2 Samuel 15:21 kjv
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
2 Samuel 15:21 nkjv
But Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be."
2 Samuel 15:21 niv
But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be."
2 Samuel 15:21 esv
But Ittai answered the king, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be."
2 Samuel 15:21 nlt
But Ittai said to the king, "I vow by the LORD and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens ? whether it means life or death."
2 Samuel 15 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth 1:16-17 | "Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge... and there I will be buried." | Ruth's profound loyalty to Naomi |
| 1 Sam 20:41-42 | "David... weeping bitterly. And Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace...’" | Jonathan's deep covenant loyalty to David |
| Num 14:24 | "But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit... I will bring..." | Caleb's unwavering faithfulness to God |
| Matt 16:24 | "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross..." | The cost of following Christ; identification with suffering |
| Luke 9:23 | "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily..." | Daily commitment to discipleship |
| Phil 1:20-21 | "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." | Paul's ultimate allegiance to Christ, in life and death |
| 2 Tim 2:11-13 | "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him..." | Shared suffering and glory with Christ |
| Josh 24:15 | "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | Joshua's declaration of corporate loyalty |
| John 10:4 | "When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him..." | Christ as the Shepherd, disciples as followers |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant..." | God's unwavering faithfulness |
| Gen 24:2-3 | "And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household... 'Swear by the LORD...'" | Taking a solemn oath |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | "When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it... Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." | Importance of fulfilling vows |
| Josh 2:9-14 | "I know that the LORD has given you the land... for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath." | Rahab, a foreigner, expresses faith and loyalty |
| 2 Kgs 5:15-17 | "Then he returned to the man of God... 'There is no God in all the earth but in Israel...'" | Naaman, a foreigner, converts due to God's power |
| Matt 8:10 | "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith." | The Roman Centurion's great faith |
| Matt 27:32 | "As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross." | Foreigner helps bear the cross, shared burden |
| Mark 10:45 | "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life..." | Christ's example of ultimate service |
| 1 Cor 11:1 | "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." | Following exemplary leaders |
| Matt 25:21 | "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much...'" | Reward for faithfulness and service |
| 1 Sam 30:6 | "But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." | David's dependence on God in adversity |
| Rom 8:38-39 | "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." | The unbreakable bond of God's love and the believer's security |
| Psa 23:6 | "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." | David's confidence in God's sustained presence |
| Isa 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you..." | God's promise of presence and strength |
2 Samuel 15 verses
2 Samuel 15 21 Meaning
2 Samuel 15:21 profoundly illustrates Ittai the Gittite's unwavering and unconditional loyalty to King David amidst Absalom's rebellion. His solemn oath declares an absolute commitment to David, vowing to remain with him through any circumstance, whether prosperity or peril, life or death, aligning himself completely with the king's fate.
2 Samuel 15 21 Context
This verse is situated during Absalom's rebellion against King David. David has been forced to flee Jerusalem to save his life and avoid conflict within the city. As David leaves, many of his loyalists follow him. Among them is Ittai the Gittite, who is relatively new to David's service and originates from Gath, a Philistine city, historically an enemy territory of Israel. David questions Ittai's loyalty, urging him to return to Jerusalem and Absalom, recognizing Ittai's status as a foreigner and exile. Ittai's profound declaration in verse 21 serves as a pivotal response, highlighting deep devotion that transcends nationality or circumstance, contrasting sharply with the defection of other native Israelites.
2 Samuel 15 21 Word analysis
- And Ittai answered the king, and said,
- This is a direct, bold response to King David's suggestion for Ittai to return. It shows a resolute character and clear conviction.
- As the LORD liveth,
- Hebrew: חַי־יְהוָה ( chai-YHWH ) – Literally, "life of Yahweh."
- This is a common, solemn oath in the Old Testament, invoking God's very existence as guarantor of the truth of one's words. It places the declaration under divine sanction, signifying utmost sincerity and seriousness.
- and as my lord the king liveth,
- Hebrew: וְחֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲדֹנִי ( ve-chai ha-melech adoni ) – "And life of the king my lord."
- An additional oath, paralleling the oath by YHWH. This highlights profound respect and loyalty to David's personal sovereignty and destiny. The dual oath elevates the commitment beyond ordinary pledge.
- surely
- Hebrew: כִּי ( ki ) – A strong emphatic particle, translated as "certainly," "indeed," or "truly." It intensifies the certainty of Ittai's promise.
- in what place my lord the king shall be,
- This emphasizes a personal, geographical, and relational commitment. Ittai pledges to physically accompany David wherever David's fate might lead him.
- whether in death or life,
- Hebrew: אִם־בְּמָוֶת אִם־בְּחַיִּים ( im-be-mavet im-be-chayyim ) – "if in death, if in life."
- This is an absolute and unconditional statement of loyalty, covering the two most extreme possibilities. It conveys a complete willingness to share David's ultimate destiny, irrespective of the danger involved. It's a surrender of personal safety and future.
- even there also will thy servant be.
- Hebrew: שָׁם יִהְיֶה עַבְדֶּךָ ( sham yihyeh avdecha ) – "there shall your servant be."
- Reinforces the personal commitment, with Ittai identifying himself as David's "servant" (עֶבֶד - eved), a term of humble submission and devoted service. It reaffirms his resolute intent to stay with David, come what may.
- "As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely... whether in death or life..."
- This oath embodies the very essence of faithful devotion. It is an expression of deep fidelity, swearing by both divine authority and human leadership. It showcases a rare blend of reverence for God and loyalty to God's anointed leader, reflecting a complete understanding of the relationship. It's an affirmation that true loyalty is holistic and endures all trials.
2 Samuel 15 21 Bonus section
Ittai the Gittite, being a Philistine, embodies an unexpected form of allegiance. While David faced betrayal from his own son Absalom and counselor Ahithophel (an Israelite), Ittai, from a traditional enemy nation, pledged absolute fidelity. This highlights God's sovereignty in raising up faithful people from any background. His loyalty echoes the principle that spiritual devotion and faithfulness are not limited by national or ethnic identity. Ittai’s commitment prefigures the wider inclusion of Gentiles into God's family, as seen fully in the New Testament. His willingness to forsake his past ties and share the uncertain future of David—and by extension, the God of Israel—presents a vivid biblical type of costly discipleship, where followers are called to cling to their leader regardless of danger.
2 Samuel 15 21 Commentary
Ittai's declaration in 2 Samuel 15:21 stands as a powerful testament to unyielding loyalty and unconditional commitment, a shining example in a time of widespread betrayal. His dual oath, swearing by God and by David's life, signifies the highest degree of sincerity and obligation, akin to a covenantal pledge. What makes Ittai's loyalty particularly remarkable is his identity as a Gittite, a foreigner from Gath, previously an enemy city. His choice to stay with a king on the run, facing an uncertain and perilous future, demonstrates a profound bond built not on convenience or status, but on a deep personal conviction and genuine love for David and, implicitly, for the God David served. This verse challenges our understanding of fidelity, illustrating that true devotion transcends origins and is most clearly seen in times of adversity, embodying the self-sacrificial nature of true following.