2 Samuel 22:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.

NIV: You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great.

NASB: You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your help makes me great.

CSB: You have given me the shield of your salvation; your help exalts me.

NLT: You have given me your shield of victory; your help has made me great.

KJV: Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

NKJV: “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.

Second Samuel 22:32–43 describes how God has equipped David to lead His people. God did more than rescue David from danger. He also blessed David with skill in war and a stable kingdom. David goes on to say God protected him from internal rebellion and made foreign nations fear him (2 Samuel 22:44–46). This passage is repeated in Psalm 18:31–42 but some of the lines are different.

Through a psalm, David gives God credit for his life. David faithfully relied on God. In response, God rescued him from violent men, internal rebellion, and foreign armies. God strengthened David in battle, secured his throne, and made foreign nations serve him. God did so because David was blameless: David did sin greatly, but he also deeply repented his sin. David praises God for His love in establishing his kingdom for himself and his descendants. Second Samuel 23:1–7 speaks more about God's covenant with David. Psalm 18 records a slightly altered version of this chapter.

Second Samuel 22 is part of an epilogue. When originally written, there was a single book, which was later split into 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. This chapter begins to close out the story so far. This is the center of a mirror-like structure, called a "chiasm," seen in 2 Samuel 21—24. Despite Saul's sins (2 Samuel 21:1–14) and David's sins (2 Samuel 24), God gives Israel victory over their enemies (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 23:8–39). Second Samuel 22:1—23:7 describes how God used David in this. God rescued David from his enemies so he could fight for Israel and lead well. That blessing continues in the Davidic Covenant which is fulfilled in Jesus (2 Samuel 23:5). Psalm 18 is an edited version of 2 Samuel 22.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 4/30/2026 4:11:30 AM