He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
Parallel translations
- WEB He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.”
- BSB Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”
- NKJV “Heis the tower of salvation to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.”
- NASB “He is a tower of salvation to His king, And shows favor to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.”
- NLT You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.”
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 ends his psalm praising God for giving great victories to His anointed king and showing covenant love to David and his descendants forever.
Overview
This closing verse of David's song (2 Samuel 22) celebrates God's faithfulness to His promise that David's throne would endure. The phrase "to his offspring, forever more" points beyond David to the everlasting kingdom secured in Christ, the greater Anointed One (Messiah), in whom God's loving kindness toward David's line reaches its fulfillment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 2 Sam 7:12–13And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
- Ps 144:10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
- Ps 89:20I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
- Ps 89:29His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
- Ps 18:50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
- Ps 48:3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
- Rev 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
- Ps 3:3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
- Ps 89:26He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
- Ps 89:36His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
- Ps 91:2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
- 2 Sam 22:2And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
- Luke 1:31–33And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
- Jer 30:9But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
- Ps 21:1The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
- Ps 89:24But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
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 22:51 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.