2 Samuel 5 6

2 Samuel 5:6 kjv

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

2 Samuel 5:6 nkjv

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here."

2 Samuel 5:6 niv

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here."

2 Samuel 5:6 esv

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, "You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off" ? thinking, "David cannot come in here."

2 Samuel 5:6 nlt

David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, "You'll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!" For the Jebusites thought they were safe.

2 Samuel 5 verses

2 Samuel 5 6 Meaning

2 Samuel 5:6 describes the opening challenge of David's campaign to conquer Jerusalem from the Jebusites, who were its indigenous inhabitants. The verse vividly portrays the Jebusites' arrogant defiance, confident in the impregnability of their fortified city. They mock David, declaring that even the city's weakest inhabitants – the blind and the lame – would be sufficient to repel him, expressing their deep conviction that David and his forces stood no chance of breaching their stronghold. This defiance sets the stage for a dramatic demonstration of God's power through David.

2 Samuel 5 6 Context

Chapter 5 of 2 Samuel marks a pivotal moment in David's reign. After reigning seven years and six months over Judah in Hebron, David is finally anointed king over all Israel (2 Sam 5:1-5), unifying the previously fractured kingdom. His immediate action is to lead his combined forces to conquer Jerusalem (Jebus), which stood as an unconquered Canaanite enclave separating the northern and southern tribes. This strategic move aimed to establish a neutral capital, free from existing tribal allegiances, solidifying his rule over a united Israel. The Jebusites, confident in their ancient city's natural fortifications and perceived invincibility, met David's approach with contemptuous mockery, believing their defenses (and perhaps supernatural protectors) rendered any assault futile, particularly by David. This historical setting emphasizes David's resolve and the significance of Jerusalem's conquest as both a political and spiritual act of consolidation for God's chosen nation.

2 Samuel 5 6 Word analysis

• And the king: Refers to David, newly recognized as the monarch over a united Israel (2 Sam 5:1-5), signifying an official military campaign under divine mandate.
• and his men: Denotes David's elite warriors and the full army of Israel, united under his command.
• went to Jerusalem: The destination. יְרוּשָׁלַם (Yərūshālēm) - the ancient Jebusite city, later Zion. Its strategic central location made it an ideal, neutral capital.
• against the Jebusites: The inhabitants of Jerusalem, who had not been dislodged during earlier Israelite conquests (Jos 15:63; Jdg 1:21), retaining a fortified stronghold within Israel's promised land.
• the inhabitants of the land: Emphasizes their native claim and long-standing presence in this specific region, from the perspective of an invading force.
• and they said to David: Direct vocal challenge, revealing the Jebusites' arrogant self-assurance.
• "You will not come in here": A defiant, confident refusal based on their trust in the city's impenetrable defenses.
• "but the blind and the lame will repel you": This is the ultimate expression of scorn and mockery. The Hebrew phrase is עִוְרִים וּפִסְחִים יְסוּכוּךְ (ivrim u-phiskhim yisukukh).
  • עִוְרִים (ʿiwrîm): "the blind," symbolizing those who are weak, vulnerable, and incapacitated, lacking perception or ability.
  • וּפִסְחִים (u-phisḥîm): "and the lame," signifying those with physical infirmities, unable to move effectively or participate in battle.
  • יְסוּכוּךְ (yisukukh): From a root meaning "to sweep away" or "to thrust back/drive away." The overall meaning is that David would be so utterly defeated that even these helpless individuals would be enough to fend him off.
• "thinking, 'David cannot come in here.'": This clause reveals the internal reasoning behind their outward bravado. It underscores their overconfidence in their physical stronghold and underestimation of David's divine appointment and God's power. It highlights their spiritual blindness to God's purpose for David and Jerusalem.

Words-group Analysis

• "You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will repel you": This statement serves as a profound insult, conveying utter contempt. The Jebusites boast that their defenses are so insurmountable that not even strong warriors, but literally their most vulnerable and useless members (or even effigies representing them), could prevent David's entry. This was likely a challenge designed to humiliate and discourage David. It is also interpreted by some scholars as a polemic against pagan beliefs, suggesting that their idols or specific cultic figures (often represented as blind/lame in their incapacity to act) were sufficient to protect the city. By mentioning the blind and lame, they implied that the gods and powerful ancestors represented by them would keep David away, underscoring their belief in the supernatural protection of their stronghold, making a direct challenge to the God of Israel.
• "thinking, 'David cannot come in here.'": This final clause clarifies the root of their hubris. It underscores their complete confidence in the city's natural defenses, its water supply (the Gihon Spring), and possibly any magical or cultic protection they believed it had. Their defiance was rooted in a profound misunderstanding of God's anointing upon David and His plan to make Jerusalem the spiritual and political heart of Israel.

2 Samuel 5 6 Bonus section

The profound insult of the Jebusites regarding "the blind and the lame" appears to have left a lasting impact on David and subsequent Israelite law. 2 Samuel 5:8 immediately states David's decree regarding the capture of the city: "Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him reach the water shaft (or, use hooks, according to some interpretations) and attack the blind and the lame, who are hated by David's soul." The verse then concludes with, "Therefore it is said, 'The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.'" This implies a subsequent decree (or tradition) excluding those with these particular infirmities from certain areas of the Tabernacle or later Temple grounds, specifically out of a memorial to the Jebusite taunt and a symbolic banishment of those associated with such spiritual defiance or pagan associations (as it was seen by God to hate those associated with spiritual impurity/evil). This highlights how a momentary verbal insult had far-reaching, even theological, implications within Israelite religious and societal structures, reminding future generations of divine victory over human insolence.

2 Samuel 5 6 Commentary

2 Samuel 5:6 succinctly captures a moment of human pride confronted by divine purpose. The Jebusites' contemptuous boast, delivered through the shocking imagery of "the blind and the lame," reflects not just confidence in their fortifications but also a profound spiritual blindness to God's hand in David's ascendancy. Their defiance represents the final vestige of Canaanite resistance in the heart of Israel's promised land. This verse sets the scene for David's heroic and ultimately successful conquest, transforming an impregnable fortress into the "City of David." The victory here serves as a powerful testament that human obstacles, no matter how great or insolent, cannot thwart the sovereign will and anointing of God (Ps 20:7). It illustrates a recurring biblical theme: God chooses what is weak and seemingly impossible to shame the strong and demonstrate His absolute power, often turning the enemy's contempt back on themselves (1 Cor 1:27). The incident prepares for the profound theological significance of Jerusalem, which would become the central city for the worship of Yahweh and the capital of David's eternal dynasty.