Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? New Living Translation I am eighty years old today, and I can no longer enjoy anything. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and I cannot hear the singers as they sing. I would only be a burden to my lord the king. English Standard Version I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Berean Standard Bible I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? King James Bible I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? New King James Version I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? New American Standard Bible I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear the voice of men and women singing? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? NASB 1995 “I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? NASB 1977 “I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Legacy Standard Bible I am now eighty years old. Can I know between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Amplified Bible I am this day eighty years old. Can I [be useful to advise you to] discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Christian Standard Bible I’m now eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Holman Christian Standard Bible I’m now 80 years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? American Standard Version I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? Contemporary English Version I'm already 80 years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing, and I would be nothing but a burden. English Revised Version I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? GOD'S WORD® Translation I'm 80 years old now. How can I tell what is pleasant and what is not? Can I taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the singing of men and women? Why should I now become a burden to you, Your Majesty? Good News Translation I am already eighty years old, and nothing gives me pleasure any more. I can't taste what I eat and drink, and I can't hear the voices of singers. I would only be a burden to Your Majesty. International Standard Version I'm now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes good or bad! I can't tell what I eat or drink! I can't hear the voice of men and women when they sing! So why should your servant be an added burden to your majesty the king? Majority Standard Bible I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? NET Bible I am presently eighty years old. Am I able to discern good and bad? Can I taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should I continue to be a burden to my lord the king? New Heart English Bible I am now eighty years old. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of male and female singers? Why then should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king? Webster's Bible Translation I am this day eighty years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing-men and singing-women? why then should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king? World English Bible I am eighty years old, today. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and singing women any more? Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI [am] a son of eighty years today; do I know between good and evil? Does your servant taste that which I am eating, and that which I drink? Do I listen anymore to the voice of male and female singers? And why is your servant for a burden to my lord the king anymore? Young's Literal Translation A son of eighty years I am to-day; do I know between good and evil? doth thy servant taste that which I am eating, and that which I drink? do I hearken any more to the voice of singers and songstresses? and why is thy servant any more for a burden unto my lord the king? Smith's Literal Translation The son of eighty years am I this day; shall I know between good to evil? if thy servant shall taste what I shall eat, and what I shall drink? if I shall yet hear to the voice of men singing or of women singing? and wherefore shall thy servant be yet for a burden to my lord the king? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI am this day fourscore years old, are my senses quick to discern sweet and bitter? or can meat or drink delight thy servant? or can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? why should thy servant be a burden to my lord, the king? Catholic Public Domain Version Today I am eighty years old. Are my senses quick to discern sweet and bitter? Or is food and drink able to delight your servant? Or can I still hear the voice of men and women singers? Why should your servant be a burden to my lord the king? New American Bible I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and evil? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks, or still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king? New Revised Standard Version Today I am eighty years old; can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI am this day eighty years old; and I cannot discern between luxury and simple living; neither can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks. Nor can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women. Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated I am a son of eighty years today, and I do not know between good and bad, and anything that your Servant eats and anything that he drinks he does not taste it, also I cannot hear the voice of a nobleman or a lady. Why would your Servant be a burden again to my Lord the King? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I am this day fourscore years old; can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? Brenton Septuagint Translation I am this day eighty years old: can I then distinguish between good and evil? Can thy servant taste any longer what I eat or drink? can I any longer hear the voice of singing men or singing women? and wherefore shall thy servant any longer be a burden to my lord the king? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context David's Kindness to Barzillai…34But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant could go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward?… Cross References Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,” / before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain, / on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly, ... Psalm 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Genesis 47:9 “My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.” 