The Meaning of 2 Samuel 3:35 Explained

2 Samuel 3:35

KJV: And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

YLT: And all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David sweareth, saying, 'Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add, for -- before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.'

Darby: And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else till the sun be down!

ASV: And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when all  the people  came  to cause  David  to eat  meat  while it was yet  day,  David  sware,  saying,  So do  God  to me, and more also,  if I taste  bread,  or ought  else, till  the sun  be down. 

What does 2 Samuel 3:35 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 3:35 mean?

And when came all the people to persuade to eat - David food while it was still day and took an oath saying so do to me God and also more if if till goes down The sun I taste bread or anything else
וַיָּבֹ֣א כָל־ הָעָ֗ם לְהַבְר֧וֹת אֶת־ דָּוִ֛ד לֶ֖חֶם בְּע֣וֹד הַיּ֑וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־ לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י אִם־ לִפְנֵ֧י בֽוֹא־ הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ אֶטְעַם־ לֶ֖חֶם א֥וֹ מְאֽוּמָה

וַיָּבֹ֣א  And  when  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הָעָ֗ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לְהַבְר֧וֹת  to  persuade  to  eat 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to eat, consume.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דָּוִ֛ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
לֶ֖חֶם  food 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
בְּע֣וֹד  while  it  was  still 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
הַיּ֑וֹם  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע  and  took  an  oath 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לֵאמֹ֗ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
כֹּ֣ה  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
לִּ֤י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
אֱלֹהִים֙  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְכֹ֣ה  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
יֹסִ֔יף  more 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לִפְנֵ֧י  till 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
בֽוֹא־  goes  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ  The  sun 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
אֶטְעַם־  I  taste 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: טָעַם  
Sense: to taste, perceive, eat.
לֶ֖חֶם  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
מְאֽוּמָה  anything  else 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּמָה  
Sense: anything.