Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?”

King James Version

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

Holman Bible

Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”

International Standard Version

Then Abner called out to Joab, "Must the battle sword keep on devouring forever? Don't you realize that the end result is bitterness? How long will it take for you to order your army to stop pursuing their own relatives?"

A Conservative Version

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? Know thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before thou bid the people return from following their brothers?

American Standard Version

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

Amplified

Then Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long [will it be] before you tell the people to stop pursuing their brothers?”

Bible in Basic English

Then crying out to Joab, Abner said, Are fighting and destruction to go on for ever? do you not see that the end will only be bitter? how long will it be before you send the people back and make them give up attacking their countrymen?

Darby Translation

And Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? and how long shall it be ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

Julia Smith Translation

And Abner will call to Joab and say, Shall the sword consume forever? knewest thou not that it will be bitter at the last? and how long wilt thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?

King James 2000

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour forever? know you not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brethren?

Lexham Expanded Bible

Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Will [the] sword devour forever? Do you not know that [there] will be bitterness in the end? {How long} will you not tell the people to turn {away from pursuing} their brothers?"

Modern King James verseion

Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long shall it be then before you command the people to return from chasing their brothers?

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour without end? Knowest thou not that bitterness is wont to come in the latter end? How long shall it be, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?"

NET Bible

Then Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?"

New Heart English Bible

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?"

The Emphasized Bible

then Abner cried aloud unto Joab, and said - To the uttermost, must the sword devour? Dost thou not well know that, bitter, shall it be, in the latter end? How long, then, wilt thou not bid the people turn back from pursuing their own brethren?

Webster

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou wilt bid the people return from following their brethren?

World English Bible

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?"

Youngs Literal Translation

and Abner calleth unto Joab, and saith, 'For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?'

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
H74
אבינר אבנר 
'Abner 
Usage: 63

קרא 
Qara' 
Usage: 736

to Joab
יואב 
Yow'ab 
Usage: 145

and said

Usage: 0

Shall the sword
חרב 
Chereb 
Usage: 413

אכל 
'akal 
Usage: 809

נצח נצח 
Netsach 
Usage: 43

thou not that it will be bitterness
מרה מר 
Mar 
Usage: 38

in the latter end
אחרן אחרין 
'acharown 
Usage: 50

how long shall it be then, ere thou bid

Usage: 0

the people
עם 
`am 
Usage: 1867

שׁוּב 
Shuwb 
Usage: 1058

אחר 
'achar 
Usage: 488

References

American

Easton

Hastings

Morish

Context Readings

The Battle Of Gibeon

25 The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They became united as one and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?” 27 Joab said: As God lives; if you had not spoken the men would have continued following their brothers.

Cross References

Jeremiah 46:10

That day belongs to Jehovah of Hosts. It is a day of vengeance when he will take revenge on his enemies. His sword will devour until it has had enough, and it will drink their blood until it is full. The Almighty Jehovah of Hosts will offer them as sacrifices in the north by the Euphrates River.

Jeremiah 46:14

Tell this in Egypt. Announce this in Migdol. Make it known in Memphis and in Tahpanhes. Say: 'Take your positions, and get ready. Swords will kill those around you.

2 Samuel 2:14

Abner yelled to Joab: Let some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other! Joab agreed.

2 Samuel 2:16

Each one grabbed his opponent by the head. Then he stuck his sword into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. That place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies.

2 Samuel 11:25

David replied: This is what you are to say to Joab: 'Do not let this thing trouble you. After all a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it. Say this to encourage him.'

Job 18:2

When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.

Job 19:2

How long will you torment me and depress me with words?

Psalm 4:2

O sons of men, how long will my glorious honor be turned into shame? How long will you love empty, worthless things and search for the lie?

Proverbs 17:14

Starting a quarrel is like releasing water [from a floodgate]. Therefore stop contention before it begins.

Isaiah 1:20

Refuse and rebel and swords will devour you. Jehovah has spoken.

Jeremiah 2:30

I have punished your children without results. They did not respond to correction. You killed my prophets like a raging lion.

Jeremiah 4:21

How long must I see the battle flag and hear the sound of rams' horns?

Jeremiah 12:12

Across the entire desert highlands people have come to plunder. Jehovah has sent war to destroy the entire land. No one can live in peace.

Hosea 11:6

Swords will flash in their cities, destroy the bars of their gates, and put an end to their plans.

Acts 7:26

The next day he appeared to them while they were fighting. He wanted to unite them and said, 'You are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?'

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain