2 Samuel 1:27 kjv

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

2 Samuel 1:27 nkjv

"How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!"

2 Samuel 1:27 niv

"How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!"

2 Samuel 1:27 esv

"How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"

2 Samuel 1:27 nlt

Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.

2 Samuel 1 verses

2 Samuel 1 27 Meaning

2 Samuel 1:27 concludes David's lament over Saul and Jonathan, expressing deep grief and bewilderment at the devastating loss of these mighty warriors. It emphasizes the profound tragedy of their demise on the battlefield, especially highlighting the unexpected fall of powerful leaders and the complete destruction of their instruments of warfare. This verse encapsulates the shock and sorrow felt for their collective end, signifying a major turning point for Israel.

2 Samuel 1 27 Context

This verse is the concluding statement of David's elegy, "The Song of the Bow" (2 Sam 1:17-27), a lament over the tragic deaths of King Saul and his son Jonathan, at the Battle of Gilboa against the Philistines (1 Sam 31). Although Saul had relentlessly persecuted David, David expresses profound, sincere grief for him as the anointed king of Israel, and especially for Jonathan, his covenant friend. The song serves not only as an expression of mourning but also as a political and spiritual statement, affirming David's righteous sorrow and establishing his role as the unifying leader of all Israel, demonstrating respect even for his enemies as God's anointed. The entire chapter depicts David receiving news of their death and his subsequent lament, a poignant and complex display of leadership, grief, and reverence.

2 Samuel 1 27 Word analysis

• How (אֵיךְ - êyk): An interrogative particle expressing astonishment, grief, or bewilderment, not seeking an answer but articulating sorrow. It conveys the immense shock of such a loss.
• are (implied): Hebrew syntax often omits the verb "to be," inferring it from the context.
• the (definite article, part of following word in Hebrew): Marks the specificity of "mighty."
• mighty (גִּבּוֹרִים - gibbôrîm): Plural of gibbor, referring to strong, valiant, heroic warriors or powerful leaders. Here it collectively refers to Saul and Jonathan, prominent figures who were considered invincible in battle. Their "fall" is a paradox, given their stature.
• fallen (נָפָלוּ - nāp̄ālû): Third-person plural perfect of naphal, meaning "to fall, collapse, be overthrown, die." It implies a complete and devastating collapse, not just a defeat but annihilation. The repetition from earlier in the lament (1:19, 1:25) intensifies the tragic refrain.
• and (וְ - ve): A simple conjunctive, linking the two devastating aspects of the tragedy.
• the (definite article, part of following word in Hebrew).
• weapons (כְּלֵי - kᵉlê): From keli, meaning "articles, vessels, implements, equipment, weapons." This denotes the instruments and armaments essential for warfare.
• of (construct state of preceding word).
• war (מִלְחָמָה - milḥāmâ): Means "battle, war, fighting." Refers to the military engagement itself.
• perished (אׇבְדוּ - ʾāvᵉdû): Third-person plural perfect of ʾābad, meaning "to perish, be destroyed, go astray, lose." It signifies not merely a loss of physical existence for the men, but the total ineffectiveness and destruction of their war-making capability, symbolic of utter defeat.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• How are the mighty fallen!: This rhetorical exclamation encapsulates the core lament. It expresses disbelief, sorrow, and awe at the sudden demise of those previously considered unassailable. It functions as an antiphonal refrain throughout the "Song of the Bow," drawing attention to the unexpected tragedy of Saul and Jonathan's deaths. This line serves to underscore the brevity and uncertainty of life, even for the powerful. It is a poignant commentary on the fleeting nature of human strength and sovereignty in the face of death.
• and the weapons of war perished: This phrase extends the tragedy beyond the individuals. It signifies the complete rout and defeat of Israel's military might at Gilboa. The "weapons of war" represent the very instruments and power by which Israel waged its battles and defended itself. Their "perishing" indicates not just disuse but utter loss—either broken, lost on the field, or captured by the enemy. This deepens the lament, pointing to the practical and symbolic destruction of their means of national defense and power. It also subtly suggests divine judgment or abandonment, where even the tools of strength prove useless.

2 Samuel 1 27 Bonus section

The repeated refrain "How are the mighty fallen!" (appearing in 1 Sam 1:19, 1:25, 1:27) creates a powerful sense of an unchanging and haunting tragedy. This structure is common in ancient Near Eastern laments and elegy, drawing the audience into the mournful cadence and amplifying the weight of the loss. It transforms a historical event into a timeless meditation on mortality and the unpredictability of human affairs. This specific lament, attributed to David and known as "The Song of the Bow" (2 Sam 1:18), was decreed to be taught to the people of Judah, specifically highlighting its role as a communal dirge meant to impart its sorrow and lessons broadly across the nation, thus further unifying the tribes under David's nascent rule through shared grief.

2 Samuel 1 27 Commentary

2 Samuel 1:27 forms the impactful conclusion of David's deeply personal and politically astute lament. Its repetitive exclamation, "How are the mighty fallen!", reverberates with shock and profound sorrow, not merely for the death of men, but for the devastating collapse of leadership and military prowess at a crucial juncture for Israel. The fall of Saul, the anointed king, and Jonathan, the heir-apparent and a paragon of virtue and friendship, signals a momentous shift. David, despite being Saul's enemy and successor, authenticates his grief, validating the significance of these figures to the nation.

The phrase "and the weapons of war perished" is not incidental; it signifies total defeat. It speaks to the practical loss of the implements of battle and, more profoundly, to the cessation of effective resistance or triumph for Israel in that specific encounter. This imagery emphasizes the completeness of the disaster, impacting not just lives but also national capability and honor. It underlines a critical theological point: human might, even when equipped with formidable "weapons of war," is ultimately finite and vulnerable. God alone holds true sovereignty over life, death, and victory. The lament subtly elevates David as a figure capable of unifying a fragmented nation, mourning all its losses, rather than celebrating personal gain.