2 Samuel 22 30

2 Samuel 22:30 kjv

For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

2 Samuel 22:30 nkjv

For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.

2 Samuel 22:30 niv

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

2 Samuel 22:30 esv

For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

2 Samuel 22:30 nlt

In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall.

2 Samuel 22 verses

2 Samuel 22 30 Meaning

2 Samuel 22:30 is a powerful declaration of absolute trust and reliance on God for supernatural empowerment. King David, the speaker, proclaims that it is through the strength and enablement of the Almighty that he is able to achieve military breakthroughs—specifically, "running through a troop," implying scattering an enemy formation—and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, metaphorically represented as "leaping over a wall." This verse emphasizes that victory and success are not results of human might or skill alone, but come solely through a personal and covenantal relationship with the omnipotent God.

2 Samuel 22 30 Context

2 Samuel chapter 22 is a psalm of thanksgiving offered by David to the Lord, serving as a summary of his life and God's faithfulness to him. This chapter is virtually identical to Psalm 18 and stands as a poetic culmination of David's reign, uttered "on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." It's a reflection from the seasoned king, looking back at a lifetime of battles, persecutions, and deliverance. In this context, verse 30 illustrates David's profound understanding that all his military successes and surmounting of challenges were not due to his own prowess, but directly attributable to God's intervention and strength. It forms part of a larger testimony (vv. 29-37) where David attributes victory, guidance, and unwavering strength solely to the Lord, solidifying God's role as his Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, and personal Shield. The historical context spans decades of David's life, from being hunted by Saul to establishing his kingdom and fighting numerous foreign wars, emphasizing the constant need for divine help.

2 Samuel 22 30 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding declarations of God being his strength, rock, and deliverer (v. 29). It signifies a direct causal link between God's nature and David's capabilities.

• by You (בְּךָ - b'kha): The preposition "by" (or "in," "through") signifies the instrumentality or means. It is God Himself, not just His aid or wisdom, but His very presence and power acting through David, that enables these feats. The singular "You" points to the direct and personal relationship with God.

• I can run through (אָרֽוּץ - arutz): "Run" suggests speed, vigor, and determination. "Through" (implied by the object) indicates penetration and breaking apart. This is not merely an advance but a dynamic, disruptive charge that overcomes and disperses an enemy.

• a troop (גְּדוּד - g'dud): This refers to an organized band or unit of soldiers, often a raiding party. It represents a formidable and hostile military force. "Running through a troop" implies decisive victory over a numerically superior or organized enemy.

• by my God (בֵּֽאלֹהַי - b'Elohai): A parallelism emphasizing divine agency, but here "my God" deepens the personal connection and ownership of the relationship. It's the majestic, sovereign "Elohim," known in a personal covenantal bond. This reinforces the intimacy of the reliance.

• I can leap over (אֲדַלֶּג - adalleḡ): "Leap" conveys an effortless, almost supernatural ability to clear a high obstacle. It implies grace, agility, and the surmounting of barriers that would typically impede.

• a wall (שׁוּר - shur): A defensive fortification, representing an imposing, unyielding barrier. It symbolizes any significant, seemingly impenetrable obstacle—physical, strategic, or otherwise—that stands in the way of progress or success.

• "by You I can run through a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall": This is a classic example of Hebrew parallelism, where the second phrase re-expresses and intensifies the first using slightly different words.

  • Divine Agency: Both phrases open with "by You" and "by my God," stressing that the source of David's power is God alone, not his own might. The shift from general "You" to the possessive "my God" underscores the personal nature of this empowering relationship.
  • Military Feats/Obstacles: "Running through a troop" speaks to direct engagement with an active, numerous enemy and achieving breakthrough and scattering. "Leaping over a wall" represents overcoming a passive, imposing barrier that might otherwise halt all progress. Together, they signify comprehensive victory over both active adversaries and seemingly insurmountable challenges or limitations. These metaphors cover virtually all forms of opposition a warrior or leader might face.

2 Samuel 22 30 Bonus section

• Liturgical Significance: The near-identical nature of this chapter with Psalm 18 highlights its importance as a hymn of deliverance and a theological statement about divine assistance. It suggests a use in communal worship, teaching generations about God's faithfulness to His anointed.
• Contrast with Human Trust: The verse subtly stands in polemical contrast to the prevailing ancient Near Eastern beliefs where kings and armies boasted in their own strength, their chariots, or their national deities. David unequivocally declares God as the sole source of his victories, subverting typical narratives of humanistic military glory.
• Prophetic Echoes: This declaration of God empowering one to run and leap has an echo in prophetic visions of renewed strength and miraculous capabilities granted by God, such as in Isaiah 35:6 where the lame "leap like a deer." It speaks to a divine energy that defies natural limitations.

2 Samuel 22 30 Commentary

2 Samuel 22:30 captures the essence of David's faith: a practical, absolute dependence on God for daily victory. It's not a boast in his own strength, but a humble acknowledgment that his battlefield triumphs and ability to conquer impregnable strongholds (like Jerusalem's fortress) came directly from divine enablement. This verse transforms obstacles into opportunities for God to display His power. "Running through a troop" speaks to overwhelming enemy forces, where strategic brilliance or numerical superiority alone wouldn't suffice; divine momentum breaks the opposition. "Leaping over a wall" points to impassable barriers—geographic, political, or personal—that human effort cannot scale; God provides the supernatural uplift. The repetition of "by You" and "by my God" personalizes this relationship, illustrating that it is the intimate, covenantal bond with the Almighty that unlocks impossible feats. This truth applies to believers today, signifying that in Christ, we are empowered to face and overcome spiritual battles, personal struggles, and societal pressures that might otherwise seem unconquerable. For instance, facing a daunting financial crisis ("a wall") or navigating relentless workplace opposition ("a troop") can be done through the strength God provides.