The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:39 Explained

2 Samuel 3:39

KJV: And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

YLT: and I to-day am tender, and an anointed king: and these men, sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me; Jehovah doth recompense to the doer of the evil according to his evil.'

Darby: And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness!

ASV: And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I [am] this day  weak,  though anointed  king;  and these men  the sons  of Zeruiah  [be] too hard  for me: the LORD  shall reward  the doer of evil  according to his wickedness. 

What does 2 Samuel 3:39 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 3:31-39 - David's Lament Over Abner
It was a noble spectacle when David followed the bier of Abner and wept at his grave. He forgot that this man had been his persistent foe, and remembered only his great personal qualities. The chaplet of elegiacs that he wove for Abner's grave, was only second to that which he prepared for Saul's. It is not strange that all the people took notice of it and that it pleased them. We should be particularly careful to disavow all complicity in the evil doings of those with whom we happen to be associated, and to stand clear of the wreckage that floats around us. The honor of God's cause must be dearer to us than life.
The cultivation of a noble and generous spirit, like that which David manifested toward Saul and Abner, is an aim to which we should set ourselves with patient care. It is the outgrowth of years of self-discipline, of prayer, of fellowship with God. Life is too short to allow it to be consumed by evil and vindictive thoughts. Hand over to God all thoughts of retaliation! Certainly you must withstand the wrong-doer, when the weak and defenseless are in jeopardy; but for yourself, love and conquer! [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 3:39 mean?

and I [am] today weak and though anointed king and men these the sons of Zeruiah [are] too harsh for me shall repay Yahweh the evildoer according to his wickedness -
וְאָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֥וֹם רַךְ֙ וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ מֶ֔לֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י צְרוּיָ֖ה קָשִׁ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נִּי יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם יְהוָ֛ה לְעֹשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה כְּרָעָתֽוֹ פ

וְאָנֹכִ֨י  and  I  [am] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
הַיּ֥וֹם  today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
רַךְ֙  weak 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַךְ  
Sense: tender, soft, delicate, weak.
וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ  and  though  anointed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁח  
Sense: to smear, anoint, spread a liquid.
מֶ֔לֶךְ  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים  and  men 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הָאֵ֛לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
בְּנֵ֥י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
צְרוּיָ֖ה  of  Zeruiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צְרוּיָה  
Sense: sister of David and mother of the 3 leading heroes of David’s army—Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
קָשִׁ֣ים  [are]  too  harsh 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קָשֶׁה  
Sense: hard, cruel, severe, obstinate.
מִמֶּ֑נִּי  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם  shall  repay 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הָרָעָ֖ה  evildoer 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
כְּרָעָתֽוֹ  according  to  his  wickedness 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation