2 Samuel 3:29

Translations

Modern

May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

Traditional

Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

Literal

Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all the house of his father, and never let there fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or falls by the sword, or is lacking bread.”

Latin

…et veniat super caput Joab, et super omnem domum patris ejus: nec deficiat de domo Joab fluxum seminis sustinens, et leprosus, et tenens fusum, et cadens gladio, et indigens pane.

Original

Hebrew

English

May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

Notes

2 Samuel 3:29

skin disease: While leprosy is a possible translation, the Hebrew term here likely refers to many kinds of skin problems or rashes, not only Hansen’s disease.
who leans on a staff: This curse effectively separated Joab from David. From this point on, their relationship was only professional. David later ordered Solomon to deal with Joab before David died (1 Kings 2:5–6). Solomon’s later statement clearing David of guilt in Abner’s death (1 Kings 2:31–33) shows that David’s mourning for Abner was sincere.

2 Samuel 3:1–39

The house of David (David’s family line and those loyal to his rule) grew stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker. A key turning point came when Abner, who held the real political power among Saul’s followers, changed his loyalty to David. When Abner did this, many of his relatives from the northern tribes followed him.

Theme notes and profiles

Abishai Abner David Joab

Events

Reign of David

Related verses

Psalm 109:8–19
May his days be few; may another take his position.
2 Samuel 1:16
For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”
2 Kings 5:1
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
Leviticus 13:44–46
…the man is diseased; he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean because of the infection on his head.
Judges 9:56–57
In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
Judges 9:24
…in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
Revelation 16:6
For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”
2 Kings 5:27
Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.
1 Samuel 2:32–36
You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age.
Acts 28:4
When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
1 Kings 2:31–34
And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.
Leviticus 15:2
“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean.

People

Joab: Son of Zeruiah, commander of David's army

Glossary

Abner Avenger of Blood Criminal Law and Punishment David Ishbosheth Joab Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Abner: Murdered by Joab; David's Sorrow For Chiding: David Chides Joab for Killing Abner Imprecation: David Leprosy: Often Hereditary Tact in David's Popular Methods in Mourning for Abner

2 Samuel 3:29

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

People

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics