2 Samuel 22 41

2 Samuel 22:41 kjv

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

2 Samuel 22:41 nkjv

You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me.

2 Samuel 22:41 niv

You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.

2 Samuel 22:41 esv

You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them.

2 Samuel 22:41 nlt

You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.

2 Samuel 22 verses

2 Samuel 22 41 Meaning

This verse is part of David's song of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, found also in Psalm 18. It expresses David's conviction that God, Yahweh, was the true source of his victories over all his adversaries. The imagery of "giving the necks" signifies complete subjugation and decisive defeat, while "destroying those who hate me" emphasizes the finality of the divinely empowered triumph over persistent enemies. It highlights God's active involvement in the battles of His servant, ensuring absolute dominion over his foes.

2 Samuel 22 41 Context

2 Samuel chapter 22 is David’s magnificent song of deliverance, a poetic recapitulation of his entire life as a man chosen and protected by God. This hymn, also recorded almost identically in Psalm 18, recounts David's many deliverances from Saul, from Philistines, and from all his other enemies. The verse itself stands within a larger narrative of God's active involvement in David's life, from protecting him in various battles to establishing his kingdom. The song reflects a deeply personal yet universal testimony of God's faithfulness as a "rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, and stronghold." It comes at the twilight of David’s reign, summarizing a life defined by conflict but, more importantly, by divine triumph. Historically, it captures the ancient Near Eastern context of warfare, where deities were seen as empowering their chosen kings. David’s song explicitly credits Yahweh alone, rejecting the notion of victory through human might or pagan gods.

2 Samuel 22 41 Word analysis

• Thou hast also given me: The Hebrew verb is nāthattāh (נָתַתָּה), meaning "You have given," derived from nathan (נָתַן) - to give, to put, to grant. This active participle strongly emphasizes God's sovereign agency and initiative. The direct address "Thou" (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim or יְהוָה - Yahweh, implied from the larger song) underscores David's acknowledgment of God as the sole giver of victory. It implies that David's strength was not his own but divinely bestowed.

• me: Refers to David. However, by extension, this becomes a paradigm for any believer's experience of God's enabling power against spiritual adversaries.

• the necks: The Hebrew term is ‘ōref (עֹרֶף). This is a vivid, often brutal, idiom in ancient Near Eastern culture. It signifies not merely defeat, but absolute, total submission and surrender. When enemies "turn their back" (‘ōref) in flight, they expose their necks, making them vulnerable. Symbolically, placing one's foot on the neck of a vanquished foe signified complete dominance and utter subjugation, reducing the enemy to a helpless state. This implies not just victory, but a divinely ordained breaking of their resistance.

• of mine enemies: The Hebrew ‘ōyevay (אֹיְבַי) literally means "my foes" or "those who lay siege against me." These are concrete adversaries whom David faced throughout his life—Saul, the Philistines, rebellious Absalom, various nations surrounding Israel.

• that I might destroy them: The Hebrew verb here is va’ashamed (וָאַשְׁמִ֤ד), derived from shamad (שָׁמַד), meaning "to annihilate, to destroy utterly, to put to an end." This is a strong word, often used in the context of divine judgment or the extermination of pagan practices. It implies a thorough, decisive end to the threat.

• that hate me: The Hebrew meśan’ay (מְשַׂנְאַי) refers to "those who actively hate me." This is not just opposition but deep-seated animosity, often because David represented God's kingdom and purpose. This hatred mirrors the hatred against God Himself and His chosen people.

• "Thou hast also given me the necks...": This phrase signifies the complete divine bestowal of triumph and absolute subjugation of the enemy. It is God who provides the opportunity and the power for such decisive victory, transforming the powerful into the helpless. This idiom of "giving the necks" means delivering them into a position of total vulnerability and allowing for utter defeat. It signifies making them turn their backs in flight or bringing them to their knees for complete overthrow.

• "...that I might destroy them that hate me.": This clause emphasizes the divinely-empowered action and the direct outcome. It highlights that God doesn't just enable battle; He ensures a thorough, definitive victory against those who actively harbor malice and oppose His anointed. This outcome is not arbitrary; it is aimed at those who consistently exhibit hostility.

2 Samuel 22 41 Bonus section

This verse contains an element of polemic against the typical pagan worldview of the ancient Near East, where kings would attribute victories to their own military prowess or to nationalistic deities whose power was limited. David unequivocally attributes all victory to Yahweh alone, rejecting any notion of self-sufficiency or reliance on other gods. The parallel account in Psalm 18:40 confirms the consistent theme across these two foundational books. Furthermore, the theme of "enemies as a footstool" is picked up powerfully in the New Testament to describe the ultimate cosmic victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and all opposing spiritual powers, fulfilling David's personal triumph on a universal, eternal scale. The language echoes ancient Near Eastern triumph steles where conquering kings literally placed their feet on the necks of defeated foes to symbolize utter dominion. David recognizes this act of conquest as enabled solely by Yahweh.

2 Samuel 22 41 Commentary

2 Samuel 22:41 declares that God directly enables David to conquer his enemies, signifying complete victory and their utter subjugation. The imagery of "giving the necks" emphasizes divine empowerment for decisive and final triumph. This verse underscores David's reliance on God as the source of his military success, reflecting a core biblical truth: true victory in any realm, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual, ultimately stems from divine power rather than human strength or cunning. It is a testament to God's faithfulness in protecting His anointed and delivering him from relentless adversaries.