New International Version“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man,
New Living Translation“I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man.
English Standard Version“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man,
Berean Standard Bible“I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man.
King James BibleI go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
New King James Version“I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.
New American Standard Bible“I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong, and prove yourself a man.
NASB 1995“I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.
NASB 1977“I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.
Legacy Standard Bible“I am going the way of all the earth. So you shall be strong, and be a man.
Amplified Bible“I am going the way of all the earth [as dust to dust]. Be strong and prove yourself a man.
Christian Standard Bible“As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be a man,
Holman Christian Standard BibleAs for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be courageous like a man,
American Standard VersionI am going the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
Contemporary English VersionMy son, I will soon die, as everyone must. But I want you to be strong and brave.
English Revised VersionI go the way of all the earth: he thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
GOD'S WORD® Translation"I'm about to leave this world. Be strong and mature.
Good News Translation"My time to die has come. Be confident and determined,
International Standard Version"I'm headed down the road that everyone who lives on earth travels, so be strong and demonstrate that you're a grown man
NET Bible"I am about to die. Be strong and become a man!
New Heart English Bible"I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
Webster's Bible TranslationI go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man.
World English Bible“I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man; Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“I am going in the way of all the earth, and you have been strong, and become a man,
Young's Literal Translation 'I am going in the way of all the earth, and thou hast been strong, and become a man,
Smith's Literal TranslationI go in the way of all the earth: and be thou strong, and be for a man; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage, and shew thyself a man.
Catholic Public Domain Version“I am entering the way of all the earth. Be strengthened and be a good man.
New American Bible“I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong and be a man!
New Revised Standard Version“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI go the way of all the earth; be strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated“I shall go in the way of all the Earth. Be strong and be a man. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I go the way of all the earth; be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
Brenton Septuagint Translationbut be thou strong, and shew thyself a man;
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context David Instructs Solomon1As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon, 2“Iam about to gothe wayof allthe earth.So be strongand prove yourselfa man.3And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn,…
Cross References Joshua 23:14Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
2 Timothy 4:6-7For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. / I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
1 Chronicles 22:13Then you will succeed, if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
1 Corinthians 16:13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
1 Samuel 4:9Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
Philippians 1:20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
1 Chronicles 28:20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Joshua 1:6-7Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them. / Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
2 Samuel 10:12Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. / Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. / Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. ...
2 Peter 1:13-15I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body, / because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. / And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.
Hebrews 12:1-2Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. / Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 Samuel 23:1-2These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel: / The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.
Treasury of Scripture I go the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man; I go Joshua 23:14 And, behold, this day Iam going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you,and not one thing hath failed thereof. Job 16:22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the waywhence I shall not return. Job 30:23 For I knowthat thou wilt bring meto death, andto the house appointed for all living. be thou Deuteronomy 17:19,20 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: … Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, heit is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Joshua 1:6,7 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them… and shew 1 Kings 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and Iam but a little child: I know nothow to go out or come in. 2 Samuel 10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for thisis the wholeduty of man. Jump to Previous CourageEarthGoodShowStrongThyselfWayJump to Next CourageEarthGoodShowStrongThyselfWay1 Kings 2 1.David, having given a charge to Solomon3.of Reverence5.of Joab7.of Barzillai8.of Shimei10.Solomon succeeds12.Adonijah, moving Bathsheba to ask unto Solomon for Abishag,13.is put to death26.Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood28.Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain35.Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadfok in Abiathar's36.Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going to Gath, is put to death.I am about to go the way of all the earth.This phrase reflects the universal reality of mortality. David, nearing the end of his life, acknowledges the inevitability of death, a theme echoed throughout Scripture (e.g., Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 3:20). The phrase "the way of all the earth" suggests that death is a common destiny for all living beings, emphasizing the transient nature of human life. This acknowledgment of mortality is a call to live with an eternal perspective, as seen in Psalm 90:12, where Moses prays for wisdom to number our days. David's awareness of his impending death also sets the stage for the transfer of leadership to Solomon, highlighting the importance of succession and legacy in biblical narratives. So be strong
David's exhortation to Solomon to "be strong" is a call to courage and resilience. This command is reminiscent of God's charge to Joshua inJoshua 1:6-9, where strength and courage are linked to obedience to God's law. In the ancient Near Eastern context, kings were expected to be strong leaders, both militarily and morally. The strength David refers to is not merely physical but also spiritual and moral, requiring reliance on God. This call to strength is foundational for Solomon's future role as king, emphasizing the need for divine wisdom and guidance, as later seen in Solomon's request for wisdom in1 Kings 3:9. and prove yourself a man.
In the cultural context of ancient Israel, proving oneself a man involved fulfilling one's responsibilities and living according to God's commandments. This phrase implies maturity, responsibility, and adherence to God's covenant. It echoes the biblical ideal of manhood, which includes leadership, integrity, and faithfulness to God's law. The concept of manhood here is not just about age or physical prowess but about character and spiritual maturity. This charge to Solomon is a reminder of the covenantal responsibilities of the king, as outlined inDeuteronomy 17:18-20, and foreshadows the need for Solomon to lead with wisdom and justice, qualities ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the perfect King. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe second king of Israel, known for his heart for God and his leadership. At this point, he is nearing the end of his life and is giving final instructions to his son Solomon. 2. SolomonThe son of David and Bathsheba, who is about to succeed David as king. He is known for his wisdom, wealth, and building the Temple in Jerusalem. 3. IsraelThe nation over which David has reigned and Solomon will soon rule. It is a united kingdom at this time, consisting of the twelve tribes. 4. JerusalemThe capital city of Israel, where David established his throne and where Solomon will continue to reign. 5. The Way of All the EarthA phrase indicating death, emphasizing the mortality of all human beings. Teaching Points The Universality of MortalityDavid acknowledges his impending death, reminding us of the brevity of life and the importance of living with purpose and intention. Strength and Courage in LeadershipDavid's charge to Solomon to "be strong" is a call to moral and spiritual fortitude, essential for godly leadership. Proving Manhood through ObedienceThe phrase "prove yourself a man" suggests that true maturity and manhood are demonstrated through obedience to God's commands and fulfilling one's responsibilities. Legacy and SuccessionDavid's instructions to Solomon highlight the importance of preparing the next generation to carry on God's work, emphasizing mentorship and discipleship. Reliance on God’s StrengthThe call to be strong is not about self-reliance but about drawing strength from God, as seen throughout Scripture. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 2
2 Chronicles 6:18: If the heavens cannot contain God, how can a physical building house His presence, and does this contradict other scriptures affirming God's omnipresence?
In Psalm 146:3, why reject human leaders entirely when other passages command respect for authorities?
How does the promise of a 'new name' for Jerusalem in Isaiah 62:2 reconcile with other biblical passages that describe unchanging divine names?
Do you know Jesus as your Savior?(2) I go the way of all the earth.--Comp. Joshua 23:14.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew “Iאָנֹכִ֣י(’ā·nō·ḵî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595:Iam about to goהֹלֵ֔ךְ(hō·lêḵ)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980:To go, come, walkthe wayבְּדֶ֖רֶךְ(bə·ḏe·reḵ)Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870:A road, a course of life, mode of actionof allכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyof the earth.הָאָ֑רֶץ(hā·’ā·reṣ)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landSo be strongוְחָזַקְתָּ֖(wə·ḥā·zaq·tā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2388:To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquerand prove yourselfוְהָיִ֥יתָֽ(wə·hā·yî·ṯā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, bea man.לְאִֽישׁ׃(lə·’îš)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male person
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OT History: 1 Kings 2:2 I am going the way of all (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |
