2 Samuel 22:40 — Word Study
WLCוַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי חַ֖יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֥יעַ קָמַ֖י תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃
BSAYou have armed meʼâzar▸ [girded, surrounded] with strengthchayil [power, might] for battlemilchâmâh [war, conflict] You have subduedkâraʻ▸ [caused to bow, made low] my foesqûwm [those who rose up against me] beneath metachath [under, underneath]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי | and you have girded me | Verb piel sequential imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
| חַ֖יִל | strength | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה | for battle | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| תַּכְרִ֥יעַ | you make bow down | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| קָמַ֖י | [those who] rise against me | Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃ | under me | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me. |
| KJV | For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. |
| ASV | For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. |
| YLT | And Thou girdest me [with] strength for battle, Thou causest my withstanders to bow under me. |
| WEB | For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. |
| BBE | For I have been armed by you with strength for the fight: you have made low under me those who came out against me. |
Where they part company is חַ֖יִל — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence contains two main clauses, each with a purpose or position phrase, showing the dual aspects of God's action in David's life.
2 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson & more — read them ›
clause
verbכָּרַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Samuel 22:40
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — David's Song of Praisegenerated
2 Samuel 22:40 is part of a song where David praises God for His deliverance and strength in battle. The verses surrounding this one highlight David's triumph over enemies and the divine assistance he received, showcasing a theme of reliance on God's power in times of conflict.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 17:49–51 | Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 23:5 | Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah. |
| 3 | Psalm 18:32–39 | It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear. |
| 4 | Isaiah 45:5 | I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me, |
| 5 | Colossians 1:11 | being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חַ֖יִל, Cha.yilgenerated
The Hebrew word חַ֖יִל (chayil) refers to strength, might, or power. It encompasses not only physical strength but also moral virtue and resources, often associated with military might. The parsing indicates that it is a common noun in masculine singular form, emphasizing its role as a substantial source of power.
This word appears frequently in contexts that denote military strength or capability, illustrating its significance in discussions of warfare and divine support. It is a term that conveys readiness and the ability to engage in conflict, reflecting the strength that God provides to His people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תַּזְרֵ֥נִי (you have girded me) governs the whole verse, with two phrases hanging off it: a prepositional phrase indicating the purpose of being girded and a second clause that describes the action of subduing enemies. The structure emphasizes God's active role in equipping David for battle.
The sentence flows from the action of God arming David to the result of that action, showcasing a clear cause-and-effect relationship in the context of divine assistance in warfare.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew חַ֖יִל is rendered as δυνάμει (dunamei), which means 'power' or 'might.' This choice reflects a broader understanding of strength, emphasizing not just military might but also general capability.
The translation captures the essence of divine empowerment, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while broadening its application to include various forms of strength.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 22:40 describes how David praises God for giving him strength for battle and for causing his enemies to bow down before him. This verse highlights the support David received from God in overcoming challenges and conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God provided David with the necessary power and capability to face his enemies and succeed in battle.
This verse illustrates that David attributes his strength and victories directly to God's intervention and support in his life.
David refers to physical battles against his enemies, but it can also symbolize spiritual battles, emphasizing reliance on God's strength.
Being subdued indicates that David's enemies were not just defeated but brought low, showing God's authority over his adversaries.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to rely on God's strength to face challenges?
- How can I recognize God's hand in my victories and struggles?
- What does it mean for me to be equipped by God for the battles I face today?
- How can I support others who are struggling with their own battles, just as David relied on God?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 22:40 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleFor thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. [See comments on Psalms 18:39].
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryFor thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. For thou hast girded me with strength to battle.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 22 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.
For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.
You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.
Tyndale line
For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
For thou hast girded me with power to battell, and them that arose against me, hast thou subdued vnder me.
Strictly literal
And thou girdedst me with strength to battle: Thou didst subdue under me those that rose up against me.
And Thou girdest me [with] strength for battle, Thou causest my withstanders to bow under me.
And You gird me [with] strength for battle, || You cause my withstanders to bow under me.
For thou hast girded me with strength for the war; thou subduest my opponents under me.
You put strength on me like a belt for battle; you put under me those who rise up against me.
From the Latin
Thou hast girded me with strength to battle: thou hast made them that resisted me to bow under me.
Simplified
You made me strong for the battle; you made those who rose up against me kneel low before me.
For I have been armed by you with strength for the fight: you have made low under me those who came out against me.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, "וַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי חַ֖יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֥יעַ קָמַ֖י תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃" which translates to, "You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the overall meaning and structure, as all six words correspond closely, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q51) also align with the Masoretic Text, though they contain a partly restored word and one word that has been supplied by an editor, indicating some textual variations in preservation. Overall, the core message remains consistent across these witnesses.
וַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי חַ֖יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֥יעַ קָמַ֖י תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ותאזר׳ני] חיל למלחמה ותכרע קמ׳י תחת׳ני
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Samuel 22:40
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָזַר (azar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gird, encompass, or equip. It has various forms, including Qal (to gird), Niphal (to be girded), and Piel (to hold close). The word conveys a sense of preparation and strength, often used in contexts related to readiness for action or war.
[אָזַר] vb. gird, encompass, equip
Qal gird, gird on
Niph. girded with might
Pi. gird
Hithp. gird oneself
base
H247 [אָזַר] gird, encompass, equip
247 'azar aw-zar'
a primitive root; to belt:--bind (compass) about, gird (up,
with).
