2 Samuel 22:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me;

NIV: The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

NASB: For the waves of death encompassed me; The floods of destruction terrified me;

CSB: For the waves of death engulfed me; the torrents of destruction terrified me.

NLT: 'The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me.

KJV: When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

NKJV: “When the waves of death surrounded me, The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

Second Samuel 22:5–7 depicts God rescuing David from death. The complete chapter is David's psalm, which describes how he calls on God who saves, equips, and blesses him. In his first example, David talks about the chaos that threatened his life. He called to God, and God heard him from His temple: the place where God dwells with His people. The next section describes God's mighty acts in a metaphor of nature and weather (2 Samuel 22:8–16). This passage is nearly identical to Psalm 18:4–6.

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 6/8/2026 1:00:33 AM