Bible Strands
2 Samuel 20:9
“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joab speaks to Amasa at the great stone in Gibeon, immediately after drawing a dagger from his belt and before delivering a fatal stab.
The words — הֲ/שָׁל֥וֹם (ha./sha.Lom) literally means "peace?" or "are you well?", while יַד\־ (yad-) specifies the hand that physically seizes Amasa by the beard.
The thread — The text records a deceptive greeting that parallels the betrayal signal in Matthew 26:48 and Luke 22:47, and aligns with the observation in Psalms 55:21 that smooth speech can conceal violent intent.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to note the precise moment friendly words are used to lower a guard before violence is executed, demanding attention to the disconnect between spoken greeting and immediate physical action.
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 Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”
- Luke 22:47 While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.
- Psalms 55:21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
- Proverbs 26:24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Micah 7:2 The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.