2 Samuel 16:19
New International Version
Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

New Living Translation
“And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!”

English Standard Version
And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

Berean Standard Bible
Furthermore, whom should I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”

King James Bible
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

New King James Version
Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

New American Standard Bible
Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.”

NASB 1995
“Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

NASB 1977
“And besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

Amplified Bible
Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of David’s son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall serve in your presence.”

Christian Standard Bible
Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, I will also serve in yours.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, I will also serve in yours.”

American Standard Version
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

Contemporary English Version
Besides, it seems right for me to serve you, just as I served your father."

English Revised Version
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
And besides, whom should I serve? Shouldn't it be his son? As I served your father, so I'll serve you."

Good News Translation
After all, whom should I serve, if not my master's son? As I served your father, so now I will serve you."

International Standard Version
Besides, who else should I be serving? Why not the son? The same way I served your father, I'll serve you."

Majority Standard Bible
Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”

NET Bible
Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you."

New Heart English Bible
Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."

Webster's Bible Translation
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

World English Bible
Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and secondly, for whom do I labor? Is it not before his son? As I served before your father, so I am before you.”

Young's Literal Translation
and secondly, for whom do I labour? is it not before his son? as I served before thy father so am I before thee.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the second time, to whom shall I serve if not before the son? as I served before thy father so will I be before thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Besides this, whom shall I serve? is it not the king's son? as I have served thy father, so will I serve thee also.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But then too, I declare this: whom should I serve? Is it not the son of the king? Just as I have been subject to your father, so will I be subject to you also.”

New American Bible
Furthermore, as I was in attendance upon your father, so will I be before you. Whom should I serve, if not his son?”

New Revised Standard Version
Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I have served your father, so I will serve you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And again, whom should I serve? I have no choice. As I have served in your father's presence, so will I serve before you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And for the second time, whose Servant am I? I have not had anything in my hands, even as when I served before your father. Thus I shall serve before you”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And again, whom shall I serve? should I not in the presence of his son? As I served in the sight of thy father, so will I be in thy presence.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai
18“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.” 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”…

Cross References
2 Samuel 15:34
But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

1 Kings 1:27
Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

1 Kings 1:19
And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.

1 Kings 1:25
For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

1 Kings 1:7-8
So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. / But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

1 Kings 2:15
“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

1 Kings 2:13
Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied.

1 Chronicles 12:17
And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.”

1 Chronicles 12:38
All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.

1 Chronicles 29:24
All the officials and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.

Matthew 26:15
and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:49
Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

Matthew 27:3-4
When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. / “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence.

should I not serve

2 Samuel 15:34
But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

1 Samuel 28:2
And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

1 Samuel 29:8
And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

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Besides Father's Furthermore Labour Presence Secondly Servant Serve Served Shouldn't
2 Samuel 16
1. Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master's inheritance
5. At Bahurim, Shimei curses David
9. David with patience abstains, and restrains others, from revenge
15. Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom's counsel
20. Ahithophel's counsel














Furthermore
This word serves as a continuation of a previous thought, indicating that the speaker is building upon an argument or rationale. In the context of 2 Samuel 16, this is part of Hushai's dialogue with Absalom. The Hebrew word used here is "וְגַם" (vegam), which often implies an addition or reinforcement. It suggests that Hushai is not merely making a casual statement but is reinforcing his loyalty to Absalom, which is crucial in the narrative as he is actually a spy for David.

whom should I serve
This phrase is a rhetorical question that implies the inevitability or obviousness of the choice. The Hebrew root "עָבַד" (avad) means to serve or work, often used in the context of servitude or worship. Hushai's question is designed to affirm his loyalty to the reigning king, which in this case, Absalom claims to be. It reflects the cultural and historical context of loyalty to the king as a divine mandate.

if not the son?
Here, "the son" refers to Absalom, the son of King David. The Hebrew word "בֵּן" (ben) is used, which simply means son. This phrase underscores the dynastic principle that the son of a king is the natural successor. In the historical context of ancient Israel, the legitimacy of a king was often tied to his lineage, and Hushai is appealing to this principle to justify his supposed allegiance to Absalom.

As I served in your father’s presence
This phrase highlights Hushai's past loyalty to King David. The Hebrew word for "served" is again "עָבַד" (avad), emphasizing continuity in service. "In your father’s presence" suggests a personal and direct service to David, indicating trust and intimacy in his previous role. This historical context is significant because it sets up the tension in the narrative—Hushai's loyalty is actually to David, despite his words to Absalom.

so also I will serve in your presence
This concluding phrase mirrors the previous one, creating a parallel structure that reinforces Hushai's claim of loyalty. The repetition of "serve" (עָבַד, avad) and "presence" (פָּנִים, panim) is a rhetorical device that emphasizes consistency and reliability. In the narrative, this statement is part of Hushai's strategy to gain Absalom's trust while secretly working for David. It reflects the complex political and personal dynamics at play in the story.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Furthermore,
וְהַשֵּׁנִ֗ית (wə·haš·šê·nîṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular
Strong's 8145: Second (an ordinal number)

whom
לְמִי֙ (lə·mî)
Preposition-l | Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

should I
אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

serve
אֶֽעֱבֹ֔ד (’e·‘ĕ·ḇōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

if not
הֲל֖וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the son?
בְנ֑וֹ (ḇə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

As
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I served
עָבַ֙דְתִּי֙ (‘ā·ḇaḏ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

in your father’s
אָבִ֔יךָ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

presence,
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

so also
כֵּ֖ן (kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

I will serve
אֶהְיֶ֥ה (’eh·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

in yours.”
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT History: 2 Samuel 16:19 Again whom should I serve? Shouldn't (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 16:18
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