The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 15:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And Ethai answered the king, saying: As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth: in what place soever thou shalt be, my lord, O king, either in death, or in life, there will thy servant be.

Douay-Rheims

וַיַּ֧עַן אִתַּ֛י אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חַי־יְהוָ֗ה וְחֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֠י אִם־בִּמְק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֣ם ׀ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִם־לְמָ֙וֶת֙ אִם־לְחַיִּ֔ים כִּי־שָׁ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

As the king's concern for him increased, so did his loyalty. He declared, ‘The Lord lives, and your soul lives, my lord the king; wherever you may be, whether in life or in death, your servant will be there.’ This serves as a lesson for our understanding, teaching us not to abandon our friends in times of trouble, but to remain steadfast in their support when circumstances are challenging.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.