2nd Samuel Chapter 23 verse 6 Holy Bible
But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with the hand;
read chapter 23 in ASV
But the evil-doers, all of them, will be like thorns to be pushed away, because they may not be gripped in the hand:
read chapter 23 in BBE
But [the sons] of Belial [are] all of them as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands;
read chapter 23 in DARBY
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
read chapter 23 in KJV
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
read chapter 23 in WBT
But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, Because they can't be taken with the hand
read chapter 23 in WEB
As to the worthless -- As a thorn driven away `are' all of them, For -- not by hand are they taken;
read chapter 23 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 6, 7. - The sons of Belial; Hebrew, belial; not a proper name, but a word signifying "worthlessness," and especially vicious worthlessness (see note on 1 Samuel 1:16). It is from this worthlessness that opposition arises to the just king, and he recognizes it as that which thwarts his efforts. The words may be rendered ? "But the ungodly are as thorns, to be all of them thrust away;For they may not be taken hold of with the hand.And the man that would touch themMust arm himself with iron and the staff of a spear;And they shall be utterly burned with fire unto nothingness." The vicious worthlessness which opposes righteous government must be treated like thorns, too prickly and sharp pointed for gentle dealing. They must be torn up by an iron hook fixed to the end of a spear-handle, and then burnt. The word translated in the same place in the Authorized Version is rendered by Jerome "even to nothing;" and it is just the sort of phrase for which his authority is greatest; for he went to Palestine, and remained there several years, to study the language under Hebrew teachers on the spot. The Septuagint must have had a different reading, as it translates "their shame."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) The sons of Belial.--According to the Masoretic punctuation, Belial is not here in the common form, but in the stronger abstract form=worthlessness. The coming in of Divine righteousness leads not only to the assimilation of that which is holy, but also to the rejection of that which is evil, by a law as necessary and immutable as that of action and reaction in the material world. The figures used are to show that, although the wicked injure whatever touches them, means will yet be found by which they may safely be put out of the way.
