They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
Parallel translations
- WEB They looked, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
- BSB They looked, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.
- NKJV They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
- NASB “They looked, but there was no one to save them; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
- NLT They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
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's enemies looked for a savior, even cried to the LORD, but found no answer. Those who oppose God's anointed have no deliverer.
Overview
In their extremity the foes find no rescuer, and even their cry to Yahweh goes unanswered because they stood against his purposes. The verse sobers us with the reality that there is no salvation apart from genuine submission to God. It warns that to set oneself against God's anointed King is to be left without help.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Isa 1:15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
- 1 Sam 28:6And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
- Prov 1:28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
- Mic 3:4Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
- Matt 7:22–23Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
- Job 27:9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
- Luke 13:25–26When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
- Ezek 20:3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 22:42 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.