Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
Parallel translations
- WEB You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
- BSB You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated 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 fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
- Josh 10:24And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
- Ps 18:40–41Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
- Ps 21:8–9Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
- 2 Th 1:8–9In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
- Luke 19:27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
- Luke 19:14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
- Gen 49:8Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.
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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 22:41 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.