Bible Strands
2 Samuel 16:7
And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Shimei confronts David as the king flees Jerusalem, shouting curses while David’s troops stand ready nearby (2 Samuel 16:6-7). The exchange occurs during the height of Absalom’s rebellion.
The words — The doubled command צֵא (tze'), meaning “get out” or “go away,” is immediately followed by אִישׁ הַדָּמִים (ish ha-damim), literally “man of blood.”
The thread — The bloodshed charge resurfaces in 2 Samuel 16:8, where Shimei claims the LORD is repaying David for the blood of Saul’s house. Parallel condemnations of wicked leaders appear in Deuteronomy 13:13 and 1 Samuel 2:12.
Why it lands — The text records Shimei’s public accusation without validating its theological claim. A reader must separate the political curse from the narrative’s later assessment of David’s actual responsibility for Saul’s household.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 13:13 that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known),
- 1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
- 1 Samuel 25:17 Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
- 2 Samuel 3:37 So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
- 2 Samuel 11:15 In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”
- 2 Samuel 12:9 Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.
- 1 Kings 21:10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
- 1 Kings 21:13 And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
- Psalms 5:6 You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
- Psalms 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.