2 Samuel 18:20
New International Version
“You are not the one to take the news today,” Joab told him. “You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”

New Living Translation
“No,” Joab told him, “it wouldn’t be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.”

English Standard Version
And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”

King James Bible
And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

New King James Version
And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”

New American Standard Bible
But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to bring news this day, but you shall bring news another day; however, you shall bring no news this day, because the king’s son is dead.”

NASB 1995
But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.”

NASB 1977
But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Joab said to him, “You are not the man for the good news this day, but you shall proclaim the good news another day; however, you shall not proclaim the good news today because the king’s son has died.”

Amplified Bible
But Joab told him, “You are not the man to carry news [to King David] today, but you shall carry news another day. On this day you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”

Christian Standard Bible
Joab replied to him, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren’t taking good news, because the king’s son is dead.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joab replied to him, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren’t taking good news, because the king’s son is dead.”

American Standard Version
And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Yuab said to him: “No, and it is not for you to announce good news today, but announce good news on the next day. You shall not tell good news today, because of the son of the King, for that would be you announcing good news that he is dead!”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not be a messenger of glad tidings this day; thou shalt bear them another day; but on this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

Contemporary English Version
Joab answered, "You're not the one to tell the king that his son is dead. You can take him a message some other time, but not today."

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab said to him: Thou shalt not be the messenger this day, but shalt bear tidings another day: this day I will not have thee bear tidings, because the king's son is dead.

English Revised Version
And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Joab told him, "You won't be the man carrying good news today. You can carry the news some other day. You must not deliver the news today because the king's son is dead."

Good News Translation
"No," Joab said, "today you will not take any good news. Some other day you may do so, but not today, for the king's son is dead."

International Standard Version
But Joab answered Ahimaaz, "You're not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not today, because the king's son is dead."

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joab said unto him: 'Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, forasmuch as the king's son is dead.'

Literal Standard Version
and Joab says to him, “You are not a man of tidings this day, but you have borne tidings on another day, and this day you do not bear tidings, because the king’s son [is] dead.”

Majority Standard Bible
But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”

New American Bible
But Joab said to him: “You are not the man to bring the news today. On some other day you may take the good news, but today you would not be bringing good news, for in fact the king’s son is dead.”

NET Bible
But Joab said to him, "You will not be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today, for the king's son is dead."

New Revised Standard Version
Joab said to him, “You are not to carry tidings today; you may carry tidings another day, but today you shall not do so, because the king’s son is dead.”

New Heart English Bible
Joab said to him, "You shall not be the bearer of news this day, but you shall bear news another day. But today you shall bear no news, because the king's son is dead."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

World English Bible
Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”

Young's Literal Translation
and Joab saith to him, 'Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear tidings, because the king's son is dead.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Mourns for Absalom
19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.” 20But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.” 21So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 18:19
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, "Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies."

2 Samuel 18:21
So Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joab said to him, You shall not bear tidings this day, but you shall bear tidings another day: but this day you shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

bear tidings [heb] be a man of tidings

2 Samuel 17:16-21
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him…

because

2 Samuel 18:5,27,29,33
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom…

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Bear Bearer Borne Carry Dead Forasmuch However Joab Jo'ab King's News Tidings Time Today
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Bear Bearer Borne Carry Dead Forasmuch However Joab Jo'ab King's News Tidings Time Today
2 Samuel 18
1. David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom
6. The Israelites are sorely smitten in the wood of ephraim
9. Absalom, hanging in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit
18. Absalom's place
19. Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David
33. David mourns for Absalom














(20) Thou shalt bear no tidings.--Ahimaaz appears to have been in favour both with David (comp. 2Samuel 18:27) and with Joab. Joab, therefore, well knowing how painful to David would be the news of the death of Absalom, refused to let Ahimaaz bear it. The word is used, with rare exceptions, of good tidings.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Joab
יוֹאָ֗ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

replied,
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“You
אַתָּה֙ (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are not
לֹא֩ (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the man
אִ֨ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

to take good news
בְּשֹׂרָ֤ה (bə·śō·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1309: Glad tidings, reward for, good news

today.
הַיּ֣וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

You may do
וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ (ū·ḇiś·śar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1319: To be fresh, full, cheerful), to announce

it another
אַחֵ֑ר (’a·ḥêr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

day,
בְּי֣וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

but you must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

[do so]
תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר (ṯə·ḇaś·śêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1319: To be fresh, full, cheerful), to announce

today,
וְהַיּ֤וֹם (wə·hay·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the king’s
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

is dead.”
מֵֽת׃ (mêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT History: 2 Samuel 18:20 Joab said to him You shall not (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 18:19
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