You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.
Parallel translations
- WEB You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
- KJV Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
- NKJV You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me.
- NASB “You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, And I destroyed those who hated me.
- NLT You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.
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 made David's enemies flee so he could cut off those who hated him. The Lord routed his foes and gave him victory.
Overview
David recalls how God turned his enemies to flight, granting him decisive conquest over those hostile to God's king. The deliverance is God's doing. As with all of David's victories, it prefigures the triumph of the Messiah over every power that opposes God's purposes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Exod 23:27I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
- Josh 10:24When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.
- Ps 18:40–41You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.
- Ps 21:8–9Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You.
- 2 Th 1:8–9in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- Luke 19:27And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”
- Luke 19:14But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
- Gen 49:8Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
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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 22:41 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.