2 Samuel 22 35

2 Samuel 22:35 kjv

He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

2 Samuel 22:35 nkjv

He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

2 Samuel 22:35 niv

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

2 Samuel 22:35 esv

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

2 Samuel 22:35 nlt

He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.

2 Samuel 22 verses

2 Samuel 22 35 Meaning

This verse declares that God Himself instructs and empowers an individual for combat, granting supernatural strength. It specifically highlights divine enablement, allowing one to achieve feats of strength far beyond natural human capability, such as drawing or bending a formidable bow of bronze. This speaks to God being the ultimate source of all skill, might, and victory in both physical and spiritual battles.

2 Samuel 22 35 Context

2 Samuel chapter 22 is a psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance by King David, remarkably similar to Psalm 18. This song is sung by David to the Lord after God had delivered him from all his enemies, including the hand of Saul. It is a profound theological reflection on God's faithfulness throughout David's tumultuous life, his rise to power, and his numerous military victories. Within this chapter, David attributes every aspect of his success and survival—from refuge in times of trouble to triumphant warfare—directly to the Lord's intervention, power, and instruction. Verse 35 specifically fits within a larger passage (vv. 30-46) where David recounts the specific ways God empowered him in battle, enabling him to defeat formidable foes and establish his kingdom. Historically, this aligns with the consolidation of Israel's power under David's reign, a period marked by constant external threats and divine assistance.

2 Samuel 22 35 Word Analysis

• He: Refers to Yahweh, the LORD, the covenant God of Israel. This establishes divine agency as the sole cause of the abilities described.
• teaches: Hebrew: לָמַד (lamad). This verb signifies active, deliberate instruction, training, or disciplining. It's not passive enablement but purposeful imparting of skill, implying a master-student relationship where God is the active trainer.
• my hands: The literal instruments of action and warfare. This indicates that God doesn't just grant conceptual knowledge but physically equips and empowers David's very limbs for execution, demonstrating a practical and intimate involvement.
• to make war: Hebrew: לַמִּלְחָמָה (lammilchamah). Means "for battle" or "for war." This specifies the domain in which God's training is applied—the dangerous and challenging arena of combat.
• so that: Introduces the result or purpose of the previous action. God's teaching is directly tied to a specific outcome.
• my arms: Hebrew: זְרֹעֹתַי (zero'otay). Refers to the forearms or strong limbs, symbolizing power and strength. Broader than "hands," indicating comprehensive physical might.
• can bend: Hebrew: וְנִחַת (w'nichat from חתת chatat in the Niphal form). In this context, with a bow, it specifically means to "draw," "bend," or "stretch" a bow for shooting. It speaks of the immense exertion required to make a stiff bow taut and ready for use.
• a bow: Hebrew: קֶשֶׁת (qeshet). The primary long-range weapon of the time, demanding considerable physical strength and skill to use effectively, especially in a war context.
• of bronze: Hebrew: נְחוּשָׁה (nechushah). Made of bronze. This is a figurative and powerful hyperbole. Real bows were made of wood, horn, and sinew, possibly reinforced with metal parts, but not entirely of solid bronze due to impracticality and immense weight. A "bow of bronze" symbolizes something extraordinarily strong, inflexible, and difficult, if not impossible, for human hands to bend. It emphatically conveys supernatural strength, indicating that the task, or the weapon itself, is beyond natural human capacity and requires divine enablement. It showcases the impossible made possible by God.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "He teaches my hands to make war": This phrase emphasizes God as the ultimate strategist and trainer in military affairs. It removes the glory from human prowess and attributes all tactical ability and executive skill to divine instruction. It implies an ongoing, intimate mentorship from God, not merely a one-time anointing.
  • "so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze": This clause demonstrates the supernatural outcome of God's training. The "bow of bronze" serves as a vivid metaphor for challenges or adversaries that are impossibly formidable through human strength alone. God's enablement makes one capable of mastering even the most intractable situations or enemies. It highlights miraculous empowerment that transcends physical limitations. This statement implicitly serves as a polemic against reliance on human might, weapons, or inherent strength, emphasizing that only divine power can truly accomplish such a feat.

2 Samuel 22 35 Bonus Section

• Parallel in Psalm 18: The near-identical wording in Psalm 18:34 underscores the enduring theological significance of this statement within the broader Psalter, often associated with David's kingship and the covenant faithfulness of God.
• Divine Empowerment for Spiritual Warfare: While initially referring to physical combat, the principle of divine training and supernatural strength is profoundly applicable to the spiritual life. Believers engage in spiritual warfare, needing divine wisdom to navigate deceptive tactics and divine strength to resist temptations and overcome spiritual obstacles, recognizing that the battle ultimately belongs to the Lord.
• Focus on God's Glory: This verse, like much of David's song, systematically diverts all credit from human effort to divine intervention. By presenting an image of impossibility (bending a bronze bow) made possible, it ensures that all glory for the victory rests squarely upon God.

2 Samuel 22 35 Commentary

2 Samuel 22:35 stands as a testament to God's complete empowerment of His chosen instruments. It asserts that David's renowned military prowess was not due to his own intrinsic strength, strategic genius, or physical training, but was a direct result of Yahweh's personal instruction and supernatural enabling. "He teaches my hands to make war" highlights divine pedagogy, implying God provided tactical understanding, practical skill, and physical dexterity. This wasn't merely general divine favor, but specific, actionable training. The subsequent phrase, "so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze," vividly illustrates the miraculous extent of this empowerment. A "bow of bronze" is a symbolic representation of something incredibly difficult, heavy, or seemingly impossible for human strength to master. This image profoundly conveys that God imparts not just ability but supernatural strength, enabling His servant to overcome insurmountable challenges. This theological truth extends beyond physical battle: believers are equipped by God for spiritual warfare and life's immense challenges, finding that what is impossible for them in their own strength becomes achievable through His might (cf. Phil 4:13).