2 Samuel 5 16

2 Samuel 5:16 kjv

And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

2 Samuel 5:16 nkjv

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

2 Samuel 5:16 niv

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

2 Samuel 5:16 esv

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

2 Samuel 5:16 nlt

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

2 Samuel 5 verses

2 Samuel 5 16 Meaning

This verse continues the enumeration of David’s sons born to him in Jerusalem, specifically listing Ibhar, Elishama, and Eliphelet. The purpose of this list within the narrative is to illustrate God’s blessing upon David, signifying the establishment and prosperity of his house and kingdom. It emphasizes the foundational aspect of David's dynasty through the fruitfulness of his marriage, highlighting his growing stability and God-ordinained position as king over all Israel in the newly established capital, Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 5 16 Context

2 Samuel 5:16 is situated in a pivotal moment of David's reign. Verses 1-3 describe David being anointed king over all Israel by all the tribes, following his kingship over Judah for seven and a half years. Verses 6-10 narrate David’s strategic capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, establishing it as the political and spiritual capital. This move symbolizes the unification of Israel under his rule. Verses 11-12 show Hiram, King of Tyre, sending building materials and craftsmen, affirming David's recognition among nations and signaling the establishment of a royal palace. The immediate preceding verses, 2 Sam 5:13-15, begin the list of sons born to David in Jerusalem. This enumeration of children, including Ibhar, Elishama, and Eliphelet in verse 16, follows the securing of his throne and capital. It illustrates the stability and blessing upon David’s household as he moves from a period of refuge and war to established peace and prosperity. Culturally, having numerous sons was a sign of divine favor, ensuring the continuation of the family line and the stability of the kingdom. It underscored that God was indeed building David's "house" as promised.

2 Samuel 5 16 Word analysis

• Ibhar (Hebrew: יִבְחָר, Yibḥār): This name likely means "He [God] chooses" or "He [God] elects." The naming of a son "God chooses" might reflect David's recognition that his position as king was not by human merit but by divine election, despite the long struggle to achieve kingship over all Israel. It also points to God's hand in establishing the dynasty through this specific lineage.
• also (Implicit in the Hebrew, but "also" links to the prior list in 2 Sam 5:15. Some translations add "also" for clarity to connect these names with the previously listed ones): This linking emphasizes the continuation of the count and the sustained blessing of more offspring.
• and Elishama (Hebrew: אֱלִישָׁמָע, ʾElîšāmāʿ): This name means "My God has heard" or "God has heard." This name could be an acknowledgment of God answering David's prayers or listening to his petitions, possibly reflecting a period of answered prayer or deliverance he experienced. It speaks to God's responsiveness and care for David.
• and Eliphelet (Hebrew: אֱלִיפֶלֶט, ʾElîp̄eleṭ): This name means "My God is deliverance/escape" or "God is his escape." This name might signify David's experience of God's deliverance from his enemies, particularly Saul, and then the Philistines and Jebusites, as he secured his kingdom. It underscores a central theme in David's life – divine rescue and salvation.
• Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet: These three names form a unit within the larger enumeration of David's children. Their placement at this point, following the establishment of the kingdom in Jerusalem, highlights the significance of royal succession. In the Ancient Near East, a king's large progeny, especially sons, was viewed as a strong indicator of the stability and legitimacy of his rule and divine favor. These children represented the continuity of David's covenant and dynasty.

2 Samuel 5 16 Bonus section

The full list of David's sons born in Jerusalem (as provided in 2 Sam 5:14-16 and 1 Chr 3:5-8, with slight variations and additions in 1 Chronicles) represents a critical step in the perpetuation of David’s line. These children were born after David moved to Jerusalem, symbolizing a new, blessed phase of his life and kingship, distinct from his children born in Hebron. While these specific sons are not prominently featured later in the biblical narrative for their individual actions (unlike Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah, or Solomon), their very existence here is paramount. They demonstrate the robust establishment of David’s royal household and the divine favor extended to him. The differing lists in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles highlight scribal transmission variations or the recording of different sets of children at various times, but the core message remains: God granted David a thriving family, key to his legacy and the messianic hope.

2 Samuel 5 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 5:16, though seemingly a mere list of names, holds profound theological and historical significance. It signifies God's tangible blessing on David and the newly consolidated kingdom. The sons listed, Ibhar, Elishama, and Eliphelet, are a direct fulfillment of the Lord building "a house" for David (2 Sam 7:11). The very meaning of their names – "God chooses," "God has heard," and "God is deliverance" – subtly weaves a narrative of divine election, answered prayer, and salvation, reflecting David's journey and his recognition of God's active hand in his life and kingship. This fruitfulness reinforced David's divinely appointed legitimacy and stability, implicitly contrasting with unstable kingships dependent solely on human power. The inclusion of these names underscored the established nature of David's throne and the promise of a continuing dynasty, which would ultimately culminate in the messianic line.