2 Samuel 22:24 — Word Study
WLCוָאֶהְיֶ֥ה תָמִ֖ים ל֑וֹ וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָ֖ה מֵעֲוֹנִֽי׃
BSAAnd Ihâyâh▸ have been blamelesstâmîym [completely upright, perfect, unblemished, without defect] and kept myselfshâmar▸ [protected, guarded] from iniquityʻâvôn [free from, separate from, moral evil, sin, wickedness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה | and I was | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect first person common singular |
| תָמִ֖ים | blameless | Adj |
| ל֑וֹ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָ֖ה | and I kept myself ! | Verb hithpael sequential imperfect first person common singular, suffix |
| מֵעֲוֹנִֽי׃ | from iniquity my | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity. |
| KJV | I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. |
| ASV | I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity. |
| YLT | And I am perfect before Him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity. |
| WEB | I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity. |
| BBE | And I was upright before him, and I kept myself from sin. |
Where they part company is תָמִ֖ים — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is followed by a prepositional phrase and a verb phrase that describes David's actions, emphasizing his moral stance.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Samuel 22:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — David's Song of Praisegenerated
2 Samuel 22:24 is part of David's song of praise to the Lord, where he recounts his faithfulness and God's deliverance. This section highlights David's commitment to righteousness and his separation from wrongdoing, emphasizing the relationship between divine favor and moral integrity.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 6:9 | This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. |
| 2 | Genesis 17:1 | When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. |
| 3 | Job 1:1 | There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. |
| 4 | Psalm 51:6 | Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. |
| 5 | Psalm 84:11 | For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תָמִ֖ים, ta.Mimgenerated
The adjective תָּמִים (tamiym) means complete, sound, or whole. It describes someone who is unblemished or perfect, embodying integrity and truth. In this verse, it underscores David's moral standing before God.
This word is often used in contexts related to sacrifices, where only unblemished animals were acceptable. Here, David applies it to himself, indicating that he has maintained a state of moral purity.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has blameless, which is also used in the NETB and MSB.
Where others part company with the BSB they part company over the word תָמִ֖ים — perfect (ASV, DRA, LSV, RVA, WEB, YLT) emphasizes the quality of being whole, while blameless (BSB, FBV, NETB) focuses on moral integrity.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה (va'ehyeh, and I was) governs the clause, indicating David's state of being. It is followed by a description of his moral condition and actions.
The structure emphasizes David's assertion of integrity, with the adjective תָמִ֖ים acting as a complement to the verb, reinforcing his claim of being blameless before God.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תָמִ֖ים as ἄμωμος (amōmos), meaning unblemished or without defect. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a broader connotation of moral purity.
The Greek term emphasizes the idea of being free from any moral fault, which complements David's declaration of his uprightness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 22:24 shows David declaring that he has been blameless before God and has kept himself away from sin. This verse highlights his commitment to living a righteous life in God's sight.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being blameless means living in a way that is morally upright and free from sin, as David claims in this verse.
David connects his moral integrity with God's blessings, suggesting that his faithfulness has led to divine protection and deliverance.
David implies that he actively guards his heart and actions against moral evil, maintaining a lifestyle that aligns with God's statutes.
In the Old Testament, being blameless is often associated with righteousness and the acceptance of sacrifices, reflecting a person's relationship with God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to strive for greater integrity, like David?
- How can I actively guard myself against moral pitfalls in my daily life?
- What does it mean to me to be blameless before God?
- How can I encourage others to pursue a life of righteousness?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 22:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. [See comments on Psalms 18:23].
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. I was also upright before him.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. upright] Or perfect, as in 2 Samuel 22:31; 2 Samuel 22:33. It expresses the sincerity of undivided devotion. As a sacrificial term it signifies without blemish, and so the Sept. renders it here ἄ ?ìùìïò, for which cp. Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:22, &c. have kept myself from mine iniquity] I have watched over myself that I might not transgress. Some see further in the words the recognition of an inherent tendency to sin, or an allusion to some special temptation, but the simple explanation is best.
Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 22 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible24. Upright towards him — Correct and true in my relations to him. My iniquity — The iniquity into which I am ever prone to run.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Samuel 22 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.
I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.
I was blameless before him; I kept myself from sinning.
Tyndale line
I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity.
I was also perfect toward him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from my iniquity.
I was vpright also towarde him, and haue kept me from my wickednesse.
Strictly literal
And I was upright before him, And kept myself from mine iniquity.
And I am perfect before Him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity.
And I am perfect before Him, || And I keep myself from my iniquity.
I was also upright toward him, and I guarded myself against my iniquity.
I have also been innocent before him, and I have kept myself from sin.
From the Latin
And I shall be perfect with him: and shall keep myself from my iniquity.
Simplified
I am blameless in his sight; I keep myself from sinning.
And I was upright before him, and I kept myself from sin.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint match closely, with all five words corresponding directly. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations, showing some variations but maintaining the essence of the verse.
וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה תָמִ֖ים ל֑וֹ וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָ֖ה מֵעֲוֹנִֽי׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ואהי] תמים [עמ׳ו] ואשתמרה [מעונ׳י]
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Samuel 22:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singularHc/Vqw1cs
The Hebrew word תָּמִים (*tamiym*) means complete, sound, or whole. It encompasses notions of integrity, truth, and being unblemished or innocent. The word can function as both an adjective and a noun, referring to what is entire or in accord with truth. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being entire or perfect.
תָּמִים 91 adj. complete, sound
complete, whole, entire
whole, sound, healthful
complete, entire, of time
sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact
base
H8549 תָּמִים complete, sound . complete, whole, entire
. whole, sound, healthful
. complete, entire, of time
. sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
. as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact
8549 tamiym taw-meem'
from 8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also
(as noun) integrity, truth:--without blemish, complete, full,
perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled,
upright(-ly), whole.
see HEBREW for 08552
תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished.
: unblemished/perfect
1) complete, whole, entire, sound
1a) complete, whole, entire
1b) whole, sound, healthful
1c) complete, entire (of time)
1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)
תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: blameless.
: blameless
1) complete, whole, entire, sound
1a) complete, whole, entire
1b) whole, sound, healthful
1c) complete, entire (of time)
1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)
תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: complete.
: complete
1) complete, whole, entire, sound
1a) complete, whole, entire
1b) whole, sound, healthful
1c) complete, entire (of time)
1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
Adj — AdjHAamsa
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
Conj | V-Hithpael-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Verb hithpael sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffixHc/Vtw1cs/Sh
עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.
עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
base
H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
5771 `avon aw-vone'
or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from
5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,
mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
see HEBREW for 07
see HEBREW for 05753
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.
: crime
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.
: guilt
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.
: punishment
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs