The Meaning of 2 Samuel 23:15 Explained

2 Samuel 23:15

KJV: And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

YLT: and David longeth and saith, 'Who doth give me a drink of the water of the well of Beth-Lehem, which is by the gate?'

Darby: And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is in the gate!

ASV: And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And David  longed,  and said,  Oh that one would give me drink  of the water  of the well  of Bethlehem,  which [is] by the gate! 

What does 2 Samuel 23:15 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 23:8-17 - David's Mighty Men
David's yearning for the water of the well of Bethlehem was very natural. He could almost see the ancient well-head, where as a lad he had gone with his mother to draw water. In the scorching heat that beat down on the hillside that sultry afternoon, nothing seemed so desirable as a draught from those cool depths. So does the exile yearn for home, and the backslider for his early blessedness. But, thank God, we cannot wish for the Water of Life-if we wish with all our heart-without having it. To wish is to enjoy. Our Mighty Savior has broken through the Philistines, and has won for us access to the springs of eternal blessedness.
It was very noble of David to refuse to drink that which had been obtained at such cost. Self-control and thoughtfulness for others are graces that bind men's hearts to their leaders. Moreover, David's example suggests a quite different call which modern conditions make upon us for the exercise of similar self-control. Should we not refuse to make any use of wine and strong drink which have cost, and are costing, the lives of myriads? God forbid that any of us should enjoy, for our selfish pleasures, the deadliest foe of human happiness, purity and hope. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 23

1  David, in his last words, professes his faith in God's promises
6  The different state of the wicked
8  A catalogue of David's mighty men

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 23:15 mean?

And with longing David and said who will give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem which [is] by the gate
וַיִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה דָוִ֖ד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִ֚י יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי מַ֔יִם מִבֹּ֥אר בֵּֽית־ לֶ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁ֥ר ! בַּשָּֽׁעַר

וַיִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה  And  with  longing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָוָה  
Sense: desire, incline, covet, wait longingly, wish, sigh, want, be greedy, prefer.
דָוִ֖ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יַשְׁקֵ֣נִי  will  give  me  a  drink 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁקָה  
Sense: to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water.
מַ֔יִם  of  the  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מִבֹּ֥אר  from  the  well 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֹּאר  
Sense: cistern, pit, well.
לֶ֖חֶם  Bethlehem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית לֶחֶם  
Sense: a city in Judah, birthplace of David.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  which  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
! בַּשָּֽׁעַר  by  the  gate 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.