2 Samuel 1:16 kjv

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.

2 Samuel 1:16 nkjv

So David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.' "

2 Samuel 1:16 niv

For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.'?"

2 Samuel 1:16 esv

And David said to him, "Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.'"

2 Samuel 1:16 nlt

"You have condemned yourself," David said, "for you yourself confessed that you killed the LORD's anointed one."

2 Samuel 1 verses

2 Samuel 1 16 Meaning

2 Samuel 1:16 records David's decree of immediate judgment upon the Amalekite who claimed responsibility for Saul's death. David declares that the Amalekite's own words of self-incrimination serve as the testimony proving his guilt, making him personally accountable for the slaying of the Lord's anointed king. This verse encapsulates David's righteous zeal for the divine institution of kingship and his understanding of God's covenant with His chosen leader.

2 Samuel 1 16 Context

The context of 2 Samuel 1:16 is David's immediate aftermath of learning about the deaths of King Saul and his son Jonathan at the battle of Gilboa. David receives news from an Amalekite messenger who claims to have administered the fatal blow to Saul at Saul's own request, after Saul was gravely wounded by the Philistines. The Amalekite brings Saul's crown and armband to David, likely hoping for reward, thinking David would rejoice over his rival's demise. However, David's reaction is one of profound grief, expressing lamentation over Saul and Jonathan. The previous verses (2 Sam 1:13-15) show David questioning the Amalekite's origin and his audacity in claiming to have "slain the Lord's anointed." This verse (1:16) marks David's decisive judgment and the swift execution of the Amalekite for this sacrilegious act. Historically, Israelite kings were chosen and anointed by God through prophets, granting them a sacred status and immunity from personal assault, an act that violated God's sacred appointment.

2 Samuel 1 16 Word analysis

• And David said unto him,: Signifies a direct address and official pronouncement. David is taking on a kingly and judicial role.
• Thy blood: (Hebrew: dam'kha - your blood) Refers to the Amalekite's life, implying a just demand for capital punishment. It represents the personal accountability for his actions.
• be upon thy head: (Hebrew: b'rosh'kha - on your head) This idiomatic expression conveys personal responsibility and the burden of guilt. The act of shedding blood falls squarely on the perpetrator, not on David who executes the judgment. It's a legal and theological declaration of just retribution.
• for thy mouth: (Hebrew: ki-fi'kha - for your mouth) Emphasizes that the man's own words are the primary evidence against him. His boast becomes his downfall.
• hath testified against thee: (Hebrew: anah ve'kha - has answered/testified against you) The act of speaking becomes a legally binding testimony, condemning the speaker himself. This aligns with biblical legal principles where self-incrimination, especially in capital cases, leads to conviction.
• saying, I have slain: (Hebrew: anokhi motatti - I myself have killed) The specific admission that led to his condemnation. The emphasis is on the personal and deliberate act.
• the Lord's anointed: (Hebrew: meshiakh YHWH - Messiah Yahweh) This is the crux of the offense. Saul, though fallen from divine favor, remained the divinely appointed king of Israel in the eyes of many, especially David. To "touch" or "slay" God's anointed was not merely an act of regicide but an assault on the divine office and, by extension, God's sovereign choice. It demonstrates David's profound respect for the sacred institution of kingship and God's appointment, even toward his own persecutor. This title later takes on ultimate significance with Jesus, the true Messiah.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Thy blood be upon thy head: A severe curse or pronouncement of a just recompense. It is David's declaration that the responsibility for the Amalekite's death lies entirely with the Amalekite himself, due to his own actions and confession. It signals that David's act of executing the Amalekite is not vengeance but divine justice administered.
• for thy mouth hath testified against thee: This phrase establishes the basis for the judgment. It highlights a critical legal principle: the individual's own testimony can be sufficient for conviction, especially in confession of a heinous crime. The Amalekite, by speaking falsely (or truly, from David's perspective, concerning an inexcusable act), condemned himself. It underscores the power and gravity of one's words before God and man.
• saying, I have slain the Lord's anointed: This is the precise nature of the offense and its gravity. The Amalekite claimed to have personally extinguished the life of someone set apart by God. This act was seen by David as sacrilege, demonstrating utter disrespect for the divine will and institution of Israel's monarchy. David’s swift judgment serves as a deterrent and a statement of his loyalty to God's authority above all else.

2 Samuel 1 16 Bonus section

It is important to consider the potential for the Amalekite's lie. In 1 Samuel 31, Saul falls on his own sword. While the Amalekite claimed to deliver the final blow, many commentators believe he fabricated this detail to gain favor and reward from David, assuming David would be pleased. Whether he actually killed Saul or not, his boast was treated by David as an act of regicide and sacrilege, meriting immediate death. David judged the Amalekite by his words, accepting his testimony at face value concerning the heinous act of laying hands on "the Lord's anointed." The Amalekite's identity is also significant; God had previously commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Sam 15), a command Saul failed to fully obey, contributing to his downfall. Ironically, an Amalekite now brings the news of Saul's death and meets his end at the hands of David for claiming a hand in it. This poetic justice highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His judgments, even through human agency.

2 Samuel 1 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 1:16 encapsulates David's unwavering respect for God's divine order and the sacredness of His chosen representatives. David's response to the Amalekite is not rooted in personal rivalry or the desire to secure the throne, but in righteous indignation against a profane act. The Amalekite, perhaps ignorant of Israelite reverence for kingship or hoping for reward, sealed his own fate by claiming to have killed the "Lord's anointed." David's immediate execution reflects a severe commitment to justice and the honor due to God's chosen leader. This incident sets a clear precedent for David's future reign, demonstrating his devotion to Yahweh and His institutions, a characteristic that set him apart from Saul. It illustrates the solemn responsibility that came with Israelite kingship, not only for the king but for those who interacted with him. David, a "man after God's own heart," prioritized God's honor above his personal ambitions or the political expediency of Saul's death.