The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:29 Explained

2 Samuel 3:29

KJV: Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

YLT: it doth stay on the head of Joab, and on all the house of his father, and there is not cut off from the house of Joab one having an issue, and leprous, and laying hold on a staff, and falling by a sword, and lacking bread.'

Darby: let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that lacks bread!

ASV: let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let it rest  on the head  of Joab,  and on all his father's  house;  and let there not fail  from the house  of Joab  one that hath an issue,  or that is a leper,  or that leaneth  on a staff,  or that falleth  on the sword,  or that lacketh  bread. 

What does 2 Samuel 3:29 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 3:22-30 - A Treacherous Revenge
There is no doubt that Abner was guilty of disloyalty and treachery, but this did not excuse Joab's dastardly act. He could not claim the right to act as goel-blood avenger-for his dead brother, because Asahel had died a soldier's death in open war. Joab was probably actuated by jealousy of the military talents, the vast influence and the widespread popularity of the rival general whom he murdered in cold blood, just outside the city of refuge. Evidently he was a fierce, cruel, unscrupulous man, who hurt David more than he helped him, 2 Samuel 3:39. But Joab also was destined to suffer similar punishment in after-years, 1 Kings 2:28-34.
This world is governed according to a plan. We need not try to climb into the judgment-seat. God is there already. His rewards and punishments befall with greater certainty than we always believe. Whether their schemes are hidden amid the intricacies of state, or open to all eyes, let us be sure that evil men reap as they have sown, and suffer evils similar to those which they endeavor to inflict upon others. We all get our deserts. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 3

1  During the war David becomes stronger
2  Six sons are born to him in Hebron
6  Abner, displeased with Ishbosheth
7  revolts to David
13  David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal
17  Abner confers with the Israelites, feasted by David, and dismissed
22  Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and kills Abner
28  David curses Joab
31  and mourns for Abner

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 3:29 mean?

Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all house of his father and never let there fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper and who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacking bread
יָחֻ֙לוּ֙ עַל־ רֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־ בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו וְֽאַל־ יִכָּרֵ֣ת מִבֵּ֣ית יוֹאָ֡ב זָ֠ב וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַחֲסַר־ לָֽחֶם

יָחֻ֙לוּ֙  Let  it  rest 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
רֹ֣אשׁ  the  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
יוֹאָ֔ב  of  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
וְאֶ֖ל  and  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בֵּ֣ית  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אָבִ֑יו  of  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וְֽאַל־  and  never 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
יִכָּרֵ֣ת  let  there  fail  to  be 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
מִבֵּ֣ית  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יוֹאָ֡ב  of  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
זָ֠ב  one  who  has  a  discharge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: זוּב  
Sense: to flow, gush, issue, discharge.
וּמְצֹרָ֞ע  or  is  a  leper 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine singular
Root: צָרַע  
Sense: to be diseased of skin, be leprous.
וּמַחֲזִ֥יק  and  who  leans 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ  on  a  staff 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּלֶךְ 
Sense: whirl of spindle, stick, district.
וְנֹפֵ֥ל  or  falls 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
בַּחֶ֖רֶב  by  the  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
וַחֲסַר־  or  lacking 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: חָסֵר  
Sense: in need of, lacking, needy, in want of.
לָֽחֶם  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.