He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
Parallel translations
- WEB He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them.
- KJV And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
- NKJV He sent out arrows and scattered them; Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.
- NASB “And He shot arrows and scattered them, Lightning, and routed them.
- NLT He shot arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were confused.
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
God sends arrows and lightning to scatter and rout David's enemies. The Lord himself fights and wins the battle.
Overview
Lightning bolts become God's arrows, scattering the foes in confusion. The imagery shows that David's victories are ultimately God's doing, not his own prowess. It teaches that the Lord is a mighty warrior for his people, a truth fulfilled as Christ defeats every spiritual enemy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Deut 32:23I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them.
- Hab 3:11Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear.
- Josh 10:10And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
- Ps 144:6–7Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them.
- Ps 18:14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
- Ps 7:12–13If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.
- Ps 45:5Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s foes; the nations fall beneath your feet.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 22:15 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.