon his bed. He declares he will require Ishbosheth's blood from their hands and remove them from the earth.
David calls Ishbosheth righteous not because he was a perfect king but because he was innocent of any crime worthy of such a death. To shed innocent blood is a thing God Himself avenges. The King after God's own heart shows that true authority defends the helpless and answers murder with justice, never with reward.
2 Samuel 4:11 in the Original Language
The murdered king is called a 'righteous' (צַדִּיק, tsaddiq) person -- innocent and undeserving of the violence done to him, whose blood God will requite.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 4:11
What does 2 Samuel 4:11 mean?
David reasons that if that earlier killer deserved death, far more do these men who murdered an innocent man in his bed.