2 Samuel 6:20 kjv
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
2 Samuel 6:20 nkjv
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"
2 Samuel 6:20 niv
When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"
2 Samuel 6:20 esv
And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"
2 Samuel 6:20 nlt
When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, "How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!"
2 Samuel 6 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 6:14 | And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. | David's humble worship attire. |
| 2 Sam 6:16 | As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out... and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. | Michal's initial internal reaction of scorn. |
| 2 Sam 6:21-22 | David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD... and I will make myself yet more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight." | David's unapologetic defense of his actions, valuing God. |
| 2 Sam 6:23 | And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. | Divine consequence for Michal's scorn. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | ...for the LORD sees not as man sees: for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. | Contrast between Michal's outward focus and God's. |
| Ps 30:11-12 | You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness... | Joyful, unrestrained worship exemplified by dancing. |
| Ps 34:1-3 | I will bless the LORD at all times... My soul will make its boast in the LORD... Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together! | David's desire to magnify God publicly. |
| Ps 131:1-2 | O LORD, my heart is not lifted up... nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in things too great or too difficult for me. | David's self-perception of humility. |
| 1 Chr 15:27-29 | David was clothed with a robe of fine linen... and all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting... and Michal... despised him. | Parallel account confirming David's attire and Michal's scorn. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Warning against Michal's attitude. |
| Isa 57:15 | For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity... I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit... | God's favor for the humble, contrasting Michal. |
| Jam 4:6 | But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." | Divine opposition to pride, direct parallel. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | ...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God... | New Testament reiteration of humility. |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who... made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men... | Jesus' ultimate example of humbling oneself. |
| Matt 23:12 | And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | Principle of humility and exaltation. |
| Mk 7:6-7 | "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me..." | Emphasizes heart over external appearances in worship. |
| Jn 4:23-24 | "...true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him." | True worship transcends formality; focuses on spirit. |
| Ps 78:70-71 | He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from tending the ewes with lambs He brought him... | David's humble origins contrasting with royal expectations. |
| Exod 28:40-42 | "...for Aaron's sons you shall make tunics... to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the hips to the thighs. It shall be on Aaron and his sons when they come into the tabernacle." | Priestly garments providing appropriate covering. |
| 2 Sam 5:1-3 | ...David came to Hebron... and the elders of Israel anointed David king over Israel. | David as chosen King of Israel. |
2 Samuel 6 verses
2 Samuel 6 20 Meaning
2 Samuel 6:20 describes the moment Michal, daughter of Saul, confronts King David after he returns home from bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. She sarcastically questions his kingly dignity, accusing him of shamelessly exposing himself like a commoner in the sight of his servants' female attendants due to his enthusiastic worship and dancing. This verse highlights Michal's pride and her contempt for David's humility in worship, revealing a deep rift in their understanding of kingship and devotion to God.
2 Samuel 6 20 Context
The chapter 2 Samuel 6 describes David's joyous and monumental act of bringing the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's presence, into Jerusalem, his new capital. This event is portrayed as a highlight of his reign, consolidating his political and spiritual authority. David expresses profound reverence and zeal, actively participating in the procession, dancing and shedding his royal robes to wear a simple linen ephod, a garment associated with priests and ordinary individuals in worship. This public display of humility and uninhibited devotion stands in stark contrast to the previous, failed attempt to move the Ark (Uzzah's death) and sets David apart from King Saul, who was less devoted. Verse 20 specifically captures Michal's bitter response after the successful ark procession, marking the critical and definitive rupture between her, a remnant of Saul's house and his formal kingship, and David, God's chosen king representing a heart of worship.
2 Samuel 6 20 Word analysis
- Then David returned: Indicates David's action after the public celebration, now turning his attention to his family, highlighting a comprehensive sense of royal and spiritual responsibility that extends to the home.
- to bless his household: Hebrew: lĕbārēḵ (לְבָרֵךְ), meaning "to bless." This reflects David's role as the spiritual head, a priestly function akin to a patriarch (Gen 12:3). He extends the divine favor experienced in bringing the Ark to his family, demonstrating his pious concern for their spiritual well-being.
