2 Samuel 22:1 kjv
And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2 Samuel 22:1 nkjv
Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2 Samuel 22:1 niv
David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2 Samuel 22:1 esv
And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2 Samuel 22:1 nlt
David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
2 Samuel 22 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Pss 18:1 | To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spoke... | Parallel song, nearly identical. |
| Ex 15:1 | Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD... | A song of deliverance after God's triumph. |
| Jdg 5:1 | Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day... | Another song of thanksgiving for deliverance. |
| 1 Sam 2:1 | And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD..." | Individual thanksgiving for divine intervention. |
| 1 Sam 7:12 | Then Samuel took a stone... and called its name Ebenezer, for he said, "Till now the LORD has helped us." | A memorial to God's deliverance. |
| Pss 3:1-8 | O LORD, how many are my foes!... But you, O LORD, are a shield... | David's cry and God's deliverance, notably from Absalom. |
| Pss 7:1-17 | O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers... | Prayer for deliverance from persecutors, expressing trust. |
| Pss 31:2-3 | Be to me a rock of refuge... for you are my rock and my fortress. | God as source of ultimate protection. |
| Pss 34:4-7 | I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. | David's personal testimony of God's faithful deliverance. |
| Pss 40:1-3 | I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. | Deliverance from distress by the LORD. |
| Pss 54:7 | For he has delivered me from every trouble... | God as the deliverer from all affliction. |
| Pss 59:1-2 | Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up... | Prayer for protection from hostile forces. |
| Pss 91:2 | I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." | Declaration of God as ultimate sanctuary. |
| Dt 32:4 | The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. | Description of God's unyielding nature and righteousness. |
| Is 26:4 | Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock. | Calls for unwavering trust in God, the eternal Rock. |
| Nah 1:7 | The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those... | God's goodness and strength in times of distress. |
| Rom 8:37 | No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. | Believer's victory through Christ over all adversaries. |
| Col 1:13 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us... | Christ's spiritual deliverance from sin's power. |
| 2 Tim 4:18 | The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely... | Assurance of divine rescue and eternal salvation. |
| Rev 15:3 | And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb... | Heavenly worship celebrating God's great and marvelous deeds. |
| Luke 1:71, 74 | That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies... | Zacharias' prophecy of ultimate deliverance through Christ. |
| Heb 2:14-15 | That through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject... | Christ's ultimate deliverance from the power of sin and death. |
2 Samuel 22 verses
2 Samuel 22 1 Meaning
This verse introduces a deeply significant song of thanksgiving and praise delivered by King David to the LORD. It establishes the precise context for this divine communication: the cumulative day when the LORD had entirely liberated David from every adversary, with a particular emphasis on his long-standing foe, Saul. It marks a moment of comprehensive divine triumph in David's life.
2 Samuel 22 1 Context
Second Samuel chapter 22 is a nearly identical retelling of Psalm 18. Its placement within 2 Samuel is significant, appearing towards the end of David's reign, just before his final words and appendix material concerning his mighty men and battles. This positioning provides a grand theological summation of David's life, affirming that God was the primary agent of his success, not David's own strength or strategic genius. Historically, David endured numerous threats: constant pursuit by King Saul, protracted wars with surrounding nations like the Philistines, Ammonites, and Syrians, and even internal rebellion led by his son Absalom. This song serves as David's culminating testimony to God's steadfast faithfulness and powerful deliverance through a lifetime of peril and warfare. It reflects on a 'day' which signifies a completed era of struggle, implying God's final victory over all threats.
2 Samuel 22 1 Word analysis
- And David spoke (וַיְדַבֵּר - vay'daber): This Piel imperfect form emphasizes an intentional and declarative act of speaking. David is not merely thinking but is uttering these words to the LORD. It signifies a profound and formal communication, an address.
- to the LORD (לַיהוָה - lYHWH): The explicit recipient of David's song is Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This immediately frames the song as a personal act of worship and a theological statement. It underscores monotheism, crediting the one true God for salvation, in contrast to any pagan deities or human power.
- the words of this song (אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת - et-divrei hashshirah hazzot): "Words of this song" emphasizes it is not just a general utterance, but a structured composition intended for singing. The term shirah (song) implies a lyrical, often poetic, expression of praise or lament, which is deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern culture as a medium for communicating profound events and divine intervention.
- on the day when (בְּיוֹם - b'yom): While "day" can mean a literal 24-hour period, in biblical usage, b'yom often denotes a period of time, a significant occasion, or a season. Here, it encompasses the totality and culmination of David's experiences of deliverance, signaling that a major phase of his life's struggles against adversaries had decisively concluded.
- the LORD delivered him (הִצִּילוֹ יְהוָה - hitzilo YHWH): The Hifil perfect verb "delivered" (from natsal) highlights the LORD's active, causative intervention. This is not David delivering himself, nor luck, nor even his armies, but direct divine action. God is the protagonist, the rescuer.
- from the hand of all his enemies (מִכַּף כָּל־אֹיְבָיו - mikkaf kol-oyvav): "Hand" (kaf) is a metonym for power, authority, and control. David was completely subjected to the power of his enemies. "All his enemies" indicates the comprehensive nature of the threat David faced, covering every person, group, or force that sought his harm or destruction. This points to the absolute, total nature of God's deliverance, leaving no enemy undefeated.
- and from the hand of Saul (וּמִיַּד שָׁאוּל - umiyyad Shaul): The specific mention of Saul is critical. Saul was David's first and arguably most persistent personal enemy for many years, the reigning king who pursued him relentlessly and sought his life despite David's loyalty. His specific inclusion demonstrates that God's deliverance was not only broad ("all enemies") but also highly specific and complete, resolving David's most foundational and life-threatening initial struggle. This emphasizes that God kept His promise to establish David's kingship.
2 Samuel 22 1 Bonus section
The literary placement of this song, essentially Psalm 18, within the historical narrative of 2 Samuel is itself significant. It functions as a capstone, offering a theological perspective on David's entire reign. While many of the individual events of David's life, including the threats from "all his enemies" and particularly Saul, are recounted throughout 1 and 2 Samuel, presenting this grand song of thanksgiving at the culmination (before a final appendix) asserts a divinely ordained, successful end to David's struggles, irrespective of the ongoing challenges. This song foreshadows the ultimate deliverance promised through the Davidic line, pointing towards the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the suffering servant and triumphant King, experiencing comprehensive deliverance from spiritual enemies, death, and sin, for all humanity. This song thereby serves as a covenant reaffirmation.
2 Samuel 22 1 Commentary
This introductory verse to David's great song of deliverance provides the essential interpretative framework for the psalm that follows. It underscores the ultimate source of David's safety and success throughout his tumultuous life: the LORD, not David's own might or wisdom. The cumulative nature of "the day when" implies a moment of profound reflection and thanksgiving, signifying the final defeat of all adversaries and the secure establishment of God's chosen king. The particular mention of "Saul" serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness even in the face of long-standing, seemingly insurmountable threats, marking the end of David's fugitive existence and the full realization of his divine call. This song is not just a personal testimony but a foundational declaration of divine sovereignty over earthly powers, establishing a pattern of deliverance for all who trust in the LORD. It teaches that victory is ultimately from God alone.