2 Samuel 22:32 kjv
For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
2 Samuel 22:32 nkjv
"For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?
2 Samuel 22:32 niv
For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
2 Samuel 22:32 esv
"For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?
2 Samuel 22:32 nlt
For who is God except the LORD?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
2 Samuel 22 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:35 | To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him. | God is uniquely supreme and sole deity. |
| Deut 4:39 | Know therefore today... that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. | God's omnipresence and singular authority. |
| Deut 6:4 | Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! | Fundamental monotheism and unity of God. |
| Deut 32:4 | The Rock! His work is perfect... A God of faithfulness and without injustice... | God's perfect and righteous character as the Rock. |
| Deut 32:30-31 | ...unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had delivered them up... For their rock is not as our Rock... | Contrast between Israel's God and false deities. |
| 1 Sam 2:2 | "There is no one holy like the LORD, indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God." | Hannah's similar praise for God's unique strength. |
| 1 Ki 8:60 | ...that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other. | Universal recognition of God's singular power. |
| Pss 18:2 | The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer... | Directly parallels this verse, identifying God as protector. |
| Pss 18:46 | The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation... | David's ongoing exaltation of God as his salvation. |
| Pss 62:2, 6 | He alone is my rock and my salvation... He is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I will not be shaken. | God as the source of steadfast security. |
| Pss 95:1 | Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. | Worship of God as the saving Rock. |
| Pss 115:3 | But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. | God's sovereign control contrasted with idols. |
| Isa 26:4 | Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. | God as an eternal and trustworthy foundation. |
| Isa 44:6 | "I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me." | God's absolute eternity and solitary divinity. |
| Isa 44:8 | "Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none." | Powerful rhetorical challenge to any alternative. |
| Isa 45:5 | "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God." | Clear affirmation of God's unique identity. |
| Jer 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. | Contrasts living God with powerless idols. |
| Hab 1:12 | Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed him to judge; And You, O Rock, have established him to punish. | God as eternal, holy, and sovereign Rock. |
| Matt 7:24-25 | Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. | Christ teaching on building life on solid foundation. |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | ...and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. | Christ is identified as the spiritual Rock for His people. |
| Eph 2:20 | ...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone... | Jesus Christ as the essential, foundational cornerstone. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, Christ Jesus... | Reiteration of God's oneness and Christ's singular role. |
| Rev 1:8 | "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." | God's eternal supremacy, power, and unchanging nature. |
2 Samuel 22 verses
2 Samuel 22 32 Meaning
This verse, embedded within David's majestic song of praise for deliverance, profoundly declares the unparalleled and exclusive nature of the LORD. Through two powerful rhetorical questions, it asserts that no other entity or being is truly "God," possessing ultimate divinity, nor can any other provide the unwavering strength, stability, and refuge symbolized by a "rock," except the God of Israel. It affirms YHWH's unique transcendence, reliability, and sole claim to ultimate authority, establishing Him as the exclusive source of salvation, security, and true help in all circumstances.
2 Samuel 22 32 Context
2 Samuel 22 presents a magnificent psalm of thanksgiving from King David, virtually identical to Psalm 18. This song is ascribed to the moment when the LORD had "delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." It serves as David's profound retrospective on a life marked by consistent divine intervention, ranging from his early anointing, his protracted flight from Saul's relentless pursuit, to his establishment as king and countless military victories over hostile nations. Within this powerful narrative of God's active deliverance, David fervently praises the LORD, highlighting His attributes as his ultimate refuge, strength, and rescuer. Verse 32, specifically, acts as a crucial theological declaration within this song, where David magnifies God's unparalleled might and singular position as the one true divine authority, thereby directly refuting any claims of other gods or alternative sources of strength.
2 Samuel 22 32 Word analysis
- For (כִּי, kî): This conjunction serves to introduce the reason or basis for David's unwavering faith and prior statements of trust in God. It posits the ultimate truth upon which all his security and victory rests.
- who (מִי, mî): A rhetorical question expecting a definitive answer of "no one." It boldly challenges any alternative claims to divinity or supreme power, emphasizing God's unique position.
