The Meaning of 2 Samuel 23:19 Explained

2 Samuel 23:19

KJV: Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

YLT: Of the three is he not the honoured? and he becometh their head; and unto the first three he hath not come.

Darby: Was he not most honourable of three? and he was their captain; but he did not attain to the first three.

ASV: Was he not most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Was he not most honourable  of three?  therefore he was their captain:  howbeit he attained  not unto the [first] three. 

What does 2 Samuel 23:19 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 23:18-39 - Men With A Record
What marvels may be wrought by the inspiration of a single life! We remember the hour when an unknown youth stepped out of the affrighted hosts of Israel to face Goliath. Alone, so far as human help went, David encountered and defeated that terrible antagonist; but after some fourteen or fifteen years had run their course, he no longer stood alone. Scores of heroes, animated by his spirit and exercising his faith, stepped forth on the new path which he had opened.
Thus the lives of great men light up and inspire the lives of others. They mold their contemporaries. Wesley's career has raised a great army of preachers and evangelists. The enthusiasm of a Brainerd, a Finney, a Moody, has stirred tens of thousands with kindred passion for the souls of men. The companions of our Lord became His Apostles (His missionaries). His own life of sacrifice for men has become the beacon-fire which has summoned myriads from the sloth and indulgence of the valleys to the surrender, the self-denial, the anguish of His Cross, if only they might be permitted to follow in His steps. Is there anything in our lives that is inspiring others? [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 23:19 mean?

Of the three Was he not most honored therefore he became their captain and However to the [first] three Not he did attain -
מִן־ ؟ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה֙ הֲכִ֣י נִכְבָּ֔ד וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וְעַד־ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה לֹא־ בָֽא ס

؟ הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה֙  the  three 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
הֲכִ֣י  Was  he  not 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נִכְבָּ֔ד  most  honored 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
וַיְהִ֥י  therefore  he  became 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְשָׂ֑ר  captain 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
וְעַד־  and  However  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֖ה  the  [first]  three 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
בָֽא  he  did  attain 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation