The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:31 Explained

2 Samuel 3:31

KJV: And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

YLT: And David saith unto Joab, and unto all the people who are with him, 'Rend your garments, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner;' and king David is going after the bier.

Darby: And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.

ASV: And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And David  said  to Joab,  and to all the people  that [were] with him, Rend  your clothes,  and gird  you with sackcloth,  and mourn  before  Abner.  And king  David  [himself] followed  the bier. 

What does 2 Samuel 3:31 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 3:31 mean?

And said David to Joab and to all the people who were with him Tear your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth and mourn before Abner And King David followed after the bier
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־ יוֹאָ֜ב וְאֶל־ כָּל־ הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֗וֹ קִרְע֤וּ בִגְדֵיכֶם֙ וְחִגְר֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים וְסִפְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֑ר וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד הֹלֵ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמִּטָּֽה

וַיֹּאמֶר֩  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דָּוִ֨ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
יוֹאָ֜ב  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
וְאֶל־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הָעָ֣ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
אֲשֶׁר־  who  were 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אִתּ֗וֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
קִרְע֤וּ  Tear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָרַע  
Sense: to tear, tear in pieces.
בִגְדֵיכֶם֙  your  clothes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
וְחִגְר֣וּ  and  gird  yourselves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָגַר  
Sense: to gird, gird on, gird oneself, put on a belt.
שַׂקִּ֔ים  with  sackcloth 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שַׂק  
Sense: mesh, sackcloth, sack, sacking.
וְסִפְד֖וּ  and  mourn 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: סָפַד  
Sense: to wail, lament, mourn.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אַבְנֵ֑ר  Abner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינֵר 
Sense: Saul’s cousin and army captain, treacherously slain by Joab.
וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ  And  King 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
דָּוִ֔ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
הֹלֵ֖ךְ  followed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אַחֲרֵ֥י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הַמִּטָּֽה  the  bier 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִטָּה  
Sense: couch, bed, bier.