1 Kings 2:2

1 Kings 2:2

I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

a. NLT: “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man.

b. NIV: “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man,

c. YLT:  'I am going in the way of all the earth, and thou hast been strong, and become a man,

d. Amplified Bible: I go the way of all the earth. Be strong and show yourself a man;

e. Septuagint: 1 Kings 2:1, 2: And the days of David drew near that he should die: and he addressed his son Solomon, saying, I go the way of all the earth: 2 but be thou strong, and shew thyself a man;

1). In the Septuagint Bible the first part of verse 2 is the end of the first verse so I included the first verse with the second.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: I am going the way of all the earth; be strong and become a man.

1. “I go the way of all the earth…”

a. I go [1980 *  halak] [Strong: akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.]

b. the way [1870 * derek [Strong: from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side), whither(-soever).]

c. of all the earth [776 * 'erets eh'-rets from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). The “way of all the earth” here is death. This is what David was referring to and it is the result of the fall.

a). 1 Kings 2:1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

b). Genesis 3: 17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

2. “…be thou strong therefore…”

a. strong [2388 * chazaq][Strong: a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid, amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.]

1). The same Hebrew word is used three times in a passage from Joshua. The context of the passage is the Lord God exhorting and commanding Joshua in his replacing Moses as Israel’s leader.

a). Joshua 1:5-9 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lordthy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

3. “…and shew thyself a man.”

a. and shew thyself a man [376 * ‘iysh][Strong: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

1). The different translations have a variety of insertions here, some say, “take courage and be a man” others have “be strong and become a man.” If the insertions are left out it reads, “be strong man.” Personally I like the translation “be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.” Those words have inspired and lifted me up many times. My question is how do we show ourselves to be “men”. In different cultures manhood has been depicted in a variety of ways, but what does the Scripture say about how we show ourselves men? I believe part of the answer is in the next verse, but before we go there let’s explore a couple things.

a). Scripture says that Jesus is the perfect man.

(1) Ephesians 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

b). The Scripture also declare that Jesus is the expressed image of God and Jesus himself said so. When we see Jesus, we see the heart of God. 

(1) Hebrews 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

(2) John 14:6-9 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

c). All of the characteristics of real manhood and real womanhood, the way they were designed by God are exhibited when a man or a woman walk in obedience to God’s word. The next verse tells us so.