2 Samuel 19:23
New International Version
So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.

New Living Translation
Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.”

English Standard Version
And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.

Berean Standard Bible
So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

King James Bible
Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

New King James Version
Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

New American Standard Bible
So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” The king also swore to him.

NASB 1995
The king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him.

NASB 1977
And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him.

Amplified Bible
Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not be put to death.” And so the king gave him his promise.

Christian Standard Bible
So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” Then the king gave him his oath.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” Then the king gave him his oath.

American Standard Version
And the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

Contemporary English Version
Then David promised Shimei that he would not be killed.

English Revised Version
And the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king promised Shimei, "You won't die," and the king swore to it.

Good News Translation
And he said to Shimei, "I give you my word that you will not be put to death."

International Standard Version
Then the king addressed Shimei, "You won't die!" affirming his promise with an oath.

Majority Standard Bible
So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

NET Bible
The king said to Shimei, "You won't die." The king vowed an oath concerning this.

New Heart English Bible
Then the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king gave him his oath.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore the king said to Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king swore to him.

World English Bible
The king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” The king swore to him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king says to Shimei, “You do not die”; and the king swears to him.

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith unto Shimei, 'Thou dost not die;' and the king sweareth to him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will say to Shimei, Thou shalt not die: and the king will swear to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to Semei: Thou shalt not die. And he swore unto him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And he swore to him.

New American Bible
Then the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.

New Revised Standard Version
The king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the king said to Shimei. You shall not die. And the king swore to him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The King said to Shemei: “Surely, you shall not die!” And the King swore to him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king said unto Shimei: 'Thou shalt not die.' And the king swore unto him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king said to Semei, Thou shalt not die: and the king swore to him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Shimei Pardoned
22And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?” 23So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

Cross References
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

Mark 11:25
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”

Luke 17:3-4
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. / Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Proverbs 19:11
A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Genesis 50:17-21
‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. / His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” / But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ...

Exodus 34:6-7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Numbers 14:18
‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’

Psalm 103:8-12
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. ...

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore the king said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore to him.

Thou shalt

1 Kings 2:8,9,37,46
And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword…

sware

1 Samuel 28:10
And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

1 Samuel 30:15
And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

Hebrews 6:16
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

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2 Samuel 19
1. Joab causes the king to cease his mourning
9. The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back
11. David sends to the priest to incite them of Judah
18. Shimei is pardoned
24. Mephibosheth excused
32. Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family
41. The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them














So the king said
This phrase introduces King David, a central figure in the narrative. The Hebrew word for "king" is "melek," which signifies not just a ruler but one who is divinely appointed. David's kingship is a fulfillment of God's promise and reflects his role as a shepherd of Israel. His words carry authority and divine responsibility, emphasizing the weight of his decisions and pronouncements.

to Shimei
Shimei, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, previously cursed David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 16:5-13). His name means "renowned" or "famous," which is ironic given his earlier actions. Shimei's presence in this verse highlights themes of repentance and forgiveness, as he seeks mercy from David. Historically, this interaction underscores the tensions between the house of Saul and David's reign.

You shall not die
David's declaration of life over death is significant. The Hebrew phrase "lo tamut" is a direct assurance of safety and pardon. This act of mercy reflects David's heart after God, who is described as "merciful and gracious" (Exodus 34:6). It also illustrates the biblical principle of forgiveness, a precursor to the New Testament teachings of grace and redemption through Christ.

And the king swore an oath
The act of swearing an oath in ancient Israel was a solemn and binding commitment. The Hebrew word "shaba" implies a deep, covenantal promise. David's oath to Shimei is not just a personal promise but a public declaration of his intent to uphold justice and mercy. This reflects the biblical theme of covenant faithfulness, mirroring God's unwavering promises to His people.

to him
The personal nature of this phrase emphasizes the relational aspect of David's kingship. It is not just a political maneuver but a personal act of reconciliation. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects God's personal relationship with His people, where each individual is known and valued. David's interaction with Shimei serves as a reminder of the personal nature of God's grace and the call to extend that grace to others.

(23) The king sware unto him.--This oath of David assuring immunity to Shimei brings to mind his dying charge to Solomon concerning him (1Kings 2:8-9): "His hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood." The whole transaction is to be viewed from a political point. Shimei had been guilty of high treason in David's distress; at his return he had confessed his fault, and exerted himself to help on David's restoration to the throne. He had accordingly been pardoned, and David, somewhat rashly, had confirmed this pardon with an oath, in such a way that he was unable to punish any subsequent treasonable tendencies showing themselves in Shimei. From the character of the man, however, and from Solomon's address to him in 1Kings 2:44, it is plain that he remained thoroughly disloyal. David saw this, and hindered by his oath from treating him as he deserved, pointed out the case to Solomon. Solomon settled the matter by a compact (into which Shimei willingly entered), that his life should be forfeited whenever he should go out of Jerusalem. There he was under supervision; elsewhere he could not be trusted. After a few years he violated this condition, and was executed. David had made a rash oath, and observed it to the letter, but no farther, towards a thorough traitor.

Verse 23. - The king sware unto him. David's magnanimity was not the result merely of policy, but also of joyful feeling at seeing all the tribes so readily welcome him back to the throne. But in spite of his oath, he orders Solomon to execute him, regarding what he had done as a sin past forgiveness. In so doing we can hardly acquit David of breaking his oath, even granting that Shimei's repentance was insincere, and that the motive of his actions was the desire simply to save his life. But we must remember that our Lord described his injunction, "that ye love one another," as "a new commandment" (John 13:34); and the utmost that can be said in David's favour is that his character was generous and full of chivalry. A half excuse may be found for his order in the supposition that Shimei was an inveterate conspirator, and dangerous to Solomon's peace. This view seems confirmed by the command given to Shimei to build a house at Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:36), where he would always be under surveillance. But had not David himself praised the man who "sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not" (Psalm 15:4)?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the king
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

said
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Shimei,
שִׁמְעִ֖י (šim·‘î)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8096: Shimei -- the name of a number of Israelites

“You shall not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

die.”
תָמ֑וּת (ṯā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

Then the king
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

swore an oath
וַיִּשָּׁ֥בַֽע (way·yiš·šā·ḇa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

to him.
ל֖וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT History: 2 Samuel 19:23 The king said to Shimei You shall (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 19:22
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