2 Samuel 22 10

2 Samuel 22:10 kjv

He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

2 Samuel 22:10 nkjv

He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet.

2 Samuel 22:10 niv

He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.

2 Samuel 22:10 esv

He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.

2 Samuel 22:10 nlt

He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.

2 Samuel 22 verses

2 Samuel 22 10 Meaning

This verse powerfully depicts God's majestic, active intervention on behalf of David. It illustrates God's condescension and willingness to disrupt the natural order, manifesting His overwhelming power, symbolized by bowing the heavens and standing upon darkness, to bring deliverance.

2 Samuel 22 10 Context

This verse is an integral part of David's magnificent "Song of Deliverance" found in 2 Samuel chapter 22, almost verbatim with Psalm 18. The song is a heartfelt hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God for delivering David from all his adversaries, particularly King Saul. Verses preceding it describe David's dire distress and his desperate cry to the LORD, establishing God as his personal Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. Verse 10, therefore, initiates a vivid, poetic depiction of God's grand and awe-inspiring response to David's plea. It is part of an elaborate storm theophany, portraying the Almighty God descending in thunder, lightning, and cosmic upheaval to rescue His faithful servant. This majestic imagery not only celebrates specific instances of divine intervention in David's life but also affirms God's consistent covenant loyalty. The language used, while drawing on general ancient Near Eastern storm imagery, pointedly directs all such overwhelming power to Yahweh alone, making a strong polemical statement against pagan storm deities by exalting the unique sovereignty of Israel's God.

2 Samuel 22 10 Word analysis

• "He bowed" (וַיֵּט wayyeṭ): Derived from the Hebrew verb natah, meaning "to stretch out," "incline," or "bend down." Here, it signifies a deliberate, powerful act by God to lower the high heavens. This communicates an extraordinary divine effort, illustrating God's readiness to actively engage with the earthly realm and to condescend from His transcendent dwelling for David's sake.
• "the heavens" (שָׁמַיִם shamayim): Refers to the physical sky and symbolically to the spiritual abode of God. God, in His supreme majesty, bending His very dwelling place implies immense power over creation and underscores His personal, immediate action. It reveals His transcendence does not prevent His immanent involvement.
• "also, and came down" (וַיֵּרֶד wayyered): From the verb yarad, meaning "to go down" or "descend." This directly asserts God's personal and dynamic presence. It emphasizes His purposeful descent into the human sphere, not through proxy, but directly, to enact deliverance and judgment.
• "and darkness" (וַעֲרָפֶל va'arāpel): This term denotes thick, dense cloud, profound gloom, or active, oppressive darkness. Unlike mere absence of light, this type of darkness frequently accompanies the terrifying, awesome presence of God (e.g., at Sinai). It serves to veil God's glory, to create an atmosphere of reverence, and to symbolize His inscrutability and sometimes His impending judgment or protective shroud.
• "was under his feet" (תַּחַת רַגְלָיו tachat raglayv): This is a potent idiomatic expression signifying absolute dominion, control, and subjugation. That "darkness" (often symbolizing chaos, judgment, or divine mystery) is under God's feet means it is entirely subservient to Him, forming His platform or footstool. This conveys God's unparalleled sovereignty and His ultimate authority over all elements, even those that typically instill fear or imply concealment.

2 Samuel 22 10 Bonus section

• The dramatic, poetic language employed in this verse serves to magnify God's incomparable power and His personal investment in the lives of His people, illustrating abstract theological truths in powerful, comprehensible terms.
• This specific imagery foreshadows later biblical descriptions of God's interventions, including Christ's coming "down from heaven" (Jn 6:38) for salvation, demonstrating a consistent divine pattern of condescension for redemptive purposes.
• The anthropomorphic depiction ("feet") helps us relate to an infinite God, while still recognizing that these are metaphors for His unimaginable power and presence.
• The motif of divine power veiled in cloud or darkness protects humanity from God's full, unveiled glory while still demonstrating His might and immediate presence, as seen in accounts like the Sinai covenant.
• This verse stands as a powerful testament to God's readiness to intervene dynamically and supernaturally on behalf of those who cry out to Him in distress.

2 Samuel 22 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 22:10 offers a profound, anthropomorphic portrayal of God's saving intervention. It initiates a vivid theophany, a manifestation of God in nature, showcasing His majestic and awe-inspiring response to David's distress. "He bowed the heavens" suggests an act of unparalleled divine condescension, wherein the transcendent Creator lowers His own dwelling place. This underscores God's personal, active involvement, countering any perception of a distant or impassive deity. The subsequent "came down" affirms this direct intervention, highlighting God's immediate presence in David's time of need. The imagery of "darkness was under His feet" is particularly striking. It conveys that thick, formidable gloom, often associated with the very power or mystery of God, is not a hindrance to Him but rather serves as His majestic footstool. This communicates God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, even over elements that embody fear or chaos. It signifies His capacity to bend the cosmos and harness even darkness itself to execute His perfect will and deliver His faithful. This scene reinforces that nothing can impede the Almighty when He moves to rescue His chosen.