1 Kings 1:1-4 Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. / So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.” / Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. ... Job 14:1-2 “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you. Psalm 71:9 Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. Psalm 92:14 In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain, 1 Chronicles 29:28 He died at a ripe old age, full of years, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon reigned in his place. Genesis 25:8 And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people. 1 Kings 2:1-2 As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon, / “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man. 2 Timothy 4:6-7 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. / I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Luke 2:36-37 There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, / and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Philemon 1:9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well. Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Treasury of Scripture I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king? can I discern Job 6:30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? Job 12:11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. taste Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; … I hear Ezra 2:65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. Nehemiah 7:67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women. Exodus 2:8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. a burden 2 Samuel 13:25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. 2 Samuel 15:33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: Jump to Previous Bad Burden Discern Drink Eat Eighty Evil Fourscore Good Hear Servant Singing Singing-Men Taste Voice Wherefore WomenJump to Next Bad Burden Discern Drink Eat Eighty Evil Fourscore Good Hear Servant Singing Singing-Men Taste Voice Wherefore Women2 Samuel 19 1. Joab causes the king to cease his mourning9. 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 I am now eighty years old. This phrase reflects the advanced age of Barzillai, a wealthy Gileadite who supported King David during Absalom's rebellion. In biblical times, reaching the age of eighty was considered a significant milestone, often associated with wisdom and experience (Psalm 90:10). Barzillai's age suggests a life of accumulated knowledge and respect within his community. His age also implies a generational perspective, having witnessed the reigns of Saul and David, and the political and social changes in Israel. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Persons / Places / Events 1. Barzillai the GileaditeAn elderly and wealthy man who supported King David during Absalom's rebellion. He is speaking to David in this verse. 2. King David The king of Israel, returning to Jerusalem after the defeat of Absalom. He offers to take Barzillai with him to Jerusalem. 3. Gilead The region where Barzillai lived, located east of the Jordan River. 4. Absalom's Rebellion A significant event where David's son, Absalom, attempted to overthrow his father, leading to a civil war in Israel. 5. Jerusalem The capital city of Israel, where David is returning to reign as king. Teaching Points The Wisdom of AgeBarzillai's words remind us of the wisdom that often comes with age, as well as the humility to recognize one's limitations. We should value and seek the counsel of the elderly in our communities. Serving Without Burden Barzillai's concern about being a burden reflects a selfless attitude. In our service to others, we should strive to be helpful and considerate, not burdensome. Gratitude and Loyalty David's offer to Barzillai shows gratitude for his loyalty. We should remember to express gratitude to those who support us, especially in difficult times. The Reality of Aging Barzillai's acknowledgment of his physical limitations is a reminder of the natural process of aging. It encourages us to prepare spiritually and emotionally for the later stages of life. Legacy and Influence Barzillai's legacy continued through David's kindness to his family. Our actions today can have a lasting impact on future generations. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew I amאָנֹכִ֨י (’ā·nō·ḵî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 595: I now הַיּ֜וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day eighty שְׁמֹנִ֣ים (šə·mō·nîm) Number - common plural Strong's 8084: Eighty, eightieth years old. בֶּן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son Can I discern הַאֵדַ֣ע ׀ (ha·’ê·ḏa‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 3045: To know what is good ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good and what is not? לְרָ֗ע (lə·rā‘) Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil Can your servant עַבְדְּךָ֙ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant taste יִטְעַ֤ם (yiṭ·‘am) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2938: To taste, to perceive what אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that he eats אֹכַל֙ (’ō·ḵal) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 398: To eat or drinks? אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה (’eš·teh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 8354: To imbibe Can I still ע֔וֹד (‘ō·wḏ) Adverb Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more hear אֶשְׁמַ֣ע (’eš·ma‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently the voice בְּק֖וֹל (bə·qō·wl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6963: A voice, sound of singing men שָׁרִ֣ים (šā·rîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7891: To sing and women? וְשָׁר֑וֹת (wə·šā·rō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 7891: To sing Why וְלָמָּה֩ (wə·lām·māh) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what should your servant עַבְדְּךָ֥ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant be יִֽהְיֶ֨ה (yih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be an added עוֹד֙ (‘ō·wḏ) Adverb Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more burden לְמַשָּׂ֔א (lə·maś·śā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to my lord אֲדֹנִ֖י (’ă·ḏō·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller the king? הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king Links 2 Samuel 19:35 NIV2 Samuel 19:35 NLT 2 Samuel 19:35 ESV 2 Samuel 19:35 NASB 2 Samuel 19:35 KJV 2 Samuel 19:35 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 19:35 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 19:35 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 19:35 French Bible 2 Samuel 19:35 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 19:35 I am this day eighty years old: (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) |
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