The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
- KJV The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
- NKJV “TheLord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
- NASB “The Lord has treated me in accordance with my righteousness; In accordance with the cleanliness of my hands He has repaid me.
- NLT The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.
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
David says the LORD rewarded him according to his righteousness and clean hands. He speaks of his integrity and loyalty to God's covenant.
Overview
This claim is not sinless perfection but covenant faithfulness; David, unlike Saul, walked in genuine loyalty to the LORD and refused to grasp the throne by wicked means. God honored that uprightness. Yet such righteousness is itself a gift, and its perfect fulfillment is found only in Christ, whose flawless obedience secures our standing before God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Sam 26:23May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
- Ps 24:4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
- 1 Kgs 8:32then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
- Ps 7:8The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.
- Jas 4:8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Ps 18:20–25The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
- 2 Sam 22:25So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight.
- Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
- 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Ps 19:11By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
- Ps 7:3–4O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
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 22:21 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.