The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
- BSB The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
- 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 26:23The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed.
- Ps 24:4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
- 1 Kgs 8:32Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
- Ps 7:8The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
- Jas 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
- Ps 18:20–25The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
- 2 Sam 22:25Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
- Job 17:9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
- 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
- Ps 19:11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
- Ps 7:3–4O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in 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.