2 Samuel 22 43

2 Samuel 22:43 kjv

Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

2 Samuel 22:43 nkjv

Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I trod them like dirt in the streets, And I spread them out.

2 Samuel 22:43 niv

I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

2 Samuel 22:43 esv

I beat them fine as the dust of the earth; I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.

2 Samuel 22:43 nlt

I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.

2 Samuel 22 verses

2 Samuel 22 43 Meaning

This verse depicts the absolute and comprehensive destruction of David's enemies, presented as a vivid act of triumph and subjugation. It portrays them being reduced to nothingness—pulverized into fine dust, trampled like the mire of the streets, and then scattered, utterly eradicated from a position of threat or opposition. This imagery conveys a sense of total defeat, disgrace, and complete disempowerment, emphasizing God's might acting through David.

2 Samuel 22 43 Context

This verse is part of a "Song of Deliverance" composed by King David, recorded in 2 Samuel 22 and also found in Psalm 18. This song is David's response of praise to the Lord for having delivered him from all his enemies, especially from the hand of Saul (2 Sam 22:1). The immediate context of the song is a reflection on the entirety of David's career, filled with many battles and threats, both internal and external. He attributes his victories and survival entirely to the Lord's intervention, power, and justice. Historically, David faced numerous foes, including the Philistines, Saul's pursuit, various neighboring kingdoms, and even internal rebellion (like Absalom's). The powerful imagery in this verse captures the ferocity and totality of the divinely enabled triumph over these relentless adversaries.

2 Samuel 22 43 Word analysis

• Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth;

  • I beat them: Hebrew hariqqotim (הֲרִקֹּתִים). The root r.q.q often means "to empty," "to make void," or "to sweep clean." The verb form used here suggests an intense, forceful action resulting in an "emptied" state, implying their non-existence or lack of substance. The image is less about physical blows and more about making something cease to be. It suggests a thorough clearing or obliteration, rendering them insubstantial.
  • as small as the dust of the earth: Hebrew ka-ʿaphar-'ārets (כַּעֲפַר אָרֶץ). "Dust" (ʿaphar) symbolizes extreme fineness, insignificance, worthlessness, and complete disintegration. "Dust of the earth" emphasizes a return to the basic, inanimate, and dispersed elements, losing all form and power. This image suggests complete desolation and worthlessness.

• I pounded them as the mire of the streets,

  • I pounded them: Hebrew wa'adiqēm (וָאֲדִקֵּם). From the root d.q.q meaning "to crush," "to grind fine," "to pulverize." This term strongly emphasizes a vigorous action that reduces something into a very fine, shapeless state. It signifies a forceful breaking down into particles, making them indiscernible.
  • as the mire of the streets: Hebrew kiṭiṭ-ḥûṣôt (כְּטִיט חֻצוֹת). "Mire" (ṭiṭ) refers to mud, often thick and dirty, specifically "mire of the streets" (ḥûṣôt), indicating that which is trodden underfoot by everyone. This imagery signifies utter contempt, humiliation, and lack of dignity. To be like street mud is to be dirty, disregarded, and walked all over. This suggests not just defeat, but total public shame and ignominy.

• and I spread them out as the dust of the streets.

  • and I spread them out: Hebrew wa'ezrēm (וָאֶזְרֵם). From the root z.r.h, meaning "to scatter," "to disperse," often like winnowing chaff in the wind. This action completes the process of disintegration and annihilation by ensuring no remnants or discernible form remain. It speaks of a final, complete, and irreversible scattering.
  • as the dust of the streets: Hebrew ka-ʿaphar ḥûṣôt (כְּעָפָר חֻצוֹת). Repeating the "dust" motif but linking it explicitly to "streets" emphasizes that they are not just dust, but common, soiled, trampled dust that is then dispersed, having no enduring place or memory. This underscores their total elimination and the absolute absence of any lasting threat or legacy.

2 Samuel 22 43 Bonus section

This verse draws heavily on ancient Near Eastern battle imagery where victorious kings often depicted the utter annihilation of their enemies. However, in David's song, the glory and ultimate power behind this destruction are firmly attributed to Yahweh. The language goes beyond mere military victory; it reflects a theological truth: no opposition can stand against God's sovereign will and the divine purpose He works through His chosen instruments. This demonstrates Yahweh's unparalleled supremacy over any other supposed deity or human power. The complete desolation and dispersal of the enemies symbolize not just their military defeat, but their loss of identity, legacy, and ability to inflict harm, rendered as if they never existed or were swept away by divine judgment.

2 Samuel 22 43 Commentary

This verse is a profound declaration of God's complete and overwhelming victory enacted through His anointed king, David. It is a war hymn illustrating total domination over enemies, stripping them of all power, prestige, and presence. The triple parallelism—"beat/dust of the earth," "pounded/mire of the streets," "spread out/dust of the streets"—builds an intensifying picture of annihilation. The imagery transitions from reducing opponents to formless particles, to crushing them into filthy, contemptible refuse, and finally to utterly scattering and eliminating any trace of them. This is not mere defeat, but an existential dismantling. It implicitly presents a polemic against the strength of human and pagan forces, proclaiming that against Yahweh's power, they are reduced to nothing, trampled beneath the feet of His servant. David, empowered by God, achieves a level of triumph that signifies divine justice and vindication, where all opposition is made null and void. The ultimate example of this total subjugation is found in the future reign of Christ, who will finally put all enemies under His feet, just as God enabled David to triumph over his adversaries.