Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
Parallel translations
- WEB The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint;
- BSB Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted.
- NKJV When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.
- NASB Now when the Philistines were at war with Israel again, David went down, and his servants with him; and when they fought against the Philistines, David became weary.
- NLT Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted.
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
War with the Philistines breaks out again, and the aging David grows weary in battle. His weakness sets the stage for God's deliverance through others.
Overview
The narrative shifts to renewed Philistine conflict, where David, once the giant-slayer, now becomes faint and vulnerable. His mortality reminds us that even the greatest king has limits and must be rescued. It quietly points beyond David to a greater King whose strength never fails.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Josh 14:10–11And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
- 2 Sam 5:22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
- Ps 71:9Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
- Eccl 12:3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
- 2 Sam 5:17But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
- 2 Sam 5:25And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
- Jer 9:23–24Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
- 1 Chr 20:4And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
- 1 Pet 1:24–25For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
- Isa 40:28–30Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
- Ps 73:26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
- Ps 71:18Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 21:15 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.