Parallel Strong's Berean Study BibleThen Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” Young's Literal Translation and Abner calleth unto Joab, and saith, ‘For ever doth the sword consume? hast thou not known that it is bitterness in the latter end? and till when dost thou not say to the people to turn back from after their brethren?’ King James Bible Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? Hebrew Then Abnerאַבְנֵ֜ר (’aḇ·nêr) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name called out וַיִּקְרָ֨א (way·yiq·rā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Joab: יוֹאָ֗ב (yō·w·’āḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites “Must the sword חֶ֔רֶב (ḥe·reḇ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword devour forever? תֹּ֣אכַל (tō·ḵal) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 398: To eat Do you not הֲל֣וֹא (hă·lō·w) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no realize יָדַ֔עְתָּה (yā·ḏa‘·tāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3045: To know that כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction this will only end בָּאַחֲרוֹנָ֑ה (bā·’a·ḥă·rō·w·nāh) Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 314: Hinder, late, last, western in bitterness? מָרָ֥ה (mā·rāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 4751: Bitter, bitterness, bitterly How long וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while before you tell וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say the troops לָעָ֔ם (lā·‘ām) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock to stop לָשׁ֖וּב (lā·šūḇ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again pursuing מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י (mê·’a·ḥă·rê) Preposition-m Strong's 310: The hind or following part their brothers?” אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ (’ă·ḥê·hem) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 251: A brother, ) |