- is God (אֱלוֹהַּ, ʼelôah): This singular term for God, often used in elevated poetic language, signifies the supreme divine being. The question, then, asks who holds the ultimate divine essence and attributes.
- except (מִבִּלְעָד, mi-balād): This preposition precisely translates as "apart from" or "besides," clearly demarcating and exclusively attributing the title of "God" to YHWH alone, allowing for no rival.
- the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the sacred, personal covenant name of God, revealed to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM." It underscores God's self-existence, eternal nature, faithfulness to His promises, and absolute sovereignty—the sole true God of Israel.
- And who (וּמִי, wə-mî): The "and" serves to link the two questions, enhancing their collective impact through parallelism. The repeated "who" further intensifies the rhetorical challenge, implying a search for any legitimate alternative, only to confirm there is none.
- is a rock (צוּר, tsûr): A profoundly rich metaphor in ancient Hebrew culture. A rock provides stable ground, unshakeable strength, refuge from storms or enemies, and a secure foundation. It symbolizes God's unchangeability, reliability, and powerful defense for His people.
- except (מִבִּלְעָד, mi-balād): Repeated here to reiterate the emphatic exclusivity, affirming that God alone is the true, dependable Rock.
- our God (אֱלֹהֵינוּ, ʼelôhênû): The plural form of "God" (ʼElōhîm) combined with the possessive suffix "our," signifies a personal, intimate, and covenantal relationship between God and His people. This unique God, transcendent and mighty, is intimately connected to David and Israel.
2 Samuel 22 32 Words-Group analysis
- "For who is God, except the LORD?": This first declaration is a foundational assertion of monotheism. It not only elevates YHWH but also actively refutes the widespread polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding nations and within Israel (due to syncretism). It powerfully asks if any other god or claimed deity can measure up to the divine attributes and power of YHWH, expecting a resounding "no one."
- "And who is a rock, except our God?": This parallel statement reinforces the first by focusing on the practical, life-sustaining character of God. The "rock" metaphor vividly portrays God as an immovable, secure, and enduring source of protection, stability, and shelter—a solid foundation upon which life can be built and from whom ultimate help truly comes. The use of "our God" particularizes this universal truth, linking this supreme, exclusive God to the intimate experience and covenant relationship of His people.
2 Samuel 22 32 Bonus section
This verse showcases synthetic parallelism, a common poetic structure where the second line expands or complements the first, deepening the meaning rather than merely restating it. Here, "who is God" finds its practical expression in "who is a rock," demonstrating how God manifests His divinity through steadfast provision and protection. The inclusion of "our God" highlights the covenantal and relational aspect of God's unparalleled nature—this uniquely powerful deity chooses to be intimately involved with His people. The consistent imagery of God as "rock" throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Deut 32, Ps 18, Ps 62) sets a foundational understanding for the New Testament's depiction of Christ as the spiritual "Rock" and cornerstone for His church, signifying His essential role as the unwavering foundation for faith and salvation.
2 Samuel 22 32 Commentary
2 Samuel 22:32 stands as a central confession within David's song of deliverance, a concise yet profound articulation of monotheism and unwavering trust. Having experienced countless interventions of divine rescue throughout his tumultuous life, David proclaims an irrefutable truth: there is no true God other than YHWH, and no other source offers the unshakeable strength, refuge, and steadfastness epitomized by a "rock." These rhetorical questions not only celebrate God's unparalleled attributes but also serve as a polemic against any competing deities or false objects of trust. This verse demands complete allegiance and reliance upon the one, true, living God who alone delivers and sustains. For the believer, it calls for a singular faith and encourages casting all anxieties and hopes on the unshakeable Rock, recognizing Him as the sole sufficient provider and protector amidst the ever-shifting sands of life.
- In times of great uncertainty or trial, reflect on this verse to re-center trust on God alone.
- When tempted to rely on human achievements, wealth, or power, recall that only God is the true "Rock."
- Let it be a basis for worship, affirming His exclusive claim to glory and our total dependence on Him.