2 Samuel 17:10
2 Samuel 17:10 in Multiple Translations
Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.
And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men.
Then even the strongest, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will become like water; for all Israel is conscious that your father is a man of war, and those who are with him are strong and without fear.
Then even the bravest soldier who has the heart of a lion will be scared to death, because everyone in Israel knows that your father is a powerful man who has brave men with him.
Then he also that is valiant whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall shrinke and faint: for all Israel knoweth, that thy father is valiant, and they which be with him, stout men.
and he also, the son of valour, whose heart [is] as the heart of the lion, doth utterly melt, for all Israel doth know that thy father is a hero, and sons of valour [are] those with him.
Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they who are with him are valiant men.
And the most valiant man whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall melt for fear: for all the people of Israel know thy father to be a valiant man, and that all who are with him are valiant.
Then your other soldiers, even if they are as fearless [SIM, IDM] as lions, they will become very afraid. Do not forget that everyone in Israel knows that your father is a great/strong soldier, and that the soldiers who are with him are also very brave/courageous.
Everybody knows that David and his men are brave and strong. If your other soldiers think he beat our mob, they will be afraid. Even the brave ones will be afraid.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 17:10
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2 Samuel 17:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Samuel 17:10
Study Notes — 2 Samuel 17:10
Context — Hushai Counters Ahithophel’s Advice
10Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.
11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. 12Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 2:9–11 | and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction. When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below. |
| 2 | Exodus 15:15 | Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away, |
| 3 | Genesis 49:9 | Judah is a young lion— my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 23:20 | And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. |
| 5 | Hebrews 11:34 | quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. |
| 6 | 1 Samuel 18:17 | Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” |
| 7 | Numbers 24:8–9 | God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows. He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.” |
| 8 | Song of Solomon 3:7 | Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel. |
| 9 | Proverbs 28:1 | The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 1:28 | Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’” |
2 Samuel 17:10 Summary
[This verse is saying that even the bravest soldiers can become very scared when they know they are up against a strong and powerful opponent, like King David. It's like when you're facing a big challenge and you feel overwhelmed, but you can trust in God's power and provision, as mentioned in Philippians 4:13. The knowledge of David's might and the valiant men with him is what strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies, and we can learn from this by trusting in God's might and power in our own lives.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to have a 'heart of a lion' in 2 Samuel 17:10?
Having a 'heart of a lion' refers to being extremely brave and courageous, as lions are known for their fearlessness, as seen in Proverbs 30:30, but even the bravest can falter in the face of overwhelming fear, as mentioned in this verse
Why would the valiant soldiers 'melt with fear'?
The valiant soldiers would 'melt with fear' because they know that King David, the opponent, is a mighty man with valiant men, which instills great fear in them, much like the fear that gripped the hearts of those who opposed the Israelites in Exodus 15:15
Is this verse suggesting that bravery is not important in battle?
No, the verse is not downplaying bravery, but rather highlighting that even the bravest soldiers can be overcome with fear when faced with a formidable opponent, as seen in Deuteronomy 31:6, where God encourages the Israelites to be strong and courageous
What role does the knowledge of David's might play in this verse?
The knowledge of David's might and the valiant men with him plays a significant role in striking fear into the hearts of his enemies, as they are aware of his reputation as a mighty warrior, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 18:7
Reflection Questions
- What are some situations in my life where I feel like I'm facing a 'mighty man' and need to trust in God's power and provision?
- How can I, like David, be a source of strength and courage for those around me, and what qualities do I need to develop to achieve this?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of trusting in God's might, rather than my own bravery, in the face of challenging circumstances, as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:10?
- What can I learn from David's reputation as a mighty man, and how can I strive to have a similar reputation as a follower of God, as encouraged in Matthew 5:16?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 17:10
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 17:10
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:10
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:10
Sermons on 2 Samuel 17:10
| Sermon | Description | |
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Rahab: Holy or Hypocrite - Hebrews 11:31 by Jon Courson | Jon Courson delves into Hebrews 11, known as God's Hall of Faith, highlighting the surprising inclusions and exclusions. He focuses on Rahab, the only woman in the Hall of Faith be |
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Week of Meetings 06 Christ the Nazarene by David Clifford | In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing the importance of working together in pairs, as exemplified by Jesus sending out his disciples two by two. He then goes on to desc |
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(Om Orientation) Real Christian Morals - Part 1 by George Verwer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the topic of sexual immorality and its consequences. He starts by referencing the story of Reuben in Genesis 35, who committed immorality and |
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Mental Pollution by Harold Vaughan | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need to resist the devil and overcome his attacks. He compares the inability to physically fight or outrun the devil to the need to empl |
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But Suppose God Doesn't Do It by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the book of Daniel. He highlights how their faith in God allowed them to be delivered from |
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Divinely Lead by David Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the cycle of bondage and captivity that the nation of Israel experienced due to their disobedience to God. The speaker highlights specific ins |
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Weakness by David Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jabez from the Bible, who was a man honored above his brethren. The preacher emphasizes the importance of meditating on the Word |






