How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!”
Parallel translations
- WEB How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
- KJV How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
- NKJV “Howthe mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!”
- NASB “How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war have perished!”
- NLT Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The lament closes with the refrain of the mighty fallen and weapons perished. It ends the elegy on a note of solemn loss.
Overview
The final repetition brings the song to a dignified close, marking the end of an era with Saul's death. The perished weapons of war symbolize the collapse of the old order. The lament leaves Israel grieving but also waiting, for God has already anointed David to lead the nation forward under His covenant promises.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Sam 1:25How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
- 2 Sam 1:19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
- Ezek 39:9–10Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.
- Ps 46:9He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.
- 2 Kgs 2:12As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two.
- 2 Kgs 13:14When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 1:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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