As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
Parallel translations
- WEB As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
- BSB As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
- NKJV As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
- NASB “As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is refined; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
- NLT “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
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's way is perfect and his word is proven, and he shields all who take refuge in him. The Lord is utterly reliable to those who trust him.
Overview
David affirms the flawless integrity of God's character and the tested truthfulness of his word. To everyone who seeks shelter in him, God is a sure defense. This is a cornerstone of faith: God's promises never fail, and refuge in him, supremely in Christ, is perfectly secure.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Deut 32:4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
- Prov 30:5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
- Ps 18:30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
- Ps 12:6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
- Matt 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
- Ps 119:140Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
- 2 Sam 22:3The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
- Dan 4:37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
- Ps 35:2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
- Ps 91:4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
- Ps 84:9Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
- Rev 15:3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
- Ps 2:7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
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 22:31 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.