The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:28 Explained

2 Samuel 3:28

KJV: And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

YLT: And David heareth afterwards and saith, 'Acquitted am I, and my kingdom, by Jehovah, unto the age, from the blood of Abner son of Ner;

Darby: And afterwards David heard it, and he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

ASV: And afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And afterward  when David  heard  [it], he said,  I and my kingdom  [are] guiltless  before the LORD  for  ever  from the blood  of Abner  the son  of Ner: 

What does 2 Samuel 3:28 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 3:28 mean?

And when heard [it] David afterward afterward and he said [are] guiltless I and My kingdom before Yahweh eternity forever of the blood of Abner son of Ner
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע דָּוִד֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקִ֨י אָנֹכִ֧י וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י מֵעִ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַד־ עוֹלָ֑ם מִדְּמֵ֖י אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־ נֵֽר

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע  And  when  heard  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
דָּוִד֙  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי  afterward 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
כֵ֔ן  afterward 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  and  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נָקִ֨י  [are]  guiltless 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָקִי 
Sense: clean, free from, exempt, clear, innocent.
וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י  and  My  kingdom 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.
מֵעִ֥ם  before 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עַד־  eternity 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: perpetuity, for ever, continuing future.
עוֹלָ֑ם  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
מִדְּמֵ֖י  of  the  blood 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
אַבְנֵ֥ר  of  Abner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינֵר 
Sense: Saul’s cousin and army captain, treacherously slain by Joab.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נֵֽר  of  Ner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵר  
Sense: son of Jehiel, father of Kish, and grandfather of king Saul.