The Meaning of 2 Samuel 23:17 Explained

2 Samuel 23:17

KJV: And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

YLT: and saith, 'Far be it from me, O Jehovah, to do this; is it the blood of the men who are going with their lives?' and he was not willing to drink it; these things did the three mighty ones.

Darby: And he said, Be it far from me, Jehovah, that I should do this thing! is it not the blood of the men that went at the risk of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

ASV: And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this:'shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  Be it far  from me, O LORD,  that I should do  this: [is not this] the blood  of the men  that went  in jeopardy of their lives?  therefore he would  not drink  it. These things did  these three  mighty men. 

What does 2 Samuel 23:17 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 23:17 mean?

And he said Far be it from me Yahweh that I should do this is [this not] the blood of the men who went in [jeopardy of] their lives therefore not he would drink it these things were done by three the mighty men -
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר חָלִילָה֩ לִּ֨י יְהוָ֜ה מֵעֲשֹׂ֣תִי זֹ֗את הֲדַ֤ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים ؟ בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם אֵ֣לֶּה עָשׂ֔וּ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַגִּבֹּרִֽים ס

וַיֹּ֡אמֶר  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
חָלִילָה֩  Far  be  it 
Parse: Interjection, third person feminine singular
Root: חָלִיל  
Sense: far be it (from me), God forbid that, let it not be.
לִּ֨י  from  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֵעֲשֹׂ֣תִי  that  I  should  do 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
זֹ֗את  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
הֲדַ֤ם  is  [this  not]  the  blood  of 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙  the  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
הַהֹלְכִ֣ים  who  went 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
؟ בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָ֔ם  in  [jeopardy  of]  their  lives 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
וְלֹ֥א  therefore  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אָבָ֖ה  he  would 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָבָה  
Sense: to be willing, consent.
לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֑ם  drink  it 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
אֵ֣לֶּה  these  things 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
עָשׂ֔וּ  were  done  by 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
הַגִּבֹּרִֽים  the  mighty  men 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation