2 Samuel 22:35 — Word Study
WLCמְלַמֵּ֥ד יָדַ֖י לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִחַ֥ת קֶֽשֶׁת־ נְחוּשָׁ֖ה זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃
BSAHe trainslâmad [teacheth, instructs] my handsyâd [an open hand; strength, a side or share] for battlemilchâmâh [war, conflict] my armszᵉrôwaʻ [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power] can bendnâchath [bring down, make flexible] a bowqesheth [weapon] of bronzenᵉchûwshâh [copper, a strong metal]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מְלַמֵּ֥ד | [he has] trained | Verb, Piel, participle (active) masculine singular |
| יָדַ֖י | hands my | Noun common both dual construct, suffix |
| לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה | for battle | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְנִחַ֥ת | and it will stretch | Verb, Piel, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| קֶֽשֶׁת־ | a bow of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| נְחוּשָׁ֖ה | bronze | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃ | arms my | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. |
| KJV | He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. |
| ASV | He teacheth my hands to war, So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass. |
| YLT | Teaching my hands for battle, And brought down was a bow of brass by mine arms, |
| WEB | He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze. |
| BBE | He makes my hands expert in war, so that a bow of brass is bent by my arms. |
Where they part company is נִחַת — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of two main clauses, each detailing God's preparation and David's capability.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbלָמַד
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 22:35
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 22:35 is part of a song where David praises God for His deliverance and strength. Here, David reflects on how God has prepared him for battle, illustrating the relationship between divine assistance and human capability. This chapter celebrates God's faithfulness and power in the face of adversities, much like the themes found in Psalm 18:34 and Psalm 144:1.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 18:33–34 | He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights. |
| 2 | Psalm 144:1 | Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. |
| 3 | Psalm 46:9 | He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 39:3–9 | Then I will strike the bow from your left hand and dash down the arrows from your right hand. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מְלַמֵּד, me.la.Medgenerated
The word מְלַמֵּד (me.la.Med) is a participle from the root לָמַד (lamad), meaning to teach or train. It conveys the idea of actively guiding someone in a skill or discipline, emphasizing the process of instruction and preparation for a task.
In this verse, it indicates that God is the one who trains David's hands, suggesting a direct involvement in equipping him for the challenges he faces. This training is not merely academic but practical, preparing David for the realities of battle.
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.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb מְלַמֵּד governs the sentence, indicating the subject's action of training. It is followed by a noun phrase יָדַי (my hands) as the object, and a prepositional phrase לַמִּלְחָמָה (for battle) that clarifies the purpose of the training.
The second part of the verse introduces a new action with the verb וְנִחַת (and it will stretch), indicating that the arms can perform a specific action with the bow, establishing a connection between the training and the ability to wield weapons.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מְלַמֵּד as διδάσκων (didaschōn), meaning 'teaching' or 'instructing.' This choice reinforces the idea of divine instruction and preparation.
The translation for נִחַת is κατάχας (katachōn), which suggests a focus on the action of bending or bringing down, aligning with the concept of flexibility in the context of using a bow.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 22:35 tells us that God trains David's hands for battle, suggesting that he is prepared for conflict. David's arms are strong enough to bend a bow made of bronze, indicating his readiness and strength in warfare.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God actively prepares and equips David with the skills and strength needed for conflict, illustrating divine support in his endeavors.
Bronze is a strong metal, symbolizing durability and effectiveness in weaponry, which emphasizes the power and capability David possesses.
This verse highlights God's role in David's life, particularly in his battles and leadership, showing that his successes are attributed to divine guidance and training.
We can learn about the importance of relying on God's training and preparation in our own lives, especially when facing challenges or conflicts.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I feel God is training me for battle?
- How can I recognize and utilize the strength that God provides in my daily challenges?
- What does it mean to me that God equips me for conflict?
- How can I apply the lessons of divine training in my own life?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 22:35 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. [See comments on Psalms 18:34].
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges35. so that a bow of steel, &c.] And mine arms bend a bow of bronze. The ability to bend a metal bow (cp. Job 20:24) was a mark of superior strength. Readers of the Odyssey will recall Ulysses’ bow, which none but himself could bend. (Hom. Od. xxi. 409). Observe how David recognises that the advantages of physical strength and energy, important qualifications in times when the king was himself the leader of his people in battle, were gifts of God; yet that it was not these that saved him and made him victorious, but Jehovah’s care and help (2 Samuel 22:36 ff.).
Read Cambridge 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
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.
Tyndale line
He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
He teacheth my hands to war, So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
He teacheth my hands to war; so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.
He teacheth mine handes to fight, so that a bowe of brasse is broken with mine armes.
Strictly literal
He teacheth my hands to war, And mine arms bend a bow of brass.
Teaching my hands for battle, And brought down was a bow of brass by mine arms,
Teaching my hands for battle, || And a bow of bronze was brought down by my arms,
He teaches my hands for the war, so that a brazen bow is bent by my arms.
He trains my hands for war, and my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
From the Latin
He teacheth my bands to war: and maketh my arms like a bow of brass.
Simplified
He teaches me how to fight in battle; he gives me the strength to draw a bronze bow.
He makes my hands expert in war, so that a bow of brass is bent by my arms.
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 agree closely in their wording, with all seven words matched in the translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the essence of the verse is preserved across these witnesses.
מְלַמֵּ֥ד יָדַ֖י לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִחַ֥ת קֶֽשֶׁת־ נְחוּשָׁ֖ה זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃
7 of the 7 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.
מלמד יד׳י למלחמה ונחת [קשת] [נחשה] [זרעות׳י]
2 words on the leather — 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 22:35
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.
לָמַד (lamad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to learn or teach. It encompasses the ideas of exercising in a skill, being trained, and instructing others. The root suggests a connection to motivation or incentive, as seen in the context of teaching with a rod. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to learn), Piel (to teach), and Pual (to be taught).
לָמַד vb. exercise in, learn
Qal learn something
Piel teach
Pual trained; taught
base
H3925 לָמַד exercise in, learn .learn something
.teach
.trained; taught
3925 lamad law-mad'
a primitive root; properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to
teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive):(un-) accustomed,
X diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -
ing).
לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: teach.
: teach
1) to learn. teach, exercise in
1a) (Qal) to learn
1b) (Piel) to teach
1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained
Also means: la.mad (לָמַד ": learn" H3925H)
לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: learn.
: learn
1) to learn. teach, exercise in
1a) (Qal) to learn
1b) (Piel) to teach
1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained
V-Piel — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singularHVprmsa
יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
יָד 1604 n.f. hand
hand
Fig. = strength, power
Fig. = side
יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—
sign, monument
part, fractional part or share
time, repetition
axle-trees
stays, supports for laver
tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
a (beckoning) hand
יַד with prep.
base
H3027 יָד hand . hand
. Fig. = strength, power
. Fig. = side
. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument
. part, fractional part or share
. time, repetition
. axle-trees
. stays, supports for laver
. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
. a (beckoning) hand
. יַד with prep.
3027 yad yawd
a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,
means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed
one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of
applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate
and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,
at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,
(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +
creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,
force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,
labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,
ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,
power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,
draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by
them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,
+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,
יָד (yad) — hand.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: power.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
N-cd | Suff — Noun common both dual construct · suffixHNcbdc/Sp1bs
מִלְחָמָה (milchamah) means 'battle' or 'war.' It is derived from the root word for fighting and encompasses both specific engagements and the broader concept of warfare. The entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מִלְחָמָה 319 n.f. battle, war
base
H4421 מִלְחָמָה battle, war
4421 milchamah mil-khaw-maw'
from 3898 (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the
engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare):--battle,
fight(-ing), war((-rior)).
see HEBREW for 03898
מִלְחָמָה (mil.cha.mah) — battle.
battle, war
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
See WAR.
נָחֵת (nachath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to go down or descend. It can refer to a literal descent, as well as a figurative one, such as descending in chastisement. The word also encompasses meanings like pressing down or causing something to come down. Its Aramaic equivalent is נְחֵת (ne.chat), which shares a similar meaning.
[נָחֵת] vb. (Aram. and poet.) go down, descend
Qal
go down, descend
fig. descend in chastisement
Niph. = penetrate
Pi. cause to descend = press down
Hiph. thither bring down thy heroes
base
H5181 [נָחֵת] (Aram. and poet.) go down, descend .. go down, descend
. fig. descend in chastisement
. = penetrate
. cause to descend = press down
. thither bring down thy heroes
5181 nachath naw-khath'
a primitive root; to sink, i.e. descend; causatively, to
press or lead down:--be broken, (cause to) come down, enter,
go down, press sore, settle, stick fast.
נָחֵת (na.chat) — to descend.
1) to go down, descend
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go down, descend
1a2) to descend, descend into (chastisement) (fig.)
1b) (Niphal) to come down into, penetrate
1c) (Piel) to cause to descend, press down, stretch (a bow)
1d) (Hiphil) to bring down
Aramaic equivalent: ne.chat (נְחֵת "to descend" H5182)
Conj | V-Piel-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vpq3ms
קֶ֫שֶׁת (qesheth) primarily means 'bow,' referring to a weapon for hunting or battle, and can also denote 'rainbow.' It is derived from a root meaning to bend, suggesting strength. The term encompasses both literal and figurative uses, including references to archers and might.
קֶ֫שֶׁת n.f. bow
bow
rainbow
base
H7198 קֶ֫שֶׁת bow . bow
. rainbow
7198 qesheth keh'-sheth
from 7185 in the original sense (of 6983) of bending: a bow,
for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris:--X
arch(-er), + arrow, bow((-man, -shot)).
see HEBREW for 07185
see HEBREW for 06983
קֶ֫שֶׁת (qe.shet) — bow.
1) bow
1a) bow (for hunting, battle)
1b) bowmen, archers
1c) bow (fig. of might)
1d) rainbow
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
נְחוּשָׁה (nchuwshah) refers to copper or bronze, indicating materials used in ancient metallurgy. It is a feminine form derived from the root word for copper, and it encompasses both pure copper and bronze, which is an alloy. The term appears in contexts related to metalworking and materials in the Old Testament.
נְחוּשָׁה and נְחֻשָׁה n.f. copper, bronze
base
H5154 נְחוּשָׁה and נְחֻשָׁה copper, bronze
5154 nchuwshah nekh-oo-shaw'
or nchushah {nekh-oo-shaw'}; feminine of 5153;
copper:--brass, steel. Compare 5176.
see HEBREW for 05153
see HEBREW for 05176
נְחוּשָׁה (ne.chu.shah) — bronze.
1) copper, bronze
1a) copper (made from melting copper ore)
1b) bronze (made from copper and alloy)
Aramaic equivalent: ne.chash (נְחָשׁ "bronze" H5174)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
זְרוֹעַ (z'roa) refers to an arm or shoulder, often symbolizing strength. It can denote the physical arm, the shoulder of a sacrificed animal, or military and political forces. The word is derived from a root meaning to stretch out, indicating both physical and metaphorical strength.
זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ n.f. and (rare) m. arm, shoulder, strength
arm
arm, as symbol of strength
Pl. forces, political and military
Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest
base
H2220 זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ arm, shoulder, strength . arm
. arm, as symbol of strength
. Pl. forces, political and military
. Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest
2220 zrowa` zer-o'-ah
or (shortened) zroao {zer-o'-ah}; and (feminine) zrowpah
{zer-o-aw'}; or zrowah {zer-o-aw'}; from 2232; the arm (as
stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively,
force:--arm, + help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength.
see HEBREW for 02232
זְרוֹעַ (ze.ro.a) — arm.
1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength
1a) arm
1b) arm (as symbol of strength)
1c) forces (political and military)
1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)
N-cp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp1bs