He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them.
Parallel translations
- KJV And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
- BSB He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed 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 32:23“I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them.
- Hab 3:11The sun and moon stood still in the sky, at the light of your arrows as they went, at the shining of your glittering spear.
- Josh 10:10Yahweh confused them before Israel. He killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah and to Makkedah.
- Ps 144:6–7Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.
- Ps 18:14He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.
- Ps 7:12–13If a man doesn’t relent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.
- Ps 45:5Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 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.