2 Samuel 1:19
2 Samuel 1:19 in Multiple Translations
“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!
The glory, O Israel, is dead on your high places! How have the great ones been made low!
“Israel, the glorious one lies dead on your mountains. How the mighty have fallen!
O noble Israel, hee is slane vpon thy hie places: how are the mightie ouerthrowen!
'The Roebuck, O Israel, On thy high places [is] wounded; How have the mighty fallen!
“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
The illustrious of Israel are slain upon thy mountains: how are the valiant fallen?
“You Israeli people, your glorious [MTY] leaders have been killed on the mountains! It is very sad that those mighty men have died!
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 1:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Samuel 1:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הַ/צְּבִי֙
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
עַל
בָּמוֹתֶ֖י/ךָ
חָלָ֑ל
אֵ֖יךְ
נָפְל֥וּ
גִבּוֹרִֽים
הַ/צְּבִי֙
tsᵉbîy
H6643
beauty
Art | N-ms
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
בָּמוֹתֶ֖י/ךָ
bâmâh
H1116
high place
N-fp | Suff
חָלָ֑ל
châlâl
H2491
slain
Adj
אֵ֖יךְ
ʼêyk
H349
how?
Part
נָפְל֥וּ
nâphal
H5307
to fall
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
גִבּוֹרִֽים
gibbôwr
H1368
mighty man
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Samuel 1:19
הַ/צְּבִי֙
tsᵉbîy
H6643
"beauty"
Art | N-ms
A gazelle is a beautiful animal, known for its splendor and speed, described in the Bible as a symbol of beauty and glory. The word also means something or someone that is pleasant and lovely to look at.
Definition: 1) beauty, glory, honour 1a) beauty, decoration 1b) honour
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: beautiful(-ty), glorious (-ry), goodly, pleasant, roe(-buck). See also: Deuteronomy 12:15; Isaiah 13:19; Proverbs 6:5.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
בָּמוֹתֶ֖י/ךָ
bâmâh
H1116
"high place"
N-fp | Suff
A high place or elevation, often referring to a cultic platform or mountain. In the Bible, it can also refer to battlefields or funeral mounds, as seen in various passages.
Definition: 1) high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform) 1a) high place, mountain 1b) high places, battlefields 1c) high places (as places of worship) 1d) funeral mound?
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: height, high place, wave. See also: Leviticus 26:30; 1 Chronicles 16:39; Psalms 18:34.
חָלָ֑ל
châlâl
H2491
"slain"
Adj
This word describes something or someone that has been profaned or hurt, like in Numbers 35:33. It can also mean to be pierced or wounded, as in physically harmed.
Definition: : killed 1) slain, fatally wounded, pierced 1a) pierced, fatally wounded 1b) slain Also means: cha.lal (חָלָל ": wounded" H2491H)
Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wounded. See also: Genesis 34:27; Isaiah 66:16; Psalms 69:27.
אֵ֖יךְ
ʼêyk
H349
"how?"
Part
In the Bible, this word means 'how' or 'where', like in Genesis when God asks Adam 'where are you'. It's also used to express surprise or excitement.
Definition: interrog adv how?
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: how, what. See also: Genesis 26:9; Ecclesiastes 2:16; Psalms 11:1.
נָפְל֥וּ
nâphal
H5307
"to fall"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Definition: : fall/drop/fail 1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fall 1a2) to fall (of violent death) 1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before 1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of 1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result 1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to 1a7) to lie, lie prostrate 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate 1b2) to overthrow 1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot 1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.) 1b5) to cause to fall 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon 1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself 1d) (Pilel) to fall
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for H6419 (פָּלַל)), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. See also: Genesis 2:21; 1 Samuel 17:52; Esther 9:3.
גִבּוֹרִֽים
gibbôwr
H1368
"mighty man"
Adj
This word describes a strong or mighty man, like a warrior or champion, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:51 where David defeats Goliath. It can also imply a brave or valiant person.
Definition: adj 1) strong, mighty n m 2) strong man, brave man, mighty man
Usage: Occurs in 152 OT verses. KJV: champion, chief, [idiom] excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man. See also: Genesis 6:4; 2 Chronicles 17:16; Psalms 19:6.
Study Notes — 2 Samuel 1:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Samuel 1:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
- Sermons on 2 Samuel 1:19
Context — David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan
17Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan,
18and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:
19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
20Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 21O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 1:27 | How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!” |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 1:25 | How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 4:7–8 | For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him? And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today? |
| 4 | Lamentations 5:16 | The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! |
| 5 | Zechariah 11:7 | So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock. |
| 6 | Lamentations 2:1 | How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger. |
| 7 | Zechariah 11:10 | Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. |
| 8 | Isaiah 4:2 | On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors. |
| 9 | 2 Samuel 1:23 | Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. |
| 10 | 1 Samuel 31:8 | The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. |
2 Samuel 1:19 Summary
This verse is saying that something very sad and tragic has happened to Israel, and that a great leader, King Saul, has fallen. The 'mighty' that have fallen are the strong and powerful leaders who were supposed to protect Israel, but they have failed, as seen in 1 Samuel 31:1-7. This reminds us that even the strongest and most powerful among us can fall, and that we should always be humble and dependent on God, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:12 and Proverbs 16:18. It's a call to remember that our strength and glory come from God, and that we should always seek to honor Him, as seen in 1 Samuel 2:30 and Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when the verse says 'Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights'?
This phrase is referring to the death of King Saul, who was a prominent leader in Israel, and how his fall has affected the nation's reputation and honor, as seen in 1 Samuel 31:1-7 where Saul's death is recorded.
Who are the 'mighty' that have fallen in this verse?
The 'mighty' refers to King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, who were strong and influential leaders in Israel, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 31:2, where it says 'the Philistines slew Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons'
Why is this verse significant in the context of 2 Samuel?
This verse is significant because it marks a turning point in Israel's history, as the leadership transitions from Saul to David, as prophesied in 1 Samuel 16:13, where David is anointed as the new king
How does this verse relate to the rest of the song of lament in 2 Samuel 1?
This verse sets the tone for the rest of the lament, which mourns the loss of Saul and Jonathan, and expresses David's grief and sorrow, as seen in 2 Samuel 1:17-27, where David delivers a eulogy for the fallen leaders
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to recognize and mourn the 'fallen mighty' in my own life, and how can I apply this principle to my relationships and community?
- How can I, like David, balance my own ambitions and desires with a sense of humility and respect for those in authority over me, as seen in 1 Samuel 24:6-7 and 1 Samuel 26:9-11?
- In what ways can I apply the concept of 'glory' from this verse to my own life, and how can I ensure that my pursuits and actions are bringing glory to God, as mentioned in Isaiah 43:7 and 1 Corinthians 10:31?
- What can I learn from David's example of honoring and mourning his enemies, and how can I apply this to my own relationships with those who may be opposed to me, as seen in 2 Samuel 1:17-27 and Proverbs 24:17-18?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 1:19
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places,.... The high mountains of Gilboa, where Saul their king, and Jonathan his son, a prince of the blood, and natural heir to the crown, and multitudes
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 1:19
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! The beauty of Israel - literally, the gazelle or antelope of Israel (cf. 2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Son 2:7; Son 3:5).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
The beauty of Israel; their flower and glory, Saul and Jonathan, and their army, consisting of young and valiant men. Upon thy high places, i.e. those which belong to thee, O land of Israel. How are the mighty fallen! how strangely! how suddenly! how dreadfully and universally!
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
2 Samuel 1:19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!Ver. 19. The beauty of Israel.] Here beginneth this sad sonnet, whereof this verse is the foot, and is therefore repeated. Junius readeth it, O thou beauty of Israel: which is, saith he, a periphrasis of God, of the land, saith Diodate. In this short song there are many things to be understood as being concise: the expressions of a man grieved for the death of his dear friends, and done in metre, which causeth a cloud. How are the mighty fallen!] q.d., By a divine hand doubtless, else they could hardly have been over matched: such notable warriors they were. In the remembrance of many that are yet alive at Ostend in the Netherlands, the most warlike soldiers of Europe, whilst they most eagerly contended for that barren plot of land, had, as it were, one common sepulchre, but an eternal monument of their valour. Est genus lamentationis cycloides. - Jun. Decus, desiderium, et gloria. Camd., Elis.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
(19) The beauty of Israel, in the sense of the glory or ornament of Israel, referring to Saul and Jonathan. The rendering of the Syriac and some commentators, “the gazelle,” as a poetic name for Jonathan, is uncalled for, both because the words are spoken of Saul and Jonathan together, and because there is no evidence elsewhere that Jonathan was so called, nor is there any allusion to him under this figure in the song. Upon thy high places.—Comp. 2 Samuel 1:21; 2 Samuel 1:25. This line may be considered as the superscription of the whole song.
Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 1:19
19. The beauty of Israel, &c.] Better, Thy beauty (lit. the beauty), O Israel, upon thine high places is slain. Saul and Jonathan are thus described as the chief ornament and honour of Israel. The word translated glory may also mean roe or gazelle, a rendering which is adopted by some commentators, who refer it to Jonathan. There is not however any satisfactory evidence to shew that Jonathan’s personal beauty and swiftness of foot in attack or retreat had gained for him among the troops the name of ‘the Gazelle,’ as Ewald supposes (Hist. of Israel, III. 30), and as the elegy celebrates both Saul and Jonathan, the opening word cannot be limited to the latter only. thy high places] Gilboa is meant. The expression suggests the extremity of the disaster, when the mountain-strongholds of the land were forced and their defenders slain. Cp. note on ch. 2 Samuel 22:34.
Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 1:19
The beauty ... - i. e. Saul and Jonathan who were the chief ornament and pride of Israel, and slain upon “high places” 2 Samuel 1:25, namely, on Mount Gilboa.
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 1:19
19. Gazelle — The word öáéprimarily means ornament, beauty, and is so rendered by the common version and most interpreters.
Sermons on 2 Samuel 1:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
David - Raised Up by God by Devern Fromke | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the contrast between man's way of achieving and fulfilling God's will and God's way. He uses the examples of Saul, who was chosen by the peop |
|
David Lamenting Over the Death of Saul Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith reflects on the lamentation of David over the death of Saul. He emphasizes the beauty and might of Israel that has been lost. Pastor Chuck also m |
|
Loyalty by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the character of Jonathan from the Bible and how his loyalty to God and his faith inspired others. The speaker emphasizes the importance of e |
|
Wonderful by Phil Clarkson | In this sermon, the speaker begins by referencing Isaiah Chapter 9 and emphasizes the solemn responsibility of addressing an audience. He highlights the importance of not wasting p |
|
Ever-Present Help in the Time of Trouble by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a conversation with God. He highlights the fact that God is always near and ready to listen and deliver us from trou |
|
The Presence of God by David Ravenhill | This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking and valuing the presence of God above all else, highlighting the danger of focusing on parts of faith rather than the whole relatio |
|
|
Christ Our City of Refuge by Hoseah Wu | In this sermon, Richard from Elizabeth introduces his brother Levine to say a few words. Levine expresses his love for bagels and locks and praises the inspiring words written by a |