2 Samuel 3 29

2 Samuel 3:29 kjv

Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

2 Samuel 3:29 nkjv

Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father's house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."

2 Samuel 3:29 niv

May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab's family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."

2 Samuel 3:29 esv

May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!"

2 Samuel 3:29 nlt

Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!"

2 Samuel 3 verses

2 Samuel 3 29 Meaning

2 Samuel 3:29 expresses David's profound curse upon Joab and his entire household, invoking a multifaceted divine judgment for Joab's treacherous murder of Abner. It proclaims that the guilt for Abner's spilled blood will forever rest upon Joab and his descendants. Furthermore, it curses Joab's lineage with perpetual ritual impurity, severe physical infirmities, violent death, and economic destitution, ensuring they are marked by public shame and a diminished existence as a consequence of this heinous act. David makes this public declaration to distance himself from the murder, assert his own righteousness, and underscore the severe consequences of spilling innocent blood.

2 Samuel 3 29 Context

The events leading up to 2 Samuel 3:29 are critical. David has recently been anointed king over Judah (2 Sam 2:4) and is in a protracted civil war with the house of Saul, led by Abner, Saul's general, who has crowned Saul's son Ish-bosheth (2 Sam 2:8-9). As David's power grows, Abner, feeling disrespected by Ish-bosheth, decides to switch allegiance and bring all Israel to David. Abner makes a covenant with David, is received honorably, and promises to unite the nation under David (2 Sam 3:12-21).

However, upon Abner's departure, Joab, David's commander, returns from a raid and learns of Abner's visit. Consumed by rage and vengeance – Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel (2 Sam 2:23) – Joab tricks Abner into returning to Hebron and murders him there (2 Sam 3:26-27). This act is a blatant betrayal, an assassination in a sacred city, and a massive political blunder that threatened to undermine David's efforts to unite Israel. David vehemently denies any involvement in Abner's death (2 Sam 3:28) and publicly mourns Abner, commanding a full period of lamentation. He knows the people suspect him and wants to unequivocally declare his innocence. Thus, the curse on Joab's house serves as a powerful, public disavowal of Joab's act, aligning David with divine justice rather than human treachery and demonstrating his genuine grief and commitment to ethical kingship.

2 Samuel 3 29 Word analysis

• May the blood of Abner return on the head of Joab: This phrase, common in the ancient Near East, signifies that the guilt and consequences of shedding Abner's blood will fall directly upon Joab. It's an invocation of retributive justice, an ancient principle of "life for life, blood for blood," here expressed as a divine curse.
• and on all his father's house: This extends the curse beyond Joab himself to his entire lineage and family, demonstrating the corporate nature of Israelite society where the actions of a leading member could bring blessings or curses upon the entire clan. This ensures the disgrace and suffering are lasting.
• and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge:
  • discharge (Hebrew: zāv): Refers to an abnormal, usually chronic, bodily emission, such as from venereal disease or a persistent seminal flow. According to Lev 15:2-15, such a person was ritually impure, contaminating anything they touched and unable to participate in religious or public life. This part of the curse implies perpetual uncleanness, defilement, and social isolation.
• or who is a leper:
  • leper (Hebrew: mətsōrā’): Refers to someone afflicted with tzara'at, a severe and highly visible skin condition described in Lev 13-14. While not exclusively modern Hansen's disease, it carried extreme ritual impurity, social ostracism, and was often seen as a sign of divine judgment (e.g., Num 12:9-10 with Miriam). This part of the curse implies ongoing visible divine displeasure and forced social exclusion.
• or who leans on a staff: This phrase points to physical incapacitation and dependence. It signifies someone who is lame, crippled, or physically feeble, unable to move independently or perform tasks requiring strength. It denotes weakness, helplessness, and often poverty, making them unproductive members of society or the military. Some interpretations consider the Hebrew term pelech as a "spindle" and interpret it as someone "holding a spindle," implying an effeminate person or one unfit for warrior duties, relegated to a woman's task, thus symbolizing a loss of virility and strength within the household. However, the context of physical ailments supports the "leaning on a staff" meaning, indicating physical infirmity.
• or who falls by the sword: This means a death by violence, either in battle or through execution. It speaks to a destiny of conflict and perishing by violent means, perhaps reflecting Joab's own violent nature and actions. This indicates that their lineage will be perpetually at risk of bloody ends, dying without peace or honor.
• or who lacks bread!: This refers to destitution, hunger, and extreme poverty. It signifies an inability to sustain oneself, economic ruin, and social degradation. Coupled with the other curses, it paints a picture of a family plagued by every form of suffering and lacking basic necessities for survival.

2 Samuel 3 29 Bonus section

The severity and multi-faceted nature of David's curse on Joab's house underscore a key aspect of Old Testament corporate solidarity, where the sin of an individual, particularly one in a position of power or influence, could bring enduring consequences upon their entire family line. While later prophecy (e.g., Ezek 18) emphasizes individual responsibility, the immediate repercussions within family units remained a powerful reality, serving as both a deterrent and a testament to the pervasive nature of certain sins. This curse, therefore, also functions as a stark warning against arbitrary violence and disregard for justice, especially by those in positions of authority, affirming that even loyal service does not negate accountability for heinous acts. It paints a prophetic picture of sustained brokenness and perpetual disgrace, acting as a vivid narrative device to further legitimate David's kingship by showing his dedication to justice above personal gain or military convenience.

2 Samuel 3 29 Commentary

David's curse upon Joab's household in 2 Samuel 3:29 is a multifaceted, profound, and strategic pronouncement. The public nature of the curse, delivered after David tears his clothes and declares his own innocence (v. 28), serves to emphatically disassociate David from Joab's murderous act. David understood that to build a unified kingdom, his reign had to be seen as legitimate and founded on righteousness, not treachery. Abner's death, at Joab's hand, threatened to portray David as an orchestrator of deceit.

The curse itself is comprehensive, designed to strip Joab's lineage of every honor and comfort associated with a well-regarded family in ancient Israel. Ritual impurities like chronic discharge and leprosy would exclude individuals from the temple, community life, and even certain cities, branding them as permanently defiled. Physical infirmities like lameness symbolized weakness and divine displeasure. Violent death in a warrior society meant dishonor and instability. Lastly, "lacks bread" pointed to utter destitution and shame. These afflictions are not random; they systematically target the purity, health, strength, honor, and prosperity expected of a powerful, blessed household. By invoking such a comprehensive curse, David publicly submits Joab's offense to God's ultimate justice, demonstrating his dependence on God and his abhorrence of unrighteous bloodshed. This solemn declaration set a precedent for future royal justice and contributed to the narrative of David as a king after God's own heart, even while confronting the ruthless pragmatism of his loyal but flawed general, Joab. The effects of this curse are hinted at later in the history of Joab's descendants (e.g., in the lack of descendants for some lines, or implied by the eventual execution of Joab himself for other misdeeds in 1 Kings 2:28-34, where Solomon refers back to the "blood" on Joab's head).