2 Samuel 22:36 — Word Study
WLCוַתִּתֶּן־ לִ֖י מָגֵ֣ן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃
BSAYou have givennâthan▸ [bestowed upon, granted] Your shieldmâgên [breastplate, protection] of salvationyeshaʻ [deliverance, rescue] exalts merâbâh▸ [makes great, multiplies]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתִּתֶּן־ | and you gave | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect second person masculine singular |
| לִ֖י | to me | Preposition, suffix |
| מָגֵ֣ן | [the] shield of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ | salvation your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ | and answering your | Conjunction, verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃ | you make great me | Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You have given me Your shield of salvation, and Your gentleness exalts me. |
| KJV | Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. |
| ASV | Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath made me great. |
| YLT | And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy lowliness maketh me great. |
| WEB | You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great. |
| BBE | You have given me the breastplate of your salvation, and your mercy has made me great. |
Where they part company is תַּרְבֵּֽנִי — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence features a main clause followed by a second clause, linking God's gift to David's exaltation.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָתַן
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 22:36
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 22:36 is part of a passage where David praises God for His protection and deliverance. This song reflects on the various ways God has been a shield and source of strength in David's life, emphasizing the relationship between divine assistance and personal exaltation. David's acknowledgment of God's gentleness highlights the character of God as a protector and supporter.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 15:1 | After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | Ephesians 6:16 | In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. |
| 4 | Psalm 18:35 | You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me. |
| 5 | Genesis 12:2 | I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תַּרְבֵּֽנִי, tar.Be.nigenerated
The verb תַּרְבֵּֽ (rabah) means to increase or multiply, indicating a growth or elevation in status. It is parsed as a Hiphil imperfect form, suggesting an ongoing action where God actively causes David to be exalted.
This word conveys not just a numerical increase but also a qualitative enhancement of David's standing, as it relates to God's favor and support. The context shows that this exaltation is a direct result of God's gentleness and protection.
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 is וַתִּתֶּן־ (va.ti.ten-), and you gave, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating to whom the gift is given, a noun phrase describing the gift itself, and a second clause that elaborates on the effects of this gift.
This construction emphasizes the action of giving and its consequences, with the two parts of the verse linked by the conjunction וְ (and), showing the relationship between God's provision and David's resulting exaltation.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַתִּתֶּן־ as ἔδωκάς (edōkas), which means 'you gave.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, indicating a direct act of giving.
For מָגֵן, the LXX uses ὑπερασπισμὸν (hyperaspismon), suggesting a protective role that goes beyond a mere shield, emphasizing a deeper sense of safeguarding.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 22:36 describes how David praises God for giving him a shield of salvation and for exalting him through His gentleness. This verse highlights God's protective nature and the honor that comes from His kindness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
David refers to God's protection and deliverance, symbolizing safety and security in times of trouble.
God's gentleness reflects His loving kindness, which elevates David's status and honors him.
The term indicates an active role of God in lifting David up, suggesting a divine favor that enhances his life.
The shield symbolizes defense and protection, emphasizing God's role as a protector against adversities.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How have I experienced God's protection in my life?
- In what ways can I reflect God's gentleness towards others?
- What does it mean for me to be exalted by God's kindness?
- How can I rely on God as my shield in difficult times?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 22:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. [See comments on Psalms 18:35].
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation - i:e., thy saving shield, thine almighty defense.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 22 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(36) Thy gentleness.—This is the translation of the word in Psalms 18:35. The word here, which differs very slightly, and is otherwise unknown, is undoubtedly meant for it; if taken as it stands it would, by its etymology, mean thy answering, viz., to the prayers offered. The psalm inserts between the two clauses of the verse, “and thy right hand hath holden me up.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges36. the shield of thy salvation] Cp. Ephesians 6:17. Psalms 18:35 adds, “and thy right hand sustained me.” thy gentleness] This is a rendering of the word used in Psalms 18:35, which means gentleness or condescension: but the reading here is different, and probably means thy answering, i.e. thy answers to my prayers for help.
Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 22 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible36. Shield of thy salvation — The protection and defence which salvation from God affords. Thy condescension — Thy clemency and self-humiliation in deigning to notice me so much.
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
You have given me Your shield of salvation, and Your gentleness exalts me.
You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great.
You have given me Your shield of salvation, and Your gentleness exalts me.
You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.
Tyndale line
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath made me great.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Thou hast also giuen me the shield of thy saluation, and thy louing kindnesse hath caused me to increase.
Strictly literal
And thou didst give me the shield of thy salvation, And thy condescending gentleness hath made me great.
And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy lowliness maketh me great.
And You give the shield of Your salvation to me, || And Your lowliness makes me great.
And thou gavest me the shield of thy salvation; and thy assistance hath made me great.
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your favor has made me great.
From the Latin
Thou hast given me the shield of my salvation: and thy mildness hath multiplied me.
Simplified
You protect me with the shield of your salvation; your help has made me great.
You have given me the breastplate of your salvation, and your mercy has made me great.
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 reads: וַתִּתֶּן־ לִ֖י מָגֵ֣ן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃. The Septuagint matches all six words, providing a consistent translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain three words that align with the MT, while the rest were supplied by an editor, indicating some damage to the text.
וַתִּתֶּן־ לִ֖י מָגֵ֣ן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃
6 of the 6 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.
[ותתן] [ל׳י] [מגן] ישע׳ך ועזרת׳ך תרב׳ני
3 words on the leather — 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 22:36
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 נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect second person masculine singularHc/Vqw2ms
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp1bs
מָגֵן (magen) means 'shield' and can refer to both a small shield or buckler and a figurative protector. It can also denote the scaly hide of a crocodile. The word is feminine in plural form, מִגִּנָּה (mginnah), and is derived from a root meaning to cover or protect.
מָגֵן n.m. & f. shield
base
H4043 מָגֵן shield
4043 magen maw-gane'
also (in plural) feminine mginnah {meg-in-naw'}; from 1598; a
shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a
protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile:--X armed,
buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield.
see HEBREW for 01598
מָגֵן (ma.gen) — shield.
shield, buckler
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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…
יֵ֫שַׁע (yesha`) refers to concepts of deliverance, rescue, and salvation, encompassing both physical and spiritual aspects. It also includes ideas of safety, welfare, and prosperity. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts of divine rescue and victory.
יֵ֫שַׁע n.m. deliverance, rescue, salvation, also safety, welfare
safety, welfare, prosperity
salvation, i.e. primarily physical rescue, by God, oft. with added spiritual idea
victory
base
H3468 יֵ֫שַׁע deliverance, rescue, salvation, also safety, welfare . safety, welfare, prosperity
. salvation, i.e. primarily physical rescue, by God, oft. with added spiritual idea
. victory
3468 yesha` yeh'-shah
or yeshai {yay'-shah}; from 3467; liberty, deliverance,
prosperity:--safety, salvation, saving.
see HEBREW for 03467
יֵ֫שַׁע (ye.sah) — salvation.
1) deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare
1a) safety, welfare, prosperity
1b) salvation
1c) victory
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
עֲנָוָה (anavah) refers to humility, meekness, and gentleness. It is derived from the root word עָנָה (anah) and encompasses both human modesty and divine clemency. The entries consistently highlight its meanings without significant disagreement.
עֲנָוָה n.f. humility; עַנְוָה־ (contr. because of Maqqeph)
base
H6038 עֲנָוָה, עַנְוָה
6038 `anavah an-aw-vaw'
from 6035; condescension, human and subjective (modesty), or
divine and objective (clemency):--gentleness, humility,
meekness.
see HEBREW for 06035
עֲנָוָה (a.na.vah) — humility.
humility, meekness
Also means: an.vah (עַנְוָה "gentleness" H6037)
HC/Vqcc/Sp2ms — Conjunction · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHC/Vqcc/Sp2ms
רָבָה (rabah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to increase or multiply, encompassing ideas of becoming great, numerous, or abundant. It has various forms, including Qal (to become many), Piel (to make large), and Hiphil (to make much). The word also appears in a context related to shooting in Genesis 21:20. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, רְבָה.
[רָבָה] 225 vb. be, or become, much, many, great
Qal 59
become many, numerous
be great
grow great (Aramaism)
Pi. 4 make large, increase
Hiph. 162
H7235a רָבָה be, or become, much, many, great .. become many, numerous
. . be great
. grow great (Aramaism)
. make large, increase
. . make much or many
. make great, obj. pers.
H7235b רָבָה shoot
7235 rabah raw-baw'
a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect):--(bring
in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake for 7232), be
in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel,
exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly,
X -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have,
make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more
(in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much
(greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), X
process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
see HEBREW for 07232
רָבָה (ra.vah) — to multiply.
1) be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to become many, become numerous, multiply (of people, animals, things)
1a2) to be or grow great
1b) (Piel) to make large, enlarge, increase, become many
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make much, make many, have many
1c1a) to multiply, increase
1c1b) to make much to do, do much in respect of, transgress greatly
1c1c) to increase greatly or exceedingly
1c2) to make great, enlarge, do much
Aramaic equivalent: re.vah (רְבָה "to grow great" H7236)
רָבָה (ra.vah) — to shoot.
(Qal) to shoot
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVhi2ms/Sp1bs