- And Michal the daughter of Saul came out: Highlights Michal's initiative in confrontation. Her lineage, "daughter of Saul," is highly significant. It underlines her connection to the previous dynasty and its values, characterized by concern for outward appearance, royal dignity, and rigid protocol, contrasting sharply with David's heart-centered, spontaneous worship.
- to meet David and said: Implies a direct and purposeful confrontation, not a casual greeting. Her words are not a question seeking understanding but a statement intended to rebuke and humiliate.
- 'How glorious was the king of Israel today,': Sarcastic and derisive. She uses "glorious" (נִכְבָּד - niḵbāḏ) to mock what she perceives as a lack of royal decorum. Her "glory" is tied to outward majesty, not spiritual humility before God. "King of Israel" further underscores her concern for royal standing and perception among subjects.
- who uncovered himself today: Hebrew: gālâ (גָּלָה), "uncover, reveal, make bare." In this context, it refers to David laying aside his outer, kingly garments and dancing in the simpler linen ephod (2 Sam 6:14). It does not mean full nakedness but rather stripping off the dignified robes that symbolize his regal status, revealing more basic undergarments, thus perceived by Michal as "unseemly" or "vulgar."
- in the eyes of his servants' young women: This emphasizes Michal's acute embarrassment concerning public perception, particularly from lower-class women. Her pride is offended that David would lower himself to appear common before those of lesser status. It reveals her preoccupation with hierarchical social standing and her desire to maintain royal distance.
- as one of the vulgar fellows: Hebrew: hā-rêqîm (הָרֵקִים), meaning "empty, worthless, vain, common." Michal uses this highly derogatory term to strip David of his kingly dignity, comparing his behavior to that of common, unrestrained, or perhaps even reckless individuals. This reveals her disdain for common people and her judgment of David's behavior as beneath a king.
- shamelessly uncovers himself!: This intensifies her scorn and emphasizes her judgment that David's actions were not merely undignified but utterly lacking in shame or proper self-respect, reinforcing her disgust and implying a perceived moral or social transgression.
2 Samuel 6 20 Bonus section
The Hebrew word rêqîm ("vulgar fellows") can also connote "empty-headed" or "idle." Michal might have seen David's intense spiritual engagement as foolish or an undignified waste of kingly time, reflecting her worldly priorities. This event effectively severed any remaining personal and theological ties between David and the Saulide legacy, firmly establishing David's dynasty as one founded on humble, God-centered devotion, in contrast to Saul's reliance on human dignity and superficiality. It serves as a narrative polemic against an outward-focused kingship that prioritizes human praise over divine honor.
2 Samuel 6 20 Commentary
2 Samuel 6:20 marks a critical juncture in the relationship between David and Michal, emblematic of the clash between two differing spiritual and political philosophies. Michal, imbued with the pride and outward-focused values of Saul's monarchy, could not comprehend David's unbridled, humble devotion. For her, kingship demanded solemn dignity and maintenance of social distance, viewing David's shedding of royal attire and zealous dancing as debasing. She saw his actions as a vulgar display before his subjects, especially "young women," indicating a concern for external appearance and social propriety over genuine spiritual expression.
David's "uncovering himself" was not scandalous nakedness but a symbolic divestment of royal grandeur, embracing a posture of humility before the Almighty, a king willingly appearing as a common man or even a priest (in his ephod) before God. Michal's sarcasm reveals her misjudgment: what David saw as proper adoration of God, she saw as scandalous abandonment of his kingly decorum. This encounter exposes the pride in Michal's heart, contrasting sharply with David's humility (as expressed in 2 Sam 6:21-22). Ultimately, her scorn leads to her barrenness, a divine judgment symbolizing the spiritual and dynastic break with the House of Saul. This passage teaches the supreme importance of humility in worship and that true dignity lies in glorifying God, not oneself.