2 Samuel 1:22 kjv

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

2 Samuel 1:22 nkjv

From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

2 Samuel 1:22 niv

"From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.

2 Samuel 1:22 esv

"From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

2 Samuel 1:22 nlt

The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.

2 Samuel 1 verses

2 Samuel 1 22 Meaning

This verse is part of David's eulogy for Saul and Jonathan, praising their unparalleled military effectiveness and prowess in battle. It vividly describes their absolute success against their enemies: from the vast amount of bloodshed by the slain and the spoils taken from the strongest warriors, it was evident that Jonathan's bow consistently struck its mark and never failed, just as Saul's sword always returned from conflict having achieved its objective, never without victory or having shed blood.

2 Samuel 1 22 Context

This verse is an integral part of "The Song of the Bow" (2 Sam 1:19-27), David's heartfelt lament over the tragic deaths of King Saul and his son Jonathan on Mount Gilboa, at the hands of the Philistines. Coming immediately after David received news of their demise and the capture of their bodies by the Philistines, this song is not a mere eulogy but a poignant expression of grief and respect from David, who had a complex relationship with Saul but a profound bond with Jonathan. Despite Saul's earlier attempts on David's life, David honors the fallen king as God's anointed and praises the unwavering martial strength of both Saul and Jonathan. The lament seeks to enshrine their memory as mighty warriors in the hearts of Judah's people.

2 Samuel 1 22 Word analysis

• From the blood of the slain (מִדַּם חֲלָלִים, middam ḥalalim): "Blood" (דַּם, dam) denotes the life essence, often signifying death and sacrifice in battle. "Slain" (חֲלָלִים, ḥalalim) refers to those pierced through, the fallen warriors, enemies who were defeated and killed. This phrase emphasizes the high cost paid by the enemies, a testament to the warriors' ferocity and success in causing many casualties.
• From the fat of the mighty (מֵחֵלֶב גִּבּוֹרִים, meḥelev gibborim): "Fat" (חֵלֶב, ḥelev) in the ancient Near East was considered the best and richest part, reserved for God in sacrifices (e.g., Lev 3:16). Here, "the fat of the mighty" (גִּבּוֹרִים, gibborim - warriors/heroes) refers to the choicest spoils or the prime vitality of the defeated strong men. It signifies utterly overcoming and consuming the strength and resources of the formidable enemy, leaving nothing of their power.
• The bow of Jonathan (קֶשֶׁת יְהוֹנָתָן, qesheth yehonatan): "Bow" (קֶשֶׁת, qesheth) was a principal weapon of warfare, requiring skill and precision. Jonathan, meaning "The Lord has given," was known for his military prowess (1 Sam 14:6). This specifically attributes exceptional archery skill and consistent success to Jonathan.
• Turned not back (לֹא נָשׂוֹג, lo nasog): This phrase implies that Jonathan's bow was always accurate, hitting its target without fail or needing to retrieve arrows for a second attempt on the same target. It speaks to unerring skill and decisive power; his arrows never returned without finding their mark and inflicting harm.
• And the sword of Saul (וְחֶרֶב שָׁאוּל, veḥerev sha'ul): "Sword" (חֶרֶב, ḥerev) was another primary close-quarters weapon. Saul, meaning "asked for/prayed for," was Israel's first king, and though his later life was marked by disobedience, his initial reputation and skill as a warrior were significant (1 Sam 11:11).
• Returned not empty (לֹא תָשׁוּב רֵיקָם, lo tashuv reiqam): This idiomatic expression denotes complete effectiveness and success. Saul's sword never returned to its sheath without having drawn blood, striking down an enemy, or achieving its martial purpose. It implies absolute, undeniable victory.

• From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty: This powerful parallelism uses two distinct images, both emphasizing total devastation of the enemy. "Blood" signifies death and massive casualties, while "fat" suggests not only the best of the enemies (their leaders or choicest warriors) but also the completeness of their defeat, indicating utter destruction and removal of their strength. The preposition "from" highlights the origin or result – the magnitude of Saul and Jonathan's success could be measured by the vast bloodshed and vital spoils obtained.
• The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty: This pairing demonstrates the complementary nature of their military effectiveness: Jonathan's long-range accuracy and Saul's close-combat deadliness. Both phrases are idiomatic ways of saying their weapons were unfailingly effective, never failing to achieve their objective of subduing or destroying the enemy. This perfect parallelism emphasizes their shared, unwavering martial capability.

2 Samuel 1 22 Bonus section

This verse, through its specific imagery of "blood of the slain" and "fat of the mighty," emphasizes not just the act of killing but the scale and depth of the victory achieved. The "fat" here connects to the concept of the best parts, often offered to God, implying that Saul and Jonathan overcame the very strongest and choicest of their adversaries. This also signifies the total expenditure of enemy life and strength in their presence. The precise parallelism regarding the "bow of Jonathan" and the "sword of Saul" underscores their combined and complementary military genius – one, an accurate long-range archer, the other, a deadly close-combat swordsman. This depiction serves as a prime example of ideal martial effectiveness in the ancient world, becoming a model for David's lament to express their historical significance to Israel.

2 Samuel 1 22 Commentary

David's lament for Saul and Jonathan elevates their military achievements, specifically highlighting their unmatched prowess with their primary weapons. This verse paints a picture of warriors whose engagements always resulted in decisive victories, characterized by overwhelming enemy casualties and complete subjugation. It serves not only as a testament to their individual skill and courage but also as an acknowledgment of the collective strength they represented for Israel against its foes. By focusing on their battle effectiveness, David acknowledges a quality that, despite other complexities in their lives and reigns, remained constant and commendable, making them worthy of such a powerful eulogy among their people. This lament, "The Song of the Bow," ensured that their martial legacy, particularly their unwavering commitment to battle, would be remembered and sung throughout Judah, inspiring future generations.