אָזַר (a.zar) — to gird.
1) gird, encompass, equip, clothe
1a) (Qal) to gird, gird on (metaphorical of strength)
1b) (Niphal) be girded
1c)(Piel) hold close, clasp
1d) (Hiphpael) gird oneself (for war)
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-2ms | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vpw2ms/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word חַ֫יִל (*chayil*) encompasses meanings related to strength, efficiency, wealth, and army. It is derived from a root meaning force and can refer to physical might, moral virtue, or resources. The entries consistently highlight its application to soldiers and military forces, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
חַ֫יִל 244 n.m. strength, efficiency, wealth, army
strength, usu. physical
ability, efficiency, often involving moral worth
wealth
force, army
base
H2428 חַ֫יִל strength, efficiency, wealth, army
2428 chayil khah'-yil
from 2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other
resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:--able,
activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great)
forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong,
substance, train, (+)valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war,
worthy(-ily).
see HEBREW for 02342
חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
1a) strength
1b) ability, efficiency
1c) wealth
1d) force, army
חֵילֵךְ (che.lek) — Helech.
§ Helech = "your army"
a place near Arvad and Gammad
חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength.
: strong
1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
1a) strength
1b) ability, efficiency
1c) wealth
1d) force, army, soldiers/army
חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: rich.
: rich/wealth
1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
1a) strength
1b) ability, efficiency
1c) wealth
1d) force, army
חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: worthy.
: worthy
1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
1a) strength
1b) ability, efficiency
1c) wealth
1d) force, army
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
→ A title given to Jehovah 1Sa 15:29
מִלְחָמָה (milchamah) means 'battle' or 'war.' It is derived from the root word for fighting and encompasses both specific engagements and the broader concept of warfare. The entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מִלְחָמָה 319 n.f. battle, war
base
H4421 מִלְחָמָה battle, war
4421 milchamah mil-khaw-maw'
from 3898 (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the
engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare):--battle,
fight(-ing), war((-rior)).
see HEBREW for 03898
מִלְחָמָה (mil.cha.mah) — battle.
battle, war
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
See WAR.
כָּרַע (kara`) means to bow down or bend the knee. It encompasses actions like kneeling in reverence, crouching, or sinking down, and can also imply causing someone or something to bow. The term appears in various contexts, including expressions of grief and submission.
כָּרַע bow down
Qal
bow
bow down, of the crouching lion
bow down over (in order to lie with) a woman
bow down, of a woman in childbirth
Hiph.
cause to bow in grief
cause to bow down in death
base
H3766 כָּרַע bow down
3766 kara` kaw-rah'
a primitive root; to bend the knee; by implication, to sink,
to prostrate:--bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down,
couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down,
subdue, X very.
כָּרַע (ka.ra) — to bow.
1) to bend, kneel, bow, bow down, sink down to one's knees, kneel down to rest (of animals), kneel in reverence
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bow
1a2) to bow down, crouch
1a3) to bow down over
1a4) to tilt, lean
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to bow
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singularHVhi2ms
The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand
Qal 460
arise
arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
arise, abs., = become powerful
arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
arise for, i.e. to become
arise for action
arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
stand
Pi.
fulfil
confirm, ratify
confirm, establish
impose, an obligation
Pō‛l. raise up
Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up
Hiph.
146cause to arise, raise
raise, set up, stones
erect, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = bring on the scene
raise up = rouse, stir up
instigate, build
fig, of setting up law
raise up = constitute
cause to stand
Hoph. be raised up
base
H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise
. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)
. arise, abs., = become powerful
. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet
. arise for, i.e. to become
. . arise for action
. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed
. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere
. stand
. . fulfil
. . confirm, ratify
. confirm, establish
. impose, an obligation
. raise up
. raise oneself, = rise up
. . cause to arise, raise
. . raise, set up, stones
. erect, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = bring on the scene
. . raise up = rouse, stir up
. instigate, build
. fig, of setting up law
. raise up = constitute
. cause to stand
. be raised up
6965 quwm koom
a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,
figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X
be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X
enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift
up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise
(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse
up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,
strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -
rising).
קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.
Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)
§ -Kamai = "my adversary"
Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai
קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.
: rise/get_going
1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to arise
1a2) to arise (hostile sense)
1a3) to arise, become powerful
1a4) to arise, come on the scene
1a5) to stand
1a5a) to maintain oneself
1a5b) to be established, be confirmed
1a5c) to stand, endure
1a5d) to be fixed
1a5e) to be valid
1a5f) to be proven
1a5g) to be fulfilled
1a5h) to persist
1a5i) to be set, be fixed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to fulfil
1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose
1c) (Polel) to raise up
1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to cause to arise, raise
1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build
1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene
1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate
1e5) to raise up, constitute
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHVqrmpc/Sp1bs
תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
base
H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
8478 tachath takh'-ath
from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only
adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix
underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,
in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead
of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,
with.
see HEBREW for 08430
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.
: under/below
1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m
1a) the under part adv accus
1b) beneath prep
1c) under, beneath
1c1) at the foot of (idiom)
1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)
1c3) of subjection or conquest
1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands
1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)
1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)
1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)
conj
1e) instead of, instead of that
1f) in return for that, because that in compounds
1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)
1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.
: instead/in_place/exchange
Prep | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs