2 Samuel 23 16

2 Samuel 23:16 kjv

And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

2 Samuel 23:16 nkjv

So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.

2 Samuel 23:16 niv

So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.

2 Samuel 23:16 esv

Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD

2 Samuel 23:16 nlt

So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD.

2 Samuel 23 verses

2 Samuel 23 16 Meaning

2 Samuel 23:16 details the extraordinary courage of three of David's mighty men who, upon hearing David express a deep longing for water from his hometown well in Philistine-occupied Bethlehem, risked their lives to retrieve it. They broke through enemy lines, drew the desired water, and brought it to their king. However, David, realizing the immense cost and sacredness of the water, considered it as the lives of his men. He refused to drink it, instead pouring it out as an offering to the Lord, an act of worship, consecration, and acknowledgment of the sacred value of human life and loyalty. This demonstrated his profound respect for their self-sacrificing devotion and his recognition that such a costly gift could only be offered to God.

2 Samuel 23 16 Context

This verse is situated within a concluding section of 2 Samuel that provides an account of David's final poetic words and lists his most celebrated warriors. Chapters 21-24 are appendices to the main narrative of David's reign. Verses 13-17 specifically detail an instance of extraordinary loyalty from three of David's thirty (a group of his most elite soldiers) and highlight their courageous devotion to him. David at this time was likely in the stronghold of Adullam (or a similar fortified refuge), while Bethlehem, his hometown, was under Philistine occupation, making any entry or exit from the city extremely hazardous. David's casual expression of longing for the familiar well water prompted these men to undertake a highly dangerous, voluntary mission, demonstrating an intense personal loyalty that surpassed duty. His subsequent refusal to drink and decision to pour it out to the Lord must be understood in the cultural context of ancient Near Eastern libations (drink offerings), often made to deities, which transformed common substances into sacred offerings, acknowledging a profound, spiritual debt for life itself. David's action elevates the selfless devotion of his men to an act worthy of dedication to the Most High God, illustrating the sanctity of life given for others.

2 Samuel 23 16 Word analysis

• And the three mighty men (Ha-sheloshah hag-gibborim - הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה הַגִּבֹּרִים):

  • "three": Specifically identifies the individuals from "the thirty" (v. 23) who held the highest rank among David's warriors.
  • "mighty men" (gibborim): Refers to heroes, valiant warriors, men of strength and courage. It conveys their elite status, bravery, and effectiveness in battle, setting the stage for their incredible feat. They are exceptional individuals characterized by their prowess.

• broke through (vay-yiqvau - וַיִּבְקְעוּ):

  • From the root bâqaʿ (בָּקַע), meaning "to cleave," "split," "burst open," "break forth." It implies overcoming significant obstacles, forcibly penetrating enemy lines, and indicates the immense danger and force involved in their passage through the Philistine camp. It was not a stealthy infiltration but a forceful penetration.

• the camp of the Philistines: Denotes enemy territory, highlighting the extreme risk and personal peril undertaken by these men. It was a hostile and guarded environment.

• and drew water (vay-yish’avu - וַיִּשְׁאֲבוּ):

  • From the root sha’av (שָׁאַב), meaning "to draw up," specifically referring to water from a well or spring. This seemingly simple act was accomplished under life-threatening conditions.

• from the well of Bethlehem: David’s birthplace, a place of personal sentiment and memory for the king. This well was symbolic of home and a connection to David’s past, making his desire for its water deeply personal.

• that was by the gate: Suggests the well was easily accessible to the Philistines and potentially under watch, adding to the peril of the task. Gates were often points of entry and control.

• and took it and brought it to David: Signifies the successful completion of their perilous mission and their direct, immediate fulfillment of David's unspoken desire. This highlights their direct devotion.

• But he would not drink it (vay-ye'abh - וַיֵּמָא):

  • From the root ma'an (מָאַן), meaning "to refuse," "decline," "be unwilling." David's immediate and strong refusal signifies his realization of the true cost. It conveys a strong, conscious, and decisive decision. He recoiled from the implications.

• but poured it out to the Lord (vay-yassek - וַיַּסֵּךְ):

  • From the root nasak (נָסַךְ), meaning "to pour out," especially in the context of a libation or a drink offering to God (as seen in Ex 29:40, Num 28:7). This act consecrates the water, elevating it from a simple liquid to a sacred offering. It communicates that the men's lives and their self-sacrificing devotion were far too precious for a mortal king's mere desire, and could only be offered to the ultimate Giver of life. This demonstrates David's piety and reverence, transforming an impulsive human desire into an act of worship.

• "the three mighty men broke through... and drew water... and brought it to David.": This sequence of actions emphasizes the extraordinary heroism and personal devotion of David's elite warriors. It wasn't a command, but a perceived longing, which they fulfilled with immense bravery. Their actions speak of a loyalty that went beyond duty, valuing their king's unspoken wish more than their own safety.

• "But he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.": This phrase captures the pivot of the verse from human desire and valor to spiritual consecration. David recognized the water was "bought with the lives of men" (v. 17). It transformed from a simple thirst quencher to a symbol of costly devotion, and therefore, unsuitable for common use. His refusal was not a rejection of their gift but an acknowledgement of its sanctity, too high a price for his mere personal gratification. By pouring it out to the Lord, David transformed an act of human loyalty into an act of divine worship, acknowledging God as the ultimate sovereign to whom all precious offerings, even human life and devotion, truly belong. This profound act served as both repentance for his thoughtless desire and consecration of his men's sacred act.

2 Samuel 23 16 Bonus section

David's decision to pour out the water, a substance of basic human necessity, speaks volumes about the value he placed on human life and selfless devotion above personal comfort or even a deeply held sentimental longing. This event starkly contrasts the casual expression of a king's desire with the serious implications of the actions undertaken by loyal subjects. It also serves as an unspoken polemic against self-indulgence, highlighting the spiritual danger of carelessly wishing for things that might cause harm or peril to others. David implicitly repented of his desire through his sacrificial act, teaching that anything costly obtained by the risk of others' lives must be consecrated to God rather than consumed selfishly. It underscores the concept that genuine devotion, even when offered to a human king, finds its ultimate and proper recipient in God, the Giver of all life.

2 Samuel 23 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 23:16 captures a poignant moment revealing deep spiritual insights into King David's character and the sacrificial loyalty of his men. David, having expressed a seemingly innocuous desire for water from his childhood well, finds his unspoken longing acted upon with extreme courage by his most valiant warriors. Their breaking through enemy lines to fetch this water demonstrates an unparalleled devotion, elevating a mere wish to a matter of life and death. When faced with the water, David instantly perceives its true, immeasurable cost: it was "bought with the lives" (v. 17) or blood of his devoted men. Recognizing this profound price, David could not consume what was so intimately linked with such a grave sacrifice. His act of pouring the water out as an offering to the Lord transforms the event from a personal anecdote into a sacred, spiritual declaration. This was a libation, a drink offering, usually reserved for God, signifying that the valor and selflessness of his men were not for his personal gratification, but ultimately belonged to God. It expressed David's reverence for God, his repentance for his careless desire, and his profound honor for the lives of his faithful servants, treating their loyal deed as holy unto the Lord.