2 Samuel 22:36 kjv
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
2 Samuel 22:36 nkjv
"You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.
2 Samuel 22:36 niv
You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great.
2 Samuel 22:36 esv
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.
2 Samuel 22:36 nlt
You have given me your shield of victory;
your help has made me great.
2 Samuel 22 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:1 | ...Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. | God as Abraham's divine protection. |
| Psa 3:3 | But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. | God as personal defense and exalter. |
| Psa 7:10 | My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. | God as source of defense and salvation. |
| Psa 84:11 | For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory... | God provides complete protection and favor. |
| Prov 30:5 | Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. | God's word and person as a safeguard. |
| Psa 20:6 | Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength... | God saves His chosen ones with power. |
| Psa 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life... | God as ultimate source of safety. |
| Psa 62:7 | In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. | God provides full salvation and glory. |
| Isa 12:2 | Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song... | Trust in God's saving power. |
| Eph 6:16 | Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. | Spiritual protection through faith. |
| Psa 113:5-6 | Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! | God's condescension from His high throne. |
| Psa 145:14 | The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. | God's compassionate lifting of the lowly. |
| Isa 42:3 | A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. | God's gentle and merciful nature. |
| Matt 11:29 | Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. | Christ exemplifies divine meekness/gentleness. |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. | God's strength made perfect in humility. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant... | Christ's supreme act of humility and condescension. |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust... | God's sovereign power to elevate the humble. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. | God is the sole source of human exaltation. |
| Psa 113:7-8 | He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes... | God raises the lowly to high positions. |
| Lk 1:52 | He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. | God's pattern of exalting the humble. |
| 1 Pet 5:6 | Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: | God exalts those who humbly submit to Him. |
| Jas 4:10 | Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. | Humility as prerequisite for divine exaltation. |
2 Samuel 22 verses
2 Samuel 22 36 Meaning
This verse conveys David's profound understanding that his preservation from danger and his ultimate exaltation were entirely due to God's active, saving power and compassionate character. God provided absolute protection, like an impenetrable shield, safeguarding David’s life and purpose. Crucially, David asserts that his greatness did not come from his own strength or merit, but directly from God's tender, condescending care and humble attentiveness to him, a mere human being.
2 Samuel 22 36 Context
This verse is drawn from 2 Samuel chapter 22, which is David's grand "song of deliverance" offered to the Lord. It is a nearly identical account of Psalm 18. This psalm is recited by David after the Lord had delivered him "from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." Throughout the chapter, David recounts the mighty acts of God in rescuing him from profound dangers and adversaries, particularly during his tumultuous period of being hunted by King Saul and engaging in various wars. The context is one of mature reflection and profound thanksgiving. David, established as king and experiencing a period of relative peace, attributes all his victories, his safety, and his rise to kingship not to his own strength, cunning, or military might, but entirely to the Lord's unwavering faithfulness, power, and character. It is a powerful theological declaration that God alone is the source of all blessing and success.
2 Samuel 22 36 Word analysis
- Thou hast also given me: This highlights God as the sovereign giver and active provider. It firmly establishes divine initiative, asserting that any protection or greatness David possesses is a direct gift from God's hand.
- the shield (מגן - magēn): This Hebrew term denotes a literal defensive weapon used in ancient combat. Metaphorically, it signifies ultimate protection and impregnable security. For David, God Himself functioned as this indispensable barrier against all forms of threat—physical, political, and spiritual—demonstrating His complete sufficiency as a protector.
- of thy salvation (ישעך - yisha’kha): Derived from yesha', this refers to deliverance, victory, help, and rescue. It is a comprehensive term for God's saving acts, encompassing not only the removal of danger but also the active establishment of well-being, triumph, and the fulfillment of divine purposes. It suggests God's protective shield actively works to achieve His saving design for David.
- and thy gentleness (וענותך - wəʿanwatəkā): This highly significant Hebrew term, ‘anwah, can be translated as gentleness, meekness, lowliness, or condescension. When applied to God, it profoundly expresses His compassionate willingness to stoop down from His exalted throne, to tenderly relate to, care for, and involve Himself in the affairs of humanity, specifically in David's life. This attribute stands in stark contrast to the distant, demanding deities of pagan thought, emphasizing God's approachability, patience, and tender, grace-filled disposition.
- hath made me great (תרבני - tarbēni from רבה - rabah): This signifies divine promotion, elevation, enlargement of influence, and bestowal of honor and success. David recognizes that his transition from a shepherd boy to a victorious king and the establishment of his royal dynasty were not earned through human effort or intrinsic merit but were directly caused by God's personal and humble care. This statement underscores that true human exaltation is solely a consequence of divine grace and gracious intervention.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "the shield of thy salvation": This phrase interweaves the concept of active defense with the broader idea of comprehensive rescue. It's not merely protection from harm but a preservation unto salvation, ensuring that David fulfills God's chosen destiny for him. This underscores God's commitment to His covenant purposes through David's life.
- "and thy gentleness hath made me great": This is a profound declaration, turning human logic on its head. Instead of greatness being a result of power or achievement, it's directly attributed to God's humility or condescension. It reveals that God's willingness to bend down, to humbly serve and interact with His creature, is the very force that elevates David. It highlights that God's self-abasement, His grace-filled dealing with David, led to David's exaltation, promoting an ultimate reliance on divine favor rather than self-reliance.
2 Samuel 22 36 Bonus section
This verse provides a rich theological backdrop for understanding God's nature, resonating powerfully with the concept of God's self-emptying love (kenosis) most supremely manifested in Jesus Christ. David's experience, where God's condescension led to his greatness, prefigures Christ's own path: though God, He humbled Himself, becoming a servant (Phil 2:6-8), and through that ultimate act of self-giving "gentleness," He brought about salvation and established a kingdom where believers, humble themselves, are also made great through Him. The verse directly counters the human tendency to attribute success to self-strength, reminding believers that any true elevation and deliverance are purely divine gifts, emphasizing profound dependence and humility before the Almighty God.
2 Samuel 22 36 Commentary
2 Samuel 22:36 beautifully articulates David’s unwavering faith in and deep gratitude for God's divine attributes as the sole source of his triumph and prominence. It's a testament to the character of a God who actively provides an impenetrable "shield of salvation," guaranteeing complete deliverance and preservation from every enemy and adversity. Beyond protection, the verse makes a profound statement about divine grace: David's greatness did not stem from his own might or virtue but from God's incredible "gentleness" or "condescension." This signifies God’s loving willingness to humble Himself, to stoop down from His supreme glory, and to tenderly engage with and nurture His chosen servant. It reveals that true human elevation comes not through human striving or pride, but as a direct gift flowing from God's own self-effacing, merciful character, who exalts the humble and depends upon His tender care.