Inquiry to the Esteemed Editors of the Lexham English Bible (LEB) Regarding 2 Samuel 23:5a

S. SALEM · 2025-06-14T06:32:07+00:00

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Inquiry to the esteemed editors of the Lexham English Bible (LEB) regarding 2 Samuel 23:5a. I would like to address your rendering of 2 Samuel 23:5a as a negative statement: “Yet not so is my house with God,” (2 Samuel 23:5a, LEB).

Most contemporary English translations, including the English Standard Version (ESV), Christian Standard Bible (CSB), New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible (NASB 2020), Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), New Living Translation (NLT), New English Translation (NET2), New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue), God’s Word Translation (GW), Revised English Bible (REB), New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), New Jerusalem Bible (NJB), and JPS TANAKH (TANAKH), interpret this part of the verse affirmatively or frame it as a rhetorical question expecting an affirmative response. In contrast, some older translations, such as the King James Version (KJV) and its update, the New King James Version (NKJV), present a negative interpretation, along with the Geneva Bible, which is particularly unclear to me in this verse. However, Green’s Literal Translation (LITV/KJ3) and the Modern English Version (MEV) do not adopt this view. Notably, the KJV also negatively translates the concluding portion of the verse, stating: “Although my house be not so with God… although he make it not to grow” (2 Samuel 23:5, NCPB/KJV). If the KJV is correct, wouldn’t that mean David is saying that his house is not right with God and that God will not make it grow? If so, wouldn’t this nullify the Davidic Covenant (cf. 2 Samuel 7)?

My question is: Based on your understanding of the text, do you believe David was asserting or denying the righteousness of his house concerning God, both in the present and the future? Either interpretation is possible, but they cannot be true for both. Alternatively, might the LEB be missing a question mark at the end of 2 Samuel 23:5a instead of a comma, which would render it as “Yet not so is my house with God?” rather than “Yet not so is my house with God,”?

Also, I'd like to point out that your in-house publication, the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary by Lexham Press, translates this passage affirmatively. Harry A. Hoffner Jr. interprets it as: “Is not indeed my house like this with God?”1 The Septuagint's Modern English translations also positively interpret this part. However, both the NETS and LES2 translations present the ending of the verse negatively, addressing the lawless or wicked instead of David, as: “For is my house not so with Someone Strong?… for my whole salvation and total will is that the lawless shall not sprout” (2 Samuel 23:5, NETS); and “For is this not my house with the strong one?… because my entire deliverance and every desire is that the wicked would not sprout” (2 Kingdoms 23:5, LES2). Brenton’s older LXX English translation also chosen a negative statement for the beginning of the verse, following the KJV: “For my house is not so with the Mighty One: … for all my salvation and all my desire is that the wicked should not flourish” (2 Kingdoms 23:5, Brenton LXX En).

A. A. Anderson translates the verse as “Truly my house is right with God.” He notes that the initial colon of the verse can be understood in various ways, supported by both ancient and modern translations. While Anderson interprets this statement positively, he mentions that Mettinger, in "King and Messiah" (p. 280), views the entire verse as a rhetorical question. The KJV presents it as “Although my house be not so with God…” but Anderson finds this rendering less satisfactory.2

Most contemporary scholars I am aware of interpret 2 Samuel 23:5a affirmatively as a positive statement or a rhetorical question. The only exception I have found so far is John MacArthur, who may have fallen for the possible misreading of the NKJV, which he used as the basis for the initial edition of the MacArthur Study Bible. MacArthur did not change his comments in the NASB version of his study Bible—available in the Logos store—even though the text of the NASB conveys the opposite meaning to the NKJV. He states: “In response to God’s standard for His ideal king, David confessed that his house had not always ruled over God’s people in righteousness and in the fear of God, and thus were not the fulfillment of 2 Samuel 7:12–16. Further, none of the kings of David’s line (according to 1 and 2 Kings) met God’s standard of righteous obedience.”3 Yet, the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), which MacArthur and the Master’s Seminary (TMS) endorse, translates this as a rhetorical question in the positive sense: “Truly is not my house so with God?” (2 Samuel 23:5a, LSB). I am unsure if the comments have changed in the second edition of the MacArthur Study Bible, as it has not yet shipped in Logos.

I appreciate you taking the time to look into this and await your response. Thank you.

—

1 Harry A. Hoffner Jr., 1 & 2 Samuel, vol. 2, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 859.

2 A. A. Anderson, 2 Samuel, vol. 11, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 266–269.

3 John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Sa 23:5.

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MJ. Smith

You have done an excellent job of researching your topic question. However, I suspect that you will not get a satisfactory answer as the discussion of theology is not allowed on the forums. You have done the research already that you would normally be pointed to in order to determine an answer for yourself.

S. SALEM

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1371949#Comment_1371949

Thank you, MJ Smith, for your thoughtful response; your input is genuinely appreciated. I sincerely hope that one of the editors will take note of this discussion and provide feedback. As this is my first post in the forums, I am optimistic about the potential for constructive dialogue. The Lexham English Bible (LEB) is Logos' translation and is the default version in the forums, where pop-ups display the references mentioned in posts. These forums are valuable for individuals wishing to share insights or ask questions. Let’s embrace grace and kindness toward new contributors and foster a welcoming atmosphere.

I do not wish to engage in disputes or theological debates. Upon reflection, I have noticed a potential typo in the LEB, where a comma could ideally be replaced with a question mark. This minor adjustment could transform the statement from negative to positive. However, I believe it would be premature to label this as a typo within Logos, considering that there exists an outdated minority opinion suggesting David's statement might imply his house was not in good standing with God. If this is not recognized as a typo, I will respect the editorial decisions made by the LEB team and prefer not to pursue this matter further. I came here because the LEB lacks translation notes that would provide insights into the editors' perspectives.

Mark Ward's ongoing discussions regarding the King James Version (KJV) provide valuable insights through his blog posts, YouTube videos, and book, "Authorized," released by Lexham Press. This situation highlights how the KJV differs from modern translations, regardless of one's stance. This issue is relevant to the forums because the LEB aligns with the KJV while diverging from many contemporary English translations.

I encourage those editing the MacArthur Study Bible to reassess the comments transitioned from the New King James Version (NKJV) to the New American Standard Bible (NASB 95) study Bibles. Some comments may not apply as well to the different translations. Clarifying the distinctions between translations would be highly beneficial, particularly if there is an intention to maintain a negative statement in this verse or to make the necessary adjustments in their in-house Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), which prefers a positive statement that contradicts Dr. MacArthur’s comments.