2 Samuel 3 34

2 Samuel 3:34 kjv

Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

2 Samuel 3:34 nkjv

Your hands were not bound Nor your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell." Then all the people wept over him again.

2 Samuel 3:34 niv

Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked." And all the people wept over him again.

2 Samuel 3:34 esv

Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him.

2 Samuel 3:34 nlt

Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered ?
the victim of a wicked plot."
All the people wept again for Abner.

2 Samuel 3 verses

2 Samuel 3 34 Meaning

2 Samuel 3:34 conveys David's lament over Abner's unjust and treacherous death, emphasizing that Abner was killed defenselessly, not honorably in battle nor under rightful legal proceedings. Abner was unconstrained, neither bound nor fettered as a prisoner, yet he was ambushed and slain by an act of unrighteous wickedness, similar to how an innocent person might fall prey to evil-doers. This highlights the deceit and lack of justice surrounding Abner's assassination by Joab.

2 Samuel 3 34 Context

This verse is part of King David's public lament over the assassination of Abner, commander of Saul's army, who had recently sworn loyalty and was pivotal in bringing all of Israel under David's kingship. Abner had come to Hebron to establish the covenant with David. David had welcomed him, but Joab, David's own commander, in retaliation for Abner's killing of Joab's brother Asahel (2 Sam 2:18-23), and perhaps fearing Abner's rising influence, treacherously murdered him. The killing was a profound political and personal challenge for David, as it risked alienating those loyal to Abner and creating distrust in his new reign. David strongly condemned the act, cursed Joab and his house, and insisted on a public mourning to distance himself and his kingdom from the bloodguilt. David's words here emphasize Abner's unsuspecting and vulnerable state when he was killed, likening it to a helpless man falling to the wicked, not a warrior dying honorably in battle or a criminal facing execution after due process. This lament aimed to show David's disapproval, cleanse him from complicity, and consolidate support.

2 Samuel 3 34 Word analysis

• Your hands: Yadeykha (יָדֶ֙יךָ֙). Literally, "your two hands." This emphasizes personal, direct ability to resist. The hands represent strength and capacity for action or self-defense.
  • were not bound: lo-asuroth (לֹֽא־אֲסֻר֔וֹת). Meaning "not confined," "not tied up." This indicates Abner was not a prisoner, disarmed, or under any physical restraint by a lawful authority. His death was not an execution, nor a death in captivity. Significance: He was free and expected peace, yet was unable to defend himself from sudden betrayal.
• your feet: w'ragleka (וְרַגְלֶ֥יךָ). Literally, "and your two feet." Feet signify movement, freedom to escape, or ability to stand and fight.
  • were not fettered: lo-nezikim (לֹא־נְזִקִּֽים). Meaning "not shackled," "not bound with bronze chains." This further underscores his complete physical freedom and the unexpected nature of the attack. Significance: He was not being led to trial or punishment; his death was a surprise assault on an unguarded individual.
• as a man falls before the wicked: k'nafol lifney b'ney-awlah (כְּנָפֹ֤ל לִפְנֵי֙ בְּנֵי־עַוְלָ֔ה). This is a crucial phrase.
  • k'nafol: "as one falling," indicating the sudden, uncontrolled nature of a fall. It implies weakness or unexpected collapse.
  • lifney b'ney-awlah: "before sons of iniquity" or "before wicked men." B'ney-awlah refers to those who practice or embody deceit, perversity, or wickedness. It highlights the moral depravity of the act, distinguishing it from an act of war or a lawful execution. Significance: It explicitly condemns Joab's action as an act of treachery and unrighteousness, implying it was a sneak attack against an innocent, unprepared victim.
• so you fell: ken nafalta (כֵּ֥ן נָפַ֖לְתָּ). "Thus you fell." This stark, declarative statement confirms Abner's ultimate fate, linking it directly to the previous description of helpless downfall. Significance: The directness conveys the tragic finality of the unjust end, reiterating that his death was not honorable or righteous.

2 Samuel 3 34 Bonus section

The detailed description of Abner's defenselessness (unbound hands, unfettered feet) can be understood as a direct contrast to a legitimate execution or even death in battle. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, a truly dangerous or guilty individual would be bound, disarmed, or otherwise incapacitated before a judgment or execution. Abner, however, was in a peaceful, secure context when he was assassinated. This makes the "wicked" description particularly potent; it's an outright accusation of heinous sin, a violation of customary law and trust, rather than just an act of political convenience. David’s lament highlights that such acts, even for justifiable personal revenge (Asahel's death), are unrighteous if committed in treachery, reinforcing the Old Testament emphasis on just and ordered judicial processes rather than individual acts of hidden violence.

2 Samuel 3 34 Commentary

David's lament in 2 Samuel 3:34 is a poignant expression of profound injustice and political necessity. By emphasizing that Abner's hands were unbound and feet unfettered, David highlights the utterly treacherous nature of Joab's act. This was not a death in open battle, where warriors engage with readiness and skill. Nor was it a legitimate execution, where chains might signify legal arrest. Instead, Abner, a powerful commander, fell as one defenseless, "before the wicked," by the hand of one who should have been an ally or a just foe. David's public mourning and this lament served multiple purposes: expressing his true sorrow, distancing himself from Joab's vengeful act, assuaging the northern tribes who had just put their trust in Abner's negotiation with David, and reaffirming his commitment to righteous governance in the sight of God and Israel. It underscores that vengeance, when taken outside of God's prescribed boundaries or without justice, leads to innocent bloodshed and pollutes the land. David thus publicly purifies himself and his reign from this terrible deed.