The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
Parallel translations
- WEB The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me.
- BSB The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
- NKJV The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
- NASB The ropes of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
- NLT The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
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
The cords of Sheol and snares of death closed in around David. He felt trapped on the very edge of the grave.
Overview
Continuing the imagery of mortal danger, David depicts death like a hunter's snare and binding cords. The picture conveys utter helplessness apart from divine rescue. Christ likewise faced the snares of death, yet broke them in his resurrection, securing hope for all who trust him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ps 116:3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
- Prov 13:14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
- Jonah 2:2And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
- Acts 2:24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
- Prov 5:22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
- Job 36:8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
- Prov 14:27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
- Ps 140:5The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
- Ps 18:5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 22:6 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.