2 Samuel 22:22 kjv
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
2 Samuel 22:22 nkjv
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
2 Samuel 22:22 niv
For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
2 Samuel 22:22 esv
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.
2 Samuel 22:22 nlt
For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
2 Samuel 22 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 18:20 | The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness... | God rewards righteousness |
| Ps 18:21 | For I have kept the ways of the LORD... | Direct parallel, kept ways of Lord |
| Ps 18:24 | The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness... | God rewards righteousness |
| Deut 5:33 | You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you... | Command to walk in God's ways |
| Deut 10:12 | ...to walk in all his ways and to love him, and to serve the LORD... | Requirements to walk in God's ways |
| Josh 22:5 | ...to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments and cling to him. | Keep commandments, cling to God |
| Ps 1:6 | For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked... | Contrast: way of righteous vs. wicked |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way. | God guides steps of obedient |
| Prov 2:20 | So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. | Wisdom leads to righteous paths |
| Prov 13:6 | Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, but wickedness subverts the sinner. | Righteousness protects, wickedness destroys |
| Ps 7:8 | The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness... | Appeal to God's righteous judgment |
| Prov 24:12 | ...and will he not repay man according to his work? | God repays according to deeds |
| Matt 16:27 | For the Son of Man is going to come... and repay each person according to what he has done. | Christ repays according to deeds |
| Rom 2:6 | He will render to each one according to his works: | God renders according to works |
| Rev 22:12 | “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done." | Christ's return and recompense |
| Jer 17:5-6 | Cursed is the man who trusts in man... heart turns away from the LORD. | Warning against turning away from Lord |
| Deut 4:9 | ...take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget... | Diligent keeping of heart/memory |
| Heb 3:12 | Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away... | Warning against falling away (New Testament) |
| James 4:17 | So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. | Knowing and not doing is sin |
| 1 John 3:7 | Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous... | Practice righteousness as a mark of true faith |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity... | Rebellion is wicked |
| Isa 55:7 | Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD... | Call to forsake wicked ways |
| Rom 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | Universal sinfulness (NT contrast) |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith... not a result of works... | Salvation by grace, not works (NT perspective) |
| Ps 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. | David's acknowledgment of sin and need for purity |
2 Samuel 22 verses
2 Samuel 22 22 Meaning
This verse declares that God's deliverance and just dealings with David are because David has diligently adhered to God's prescribed ways of living and has not committed wicked acts of rebellion or deliberate departure from his relationship with God. It emphasizes David's overall faithfulness and integrity of heart within the covenant, contrasting it with those who act wickedly. It articulates a fundamental principle of divine justice, where God responds to and rewards upright living and loyalty to His revealed will.
2 Samuel 22 22 Context
2 Samuel chapter 22 is a profound psalm of thanksgiving attributed to David, mirroring Psalm 18. It is a climactic hymn in which David praises the LORD for delivering him from all his enemies, especially Saul. The song chronicles God's powerful intervention on David's behalf, portraying the divine as a majestic warrior who descends to save His faithful servant. Verses 21-25 form a central section where David explicitly asserts his own righteousness and integrity before God, directly connecting God's saving acts to his loyal adherence to divine covenant laws. This does not claim sinless perfection, as David's life was marred by significant failings, but rather underscores his overall posture of faithfulness and commitment to God's path, particularly in contrast to his adversaries who sought his life and were outside God's covenant loyalty. The verse emphasizes that God's justice is perfect, and He responds to a heart dedicated to His ways.
2 Samuel 22 22 Word analysis
- For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction indicates a causal relationship or introduces the reason. It frames David's faithfulness as the basis for God's previously described acts of deliverance, asserting that divine rescue is not arbitrary but rooted in God's just nature and David's walk.
- I have kept (שָׁמַרְתִּי - shāmaretî): From the root shamar, meaning to guard, preserve, observe, or watch diligently. It signifies an active, deliberate, and sustained effort to adhere to something. It is more than passive avoidance; it implies a proactive maintenance and obedience to God's standards and directives, akin to a shepherd watching his flock.
- the ways (דַּרְכֵי - darkê): Plural of derek, literally "path" or "road," metaphorically "course of life," "conduct," or "moral standard." "The ways of the LORD" refer to God's revealed moral commands, statutes, and principles found in His covenant and law. It embodies the righteous lifestyle God prescribes for His people, guiding their decisions and actions.
- of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God. Using "YHWH" emphasizes that these "ways" are not abstract laws but expressions of a personal God's character and expectations for His chosen people within a sacred relationship. David's obedience is a personal fidelity to his God.
- and have not wickedly departed (וְלֹֽא־הִרְשַׁ֥עְתִּי - velo hiršaʿtî): This crucial phrase means "and I have not acted wickedly" or "I have not been wicked." Hirsha'ti is the Hiphil stem of the verb rasha, "to be wicked" or "to commit a wrong/sin." The Hiphil suggests active perpetration of evil or causing oneself to be wicked. David states he has not engaged in deliberate, rebellious, and character-defining wickedness—a willful turning away or breaking of covenant obligations. This differentiates from unintentional or isolated sins.
- from my God (מֵאֱלֹהָֽי - mêʾělōhāy): The preposition min ("from") with Elohim ("God") and the first-person possessive suffix ("my"). This reinforces the intensely personal nature of David's relationship and his accountability within it. The phrase underscores that any wicked departure would have been a direct betrayal of his specific, intimate, covenant bond with his sovereign God. It points to a deep, personal commitment to fidelity.
Words-group analysis:
2 Samuel 22 22 Bonus section
The strong parallelism between 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 points to this as a foundational text regarding David's understanding of his relationship with God and the divine principles of justice. This self-assessment by David must be understood from the perspective of one who knows he serves a just God who rewards righteousness, even if imperfect. David's statement emphasizes the disposition of his heart—that he remained steadfast in loyalty and committed to walking according to divine standards, rather than becoming one characterized by "wickedness" or outright rebellion against God's will. It reveals that in the ancient Israelite understanding, God's justice included reciprocating human faithfulness (within the covenant) as much as it condemned wickedness. It provides a foundational template for understanding Old Covenant blessings tied to obedience and a loyal heart.
2 Samuel 22 22 Commentary
2 Samuel 22:22 functions as David's theological explanation for God's unwavering favor and deliverance. In this hymn, David isn't claiming sinless perfection, which would contradict other biblical accounts of his life (e.g., Bathsheba, the census). Instead, he is asserting his overall integrity, covenant faithfulness, and general orientation of his life towards God, particularly in contrast to his enemies or those who might oppose him. The phrase "kept the ways of the LORD" speaks to David's consistent pattern of seeking and obeying God's commands and moral standards. "Have not wickedly departed from my God" means he has not intentionally, rebelliously, or definitively turned his back on his covenant relationship with the Lord. It signifies a genuine heart desire to follow God, demonstrating a profound contrast to willful, characteristic rebellion. This verse underscores the Old Testament principle that God deals justly with individuals according to the general trajectory and sincere disposition of their heart and conduct, within the framework of His covenant promises and gracious dealings.