The Meaning of 2 Samuel 19:13 Explained

2 Samuel 19:13

KJV: And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

YLT: And to Amasa say ye, Art not thou my bone and my flesh? Thus doth God do to me, and thus He doth add, if thou art not head of the host before me all the days instead of Joab.'

Darby: And say to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually instead of Joab.

ASV: And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And say  ye to Amasa,  [Art] thou not of my bone,  and of my flesh?  God  do  so to me, and more  also, if thou be not captain  of the host  before  me continually  in the room  of Joab. 

What does 2 Samuel 19:13 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 19:9-20 - Bringing The King Back
Joab's remonstrance, though expressed in rough and uncourteous phrase, was perfectly just. The royal troops, instead of being welcomed with acclamation, had slunk into the city, as if defeated, immediate steps must be taken to counteract their depression. Private grief must yield to public interests.
The revulsion of loyalty to David began with the ten tribes; but the concurrence of Judah was essential, and it was secured by the mission of the two priests and by the overtures of Amasa. These turned the scale, and Judah welcomed the king with joy, 2 Samuel 19:14. What a glimpse all this gives of the change that will be wrought when our Lord comes again-and apparently His advent is very nigh! Previous verdicts will be reversed. Shimeis will sue for mercy. Mephibosheths will be justified and Barzillais rewarded. What are we doing as individuals to secure the return of the King? Compare 2 Samuel 19:10 with 2 Peter 3:12. But have we brought the King back to His throne in our own hearts! [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 19:13 mean?

and to Amasa say [Are] not my bone and my flesh you so do to me God and also and more if not commander of the army you are before me all continually in place of Joab
וְלַֽעֲמָשָׂא֙ תֹּֽמְר֔וּ הֲל֛וֹא עַצְמִ֥י ؟ וּבְשָׂרִ֖י אָ֑תָּה כֹּ֣ה יַֽעֲשֶׂה־ לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף אִם־ לֹ֠א שַׂר־ צָבָ֞א תִּהְיֶ֧ה לְפָנַ֛י כָּל־ הַיָּמִ֖ים תַּ֥חַת יוֹאָֽב

וְלַֽעֲמָשָׂא֙  and  to  Amasa 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲמָשָׂא  
Sense: son of Ithra or Jether by Abigail the sister of David and general of the army of Absalom.
תֹּֽמְר֔וּ  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הֲל֛וֹא  [Are]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
עַצְמִ֥י  my  bone 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶצֶם 
Sense: bone, essence, substance.
؟ וּבְשָׂרִ֖י  and  my  flesh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
כֹּ֣ה  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
לִּ֤י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
אֱלֹהִים֙  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְכֹ֣ה  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
יוֹסִ֔יף  and  more 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
שַׂר־  commander 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
צָבָ֞א  of  the  army 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
תִּהְיֶ֧ה  you  are 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְפָנַ֛י  before  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַיָּמִ֖ים  continually 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
תַּ֥חַת  in  place 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
יוֹאָֽב  of  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.