2 Samuel 22 15

2 Samuel 22:15 kjv

And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

2 Samuel 22:15 nkjv

He sent out arrows and scattered them; Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.

2 Samuel 22:15 niv

He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.

2 Samuel 22:15 esv

And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them.

2 Samuel 22:15 nlt

He shot arrows and scattered his enemies;
his lightning flashed, and they were confused.

2 Samuel 22 verses

2 Samuel 22 15 Meaning

This verse powerfully depicts God's decisive and overwhelming intervention on behalf of His servant, David. It illustrates the Lord as a divine warrior who employs cosmic forces—arrows and lightning—as His weapons to directly combat, dismantle, and utterly defeat the enemies of His anointed. It signifies immediate, irresistible divine judgment and total victory for His chosen one.

2 Samuel 22 15 Context

This verse is a pivotal part of "David's Song of Deliverance," recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 22 and nearly identically in Psalm 18. This song is David's outpouring of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for rescuing him from all his enemies, particularly from the hand of Saul (2 Sam 22:1). The entire song functions as a grand theophany, a vivid description of God's majestic descent and mighty intervention in David's life. It recalls a period of intense struggle and divine faithfulness. Culturally, the original audience, the people of Israel, deeply understood the concept of Yahweh as a divine warrior who fought for His people, having experienced His mighty hand in the Exodus, the conquest of Canaan, and various battles during the time of the Judges. The imagery here also serves as a strong counter-narrative to the idolatry of the surrounding nations, who often worshipped storm gods like Baal. David affirms that it is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who truly commands the heavens and all natural phenomena as instruments of His sovereign will.

2 Samuel 22 15 Word analysis

• וַיִּשְׁלַח (vayyishlach) - "Then he sent out / shot": This Hebrew verb indicates a deliberate, decisive action, emphasizing God's direct initiative. It’s not a passive observation but an active release, pointing to a strategic engagement by the divine warrior.
• חִצִּים (chitshim) - "arrows": Literally meaning "arrows," these are here metaphorical for God's precise, rapid, and destructive instruments of judgment. In biblical poetry, arrows often symbolize divine judgments, pestilence, or calamity that targets and impacts swiftly.
• וַיְפִיצֵם (vayefitsem) - "and scattered them": This verb implies breaking up a consolidated force, causing dispersal and disarray. It speaks to the immediate effect of God's initial assault, leading to the fragmentation and disorganization of the enemy.
• בָּרָק (baraq) - "lightning": This refers to literal lightning, a dramatic and awe-inspiring manifestation of God's power and presence in the natural world. In Scripture, lightning frequently accompanies divine appearances (theophanies) and represents God's terrifying speed, might, and fiery judgment.
• וַיְהֻמֵּם (vayhummam) - "and routed them": This powerful verb signifies a state of complete confusion, panic, and discomfiture, leading to utter defeat and flight. It describes a deeper, more profound breakdown than mere scattering, implying the enemy was utterly overwhelmed psychologically and physically, incapable of resistance.

Words-group analysis

• "He sent out arrows and scattered them": This phrase portrays God as a precise marksman, delivering targeted strikes that effectively break the enemy's formation. It conveys an image of strategic divine assault causing the foe to lose cohesion and flee in disorder. This emphasizes the immediate, direct impact of God's judgment, causing the enemy to break ranks and fall into disarray.
• "lightning, and routed them": This group of words amplifies the destructive power, indicating an overwhelming, instantaneous force. Lightning symbolizes God's awesome speed, terrifying presence, and devastating impact, which leads not just to physical dispersal but to absolute terror and internal chaos, leaving the enemy utterly demoralized and unable to fight. It represents an overwhelming, cataclysmic blow.
• The parallelism of "arrows and scattered" with "lightning and routed": This poetic structure intensifies the sense of God's comprehensive victory. The two lines describe the same divine action of warfare and judgment from different but complementary perspectives, ensuring that no aspect of the enemy remains intact. It highlights God’s multifaceted approach to battle, utilizing both precision (arrows) and raw power (lightning) for total devastation of His adversaries.

2 Samuel 22 15 Bonus section

• The profound similarity between 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 highlights the importance and theological depth of this song in Israel's history and liturgy, showing it as a foundational confession of David's faith.
• This verse counters any perception of God as a distant or passive deity. It showcases Yahweh as actively involved in the affairs of humanity, exercising His supreme authority through tangible, if sometimes symbolic, manifestations of power.
• The imagery of a storm-god figure, while common in ancient Near Eastern religions (e.g., Baal), is here entirely subservient to Yahweh. This subtly underscores the unique supremacy of the God of Israel; He doesn't just possess these powers, He commands them as aspects of His intrinsic nature.
• The immediate and decisive nature of the scattering and routing underscores the totality of God's victory. When God intervenes, the outcome is conclusive; there is no recovery for the routed enemy.

2 Samuel 22 15 Commentary

This verse is a profound testament to God's active role as a mighty deliverer and divine warrior. It's not a mere poetic flourish but a declaration of Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty and readiness to intervene decisively on behalf of His chosen. The imagery of arrows and lightning serves as potent metaphors for His irresistible power, delivering swift, precise, and utterly devastating judgment upon those who oppose His plans or harm His anointed. This passage instills assurance in believers that God combats their foes with incomparable might, demonstrating that even the forces of nature bend to His will to achieve His redemptive purposes. It encourages a deep trust in God's capacity to overcome any obstacle for His faithful ones.