2 Samuel 22:29 kjv
For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
2 Samuel 22:29 nkjv
"For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness.
2 Samuel 22:29 niv
You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
2 Samuel 22:29 esv
For you are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness.
2 Samuel 22:29 nlt
O LORD, you are my lamp.
The LORD lights up my darkness.
2 Samuel 22 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 18:28 | For You light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness. | Parallel verse, reinforcing the metaphor. |
| Ps 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? | God as ultimate source of security and salvation. |
| Ps 36:9 | For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. | God as the origin of all life and truth. |
| Ps 112:4 | Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; Gracious and compassionate and righteous. | God brings relief to the righteous in adversity. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. | God's word as a means of guidance and illumination. |
| Prov 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light... | God's instruction provides direction for life. |
| Isa 9:2 | The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light... | Prophecy of spiritual light for those in distress, fulfilled in Christ. |
| Isa 42:6 | I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness... I will also give You as a light to the nations... | God's servant (Christ) as light to Gentiles. |
| Isa 60:1-2 | Arise, shine; for your light has come... darkness will cover the earth... the Lord will arise upon you... | Future glory for God's people, shining with His light amidst global darkness. |
| Isa 60:19 | No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord as an everlasting light... | God Himself as the ultimate, eternal source of light. |
| Job 29:3 | When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; | Job's recollection of God's past guidance in difficulty. |
| Jn 1:4-5 | In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. | Jesus as the divine Light in the world. |
| Jn 8:12 | Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world..." | Jesus explicitly identifying Himself as the Light. |
| Jn 12:46 | I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. | Purpose of Jesus' advent: to free from spiritual darkness. |
| Lk 1:79 | To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace. | Prophecy of John the Baptist regarding the coming of Christ as light and guide. |
| Mt 4:16 | THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED. | Jesus' ministry fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of light for the lost. |
| Mt 5:14-16 | "You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before men..." | Believers are to reflect God's light to the world. |
| Eph 5:8 | For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light... | Transformation of believers from darkness to light through Christ. |
| Col 1:12-13 | ...having qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness... | God rescuing believers from the power of darkness and transferring them to light. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | ...that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; | Purpose of believers' calling: to declare God's praise. |
| Rev 21:23 | And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. | Ultimate dwelling where God and the Lamb are the sole light. |
2 Samuel 22 verses
2 Samuel 22 29 Meaning
This verse proclaims God (YHWH) as the singular source of illumination and guidance, transforming personal distress and confusion ("my darkness") into clarity and hope. It is an expression of deep trust and an acknowledgment of God's active, salvific intervention in times of dire affliction, specifically David's numerous deliverances from enemies.
2 Samuel 22 29 Context
2 Samuel chapter 22 is a psalm of deliverance, nearly identical to Psalm 18. It is attributed to David as a "song of praise to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." This places the verse within a broader narrative of severe trial and triumphant deliverance. David had endured relentless pursuit and threats from Saul, betrayal, and many battles. His life was often shrouded in physical and emotional "darkness" (danger, fear, confusion, despair). In this psalm, David recounts God's powerful intervention, using rich poetic and often martial imagery to describe how YHWH fought on his behalf. Verse 29 specifically focuses on God's nature as the illuminator in David's deepest distress, signifying spiritual clarity, hope, and an end to despair brought about by divine action.
Word Analysis
- For you (כִּי־אַתָּה - ki-attah): The Hebrew ki often introduces a reason or explanation ("for," "because"). Attah is the emphatic second-person singular pronoun "you." The phrase together conveys a strong affirmation and direct address, emphasizing that God, and God alone, is the one who performs this act. It highlights the intimate, personal relationship between David and YHWH.
- are my lamp (נֵרִי - neri): The word ner (נֵר) literally means 'lamp' or 'light'. In ancient Israel, a lamp (typically an oil lamp) was essential for light, especially at night. It symbolized life, guidance, hope, prosperity, the presence of God, and understanding. The suffix '-i' (ִי) makes it possessive, "my lamp," signifying God's personal provision and close involvement in David's life. It suggests God Himself is the source of all the guidance, life, and vision David possesses.
- O Lord (יהוה - YHWH): The tetragrammaton, the personal and covenant name of God in Israel. It underscores that this profound illumination comes from the unchangeable, ever-present, sovereign God who made a covenant with David and his lineage.
- and the Lord (וַיהוָה - vaYHWH): The prefix wa (וַ) means 'and'. The repetition of YHWH reinforces the divine agency and sovereign power at play. It's not just that God is the lamp, but He actively does the illuminating.
- illumines (יָאִיר - ya'ir): This verb is from the root 'or (אור), meaning 'to shine' or 'to give light'. The form is Hiphil imperfect, which is causative, meaning 'He causes to shine', 'He brings light', or 'He gives light'. It implies an active, intentional, and effective action of God to bring light into darkness.
- my darkness (חָשְׁכִּי - chosheki): The noun choshek (חָשֶׁךְ) means 'darkness', 'obscurity', 'misery', 'affliction', 'distress', or 'trouble'. It represents David's literal and metaphorical trials, periods of despair, confusion, and life-threatening danger. The possessive suffix '-i' ('my') again personalizes the experience; it's his specific suffering that God addresses.
2 Samuel 22 29 Bonus section
This verse features a type of poetic parallelism, where the two halves of the verse reinforce and expand upon the same idea. "You are my lamp" and "the Lord illumines my darkness" function in synonymous parallelism, using different metaphors (God as lamp; God's action of illuminating) to convey the same core truth: God brings light into dark situations. The choice of "my lamp" for the first part and then switching to the direct action of "illumines my darkness" emphasizes both God's consistent nature (He is light) and His active, redemptive work (He gives light). This speaks to God's complete sufficiency: He provides the resource (Himself as the lamp) and then employs that resource to directly impact the individual's situation.
2 Samuel 22 29 Commentary
2 Samuel 22:29 powerfully expresses a foundational truth: God is the ultimate source of light and deliverance in all human experience, particularly in the depths of personal affliction. David, a man familiar with literal and metaphorical "darkness" through Saul's pursuit, battle, and personal sin, proclaims that YHWH is not merely a static source of light, but an active agent who transforms despair into hope. The dual description—"You are my lamp" and "the Lord illumines my darkness"—highlights both God's nature and His dynamic intervention. As "my lamp," God embodies guidance and sustenance. By "illumining my darkness," He actively dispels confusion, fear, and hopelessness, revealing a path forward. This truth applies to any "darkness" encountered—be it uncertainty in decision-making, deep emotional pain, a season of prolonged suffering, or spiritual blindness. God is always ready to bring His clarifying, comforting, and delivering light.