2 Samuel 21 21

2 Samuel 21:21 kjv

And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.

2 Samuel 21:21 nkjv

So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him.

2 Samuel 21:21 niv

When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him.

2 Samuel 21:21 esv

And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down.

2 Samuel 21:21 nlt

But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shimea.

2 Samuel 21 verses

2 Samuel 21 21 Meaning

This verse describes a significant act of valor: the defeat of a formidable Philistine giant who brazenly taunted Israel. Jonathan, a nephew of King David, bravely confronted and struck down this massive opponent. The act served as a testament to God's continued deliverance for Israel and the courage of David's men, echoing David's own triumph over Goliath, and removing a great threat that defied God's people.

2 Samuel 21 21 Context

2 Samuel 21 is part of an appendix (chapters 21-24) to the books of Samuel, which provide supplementary historical information and theological reflection rather than strictly chronological narrative. These chapters interrupt the main storyline of David's reign (which essentially concludes in chapter 20) and serve several purposes: to resolve issues like the famine (2 Sam 21:1-14), to record additional acts of David's mighty men against the Philistines, to provide lists of these men, and to recount David's census and subsequent plague.

Verse 21 falls within a section (2 Sam 21:15-22) specifically detailing battles between David's forces and Philistine giants, likely descendants of the Rephaim. This specific event showcases not David himself, but one of his nephews, Jonathan, defeating a giant who dared to "defy Israel." The historical context involves ongoing Philistine threats to Israel's stability and sovereignty, even after David had largely secured the kingdom. Culturally, the narrative emphasizes individual acts of heroism under divine blessing and underscores the reality of physical threats to God's people. The recurring motif of giants (first Goliath, now others) being overcome by Israelites highlights that God continues to deliver His people, often through unexpected or specific individuals. These victories served as a constant polemic against the Philistine gods and the notion that their mighty warriors were invincible, asserting the supremacy of the God of Israel.

2 Samuel 21 21 Word analysis

• When he defied: The Hebrew verb is ḥārāph (חָרַף), meaning "to reproach," "to defy," "to insult," "to taunt." It signifies a public challenge, a verbal assault designed to provoke and demoralize. This is the exact same verb used to describe Goliath's challenge in 1 Sam 17:10, directly linking this act of defiance to the most famous giant confrontation in Israel's history. Such defiance was not just against the Israelite army but fundamentally against the God they served, implying that He was powerless to save them.
• Israel: Refers to the collective nation, God's covenant people. The giant's defiance was directed at them, but implicitly against the Lord their God, who led their armies. Their honor, identity, and trust in God were at stake.
• Jonathan: Not the famous son of Saul, but Jonathan, the son of Shimea (also spelled Shimeah or Shammah), who was David's brother (specifically his older brother, 1 Sam 16:9). This connection highlights that heroism was present not only in David but also in his close family, signifying that divine favor and valor were spreading within the house of David. His act is part of a lineage of strength.
• The son of Shimea, David’s brother: This precise familial identification is crucial. It underscores the connection to David, showing that David's anointing extended beyond himself, influencing and empowering those connected to him. It solidifies the legitimate and powerful presence of David's household as leaders in Israel, beyond just David's personal acts of war.
• Struck him down: The Hebrew verb nākāh (נָכָה), which broadly means "to strike," "to hit," "to smite," often leading to fatal consequences in a military context. This decisive action confirms the immediate and fatal outcome of the confrontation, paralleling David's similar decisive victory over Goliath.

Words-group analysis:

• "When he defied Israel, Jonathan...struck him down": This phrase encapsulates the core action and counteraction. It highlights the direct confrontation: an insolent challenge from an enemy against God's people met with a decisive, courageous response from a faithful warrior. The defiance acts as the catalyst, and the swift action signifies effective deliverance. It mirrors the theological pattern throughout the Old Testament: when a threat against God's people arises and mocks His power, God raises up an instrument to demonstrate His might and faithfulness.

2 Samuel 21 21 Bonus section

• This event, along with the other giant-slaying narratives in 2 Samuel 21:15-22 and their parallels in 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, emphasizes that David's initial single combat with Goliath was not an isolated miracle, but established a pattern of divine assistance against seemingly insurmountable physical odds that continued throughout his reign and through his "mighty men" and family.
• The detail in 1 Chr 20:6 about the giant having "six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number" serves to amplify his abnormal and formidable nature. This genetic anomaly further set him apart as a super-human threat, making his defeat even more significant as a demonstration of God's power over unusual and overwhelming challenges.
• Jonathan, son of Shimea, being David's nephew means he belonged to the immediate family of David. His participation in such a pivotal victory underscores the idea that God's blessing extended to David's lineage, providing future hope and legitimacy to the Davidic dynasty beyond just David's lifetime.
• These "appendix" chapters of Samuel (21-24) also offer a deliberate counter-narrative to human weakness and sin documented elsewhere in David's reign (e.g., the Bathsheba affair). They show that despite human failures, God remains faithful, securing David's kingdom and achieving His purposes through both famous acts and lesser-known deeds of valor.

2 Samuel 21 21 Commentary

2 Samuel 21:21 provides a vital snapshot of continued divine activity in the reign of David, emphasizing that God's deliverance was not limited to David's personal triumphs but extended to and through those connected to him. The "defiance" by the Philistine giant was not merely an act of bravado; it was a religious and ideological challenge against the very essence of Israel's existence as God's chosen nation. Just as Goliath had scoffed at "the armies of the living God," this unnamed giant, with his grotesque deformity (detailed in 1 Chr 20:6), mocked Israel, suggesting their God was incapable of protecting them. Jonathan's decisive strike, therefore, was an act of faith and a testament to the power of God working through his servant. This specific narrative serves to buttress the theological theme of God's unceasing commitment to His covenant with David (2 Sam 7) and His people, demonstrating that even formidable and terrifying foes will ultimately fall when God empowers His instruments. It reinforces the lesson that victory in God's name transcends personal strength or size, reflecting divine providence and sustained intervention against those who oppose His divine plan.