2 Samuel 20 9

2 Samuel 20:9 kjv

And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20:9 nkjv

Then Joab said to Amasa, "Are you in health, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20:9 niv

Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20:9 esv

And Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20:9 nlt

"How are you, my cousin?" Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 9 Meaning

2 Samuel 20:9 depicts a moment of profound betrayal where Joab, under the guise of a familiar greeting and an affectionate gesture, incapacitates Amasa with the intention of murdering him. The verse sets the scene for a calculated assassination, revealing the deep-seated ruthlessness and deceptive nature of Joab's character. The "peace" greeting and the gesture of taking by the beard (ostensibly to kiss) serve as a deliberate misdirection to lower Amasa's guard, paving the way for the fatal blow in the subsequent verse.

2 Samuel 20 9 Context

This verse occurs amidst a tumultuous period in David's reign. After Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15-18), David is attempting to consolidate his kingdom. Amasa, formerly Absalom's general, was pardoned by David and even appointed commander of Israel's army in Joab's place (2 Sam 19:13), much to Joab's personal and professional offense. Joab, David's experienced but ruthless commander, now viewed Amasa as a direct rival and a threat to his authority. Sheba's rebellion (2 Sam 20:1-2) provides the immediate setting: David commissions Amasa to suppress it, but Amasa's slow response leads David to send Joab with his own men (2 Sam 20:6-7). This puts Joab in direct pursuit of Amasa. Joab's encounter with Amasa in this verse is a deliberate ambush, hidden beneath a feigned cordiality, aimed at eliminating a rival and reasserting his dominant position within David's army. The act in verse 9 sets up the murder of Amasa in verse 10.

2 Samuel 20 9 Word analysis

• "Then Joab said to Amasa": Establishes the direct interaction and the specific individuals involved in this significant moment. It immediately focuses on the dynamic between the experienced but ousted general and the newly appointed, less effective, replacement.
• "“Is it well with you, my brother?”" (Hebrew: Ha-shalom lĕ·kā, ’ā·ḥî? - "Is there peace to you, my brother?")
  • "Is it well with you?" (Ha-shalom): This is a common Hebrew greeting of peace and well-being. Here, it is laden with deep irony, as Joab's true intent is violent harm. It serves as a classic example of dissimulation and treachery, making the impending act even more heinous by cloaking it in apparent good will.
  • "my brother" ('ā·ḥî): Joab and Amasa were cousins, making this address both familiar and kin-based. Using such a term of endearment, particularly right before a murderous act, signifies a profound level of calculated betrayal. It intensifies the shock and depravity of Joab's action, echoing other instances of "brother against brother" violence in the Bible.
• "And Joab took Amasa": Describes the immediate, decisive action. The transition from words to physical action signals the imminent threat.
• "by the beard" (Hebrew: bā·zzā·qān - "in the beard" or "by the beard"):
  • "beard" (zaqan): In ancient Near Eastern culture, the beard was a significant symbol of masculinity, honor, dignity, and authority. Grasping someone's beard was typically a gesture of extreme insult, subjugation, or aggression, especially in combat to gain control. While in rare cases it could be a sign of great affection or deference, in this context, coupled with the previous "peace" greeting and Joab's character, it's clearly a method of physical incapacitation and control disguised as affection. It allowed Joab to fix Amasa's head and neck, exposing his torso.
• "with his right hand" (Hebrew: bî·mî·nōw - "with his right hand"): This detail highlights the intentionality and precision of Joab's move. The right hand was generally associated with strength, action, and in many contexts, blessing or greeting. Here, the use of the right hand for this ostensibly affectionate, yet sinister, grab underscores the deep perversion of trust.
• "to kiss him" (Hebrew: lĕ·naš·šê·qōw - "to kiss him"): The stated intention. This verbal action makes the deceit complete. A kiss, normally a sign of affection, reconciliation, or greeting among men in ancient Israel, becomes the ultimate veil for murder. This detail powerfully anticipates the archetype of the "kiss of betrayal" exemplified most notably by Judas Iscariot. It further demonstrates Joab's cunning—using social conventions as a weapon.

Words-group analysis

• "Is it well with you, my brother?... to kiss him": This entire sequence of speech and physical action embodies the epitome of deception. It portrays a feigned cordiality and intimacy designed to disarm the victim completely, revealing a cold, calculating, and ruthless intent beneath a veneer of brotherhood and peace. The juxtaposition of peaceful words and affectionate gestures with lethal intent is central to the verse's chilling power.
• "took Amasa by the beard with his right hand": This phrase details the physical maneuver used to secure Amasa and leave him vulnerable. It's a precisely executed action—not a clumsy attack, but a strategic hold—demonstrating Joab's skill as a warrior and his calculated methodology in assassination. It allowed him to bring the dawning blade unseen into play, illustrating Joab’s strategic and murderous mind at work.

2 Samuel 20 9 Bonus section

• Joab's Pattern: This incident is not an isolated event but fits Joab's established pattern of eliminating rivals or perceived threats. His previous assassination of Abner (2 Sam 3:27), also accomplished through deceit and feigned cordiality, solidifies his character as one who takes matters into his own hands and operates outside legal or ethical boundaries, even David's explicit commands.
• Anticipating the Kiss of Betrayal: While not a direct prophecy, Joab's kiss of betrayal against Amasa strikingly prefigures Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus (Matt 26:49). Both instances involve a gesture of affection used to identify and facilitate the harm of an innocent, or at least a defenseless, party. This prefiguration demonstrates a timeless human propensity for using the sacred and intimate as tools for deception and violence.
• The Contrast of Shalom: The use of "Shalom" (peace) by Joab is the epitome of dramatic irony. In biblical thought, 'Shalom' encompasses completeness, welfare, harmony, and prosperity. Its utterance immediately preceding a murderous act underscores the moral chaos and profound brokenness within the human heart apart from divine principles.

2 Samuel 20 9 Commentary

2 Samuel 20:9 captures a chilling moment of premeditated treachery, characteristic of Joab's ruthless pragmatism and David's tumultuous court. The verse highlights Joab's deceptive skill: using the veneer of kinship ("my brother"), a customary greeting of well-being ("Is it well with you?"), and an ostensibly affectionate gesture (grasping the beard to kiss) to incapacitate and disarm his target. This calculated act was not merely a betrayal of trust but a cynical perversion of social customs to achieve a violent end. It solidifies Joab's reputation as a man driven by ambition and a readiness to eliminate any perceived rival or threat to his power, irrespective of familial ties or societal norms, ultimately leading to Amasa's murder in the next verse. This incident serves as a biblical archetype for the "kiss of betrayal," underscoring the destructive potential of hypocrisy and masked malevolence.