2 Samuel 22:42 — Word Study
WLCיִשְׁע֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין מֹשִׁ֑יעַ אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽם׃
BSAThey lookedshâʻâh▸ [crying out for help, to gaze intensely] but [there was] no oneʼayin [none, nothing] to save themyâshaʻ [rescue, deliver] toʼêl [toward, towards] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] but He did notlôʼ [refused to, would not] answerʻânâh■ [respond, give an answer]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יִשְׁע֖וּ | they looked | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וְאֵ֣ין | and there not | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| מֹשִׁ֑יעַ | [was] a deliverer | Verb, Hiphil, participle (active) masculine singular |
| אֶל־ | to | Preposition |
| יְהוָ֖ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| וְלֹ֥א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| עָנָֽם׃ | he answered them | Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They looked, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but He did not answer. |
| KJV | They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. |
| ASV | They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not. |
| YLT | They look, and there is no saviour; Unto Jehovah, and He hath not answered them. |
| WEB | They looked, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. |
| BBE | They were crying out, but there was no one to come to their help: even to the Lord, but he gave them no answer. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽם׃ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause, followed by a predicate and additional phrases that clarify the situation.



4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיָשַׁע
verbשָׁעָה
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 22:42
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 22:42 is part of a song where David praises the LORD for his deliverance from enemies. In this verse, David expresses a moment of desperation, looking for help but finding none. This reflects the broader theme of reliance on God during times of trouble, as seen throughout the Psalms.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 28:6 | He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. |
| 2 | Job 27:9 | Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him? |
| 3 | Proverbs 1:28 | Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me. |
| 4 | Isaiah 1:15 | When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 20:3 | “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְהוָ֖ה, Yah.wehgenerated
The word יְהוָ֖ה (Yahweh) is the proper name of God in the Hebrew Bible, often rendered as 'the LORD'. It signifies the self-existent nature of God and is deeply tied to the covenant relationship with Israel. In this verse, it highlights the speaker's appeal to God for salvation.
The use of יְהוָ֖ה shows the speaker's recognition of God's authority and power, yet also underscores the pain of feeling unheard in a moment of need.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the LORD for יְהוָ֖ה.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains a main clause introduced by the verb יִשְׁע֖וּ, they looked, followed by a series of phrases that describe the situation: the absence of a deliverer and the appeal to the LORD.
The structure emphasizes the desperation of the speaker, as the verb comes first, highlighting the act of looking for help, followed by the stark realization of abandonment.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יִשְׁע֖וּ as βοήσονται (boēsondai), suggesting a similar sense of calling for help. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the urgency in the speaker's plea.
The translation of יְהוָ֖ה as κύριον (kurion) aligns with the common Greek rendering for God, maintaining the reverence associated with the divine name.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Samuel 22:42 shows David in a moment of despair, looking for help but finding no one to save him, not even the LORD, who does not respond. This reflects the theme of seeking God's help in times of trouble.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates a deep sense of abandonment and helplessness, as the speaker seeks rescue but finds none.
The speaker recognizes the LORD as the ultimate source of salvation and deliverance, even in despair.
It highlights the tension between faith in God's ability to save and the painful experience of silence in times of need.
Similar themes of seeking help from God and experiencing silence can be found in other passages, such as in the Psalms.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I felt like I was seeking help but found none?
- How do I respond when I feel that God is silent in my prayers?
- What does it mean for me to trust in God as my deliverer?
- How can I support others who are feeling abandoned or in need of help?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 22:42 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey looked, but [there was] none to save; [even] unto the Lord, but he answered them not. [See comments on Psalms 18:41].
Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(42) They looked.—By the change of a letter this becomes in the psalm “They cried,” and it is so translated here in the LXX., “they shall cry.” One of the readings is doubtless a mere clerical error.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges42. They looked] They looked for help. Cp. Isaiah 17:7-8. The Sept. and Psalms 18:41 read, they cried. There is only the difference of a single letter between the words, as far as the consonants are concerned (ιωςε–ιωεςε). even unto the Lord] In their extremity even the heathen might cry for mercy to the “unknown God” of their enemies. Cp. 1 Samuel 5:12; Jonah 3:7 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
They looked, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but He did not answer.
They looked, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
They looked, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.
They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.
Tyndale line
They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.
They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
They looked, but there was none to save; even to the LORD, but he answered them not.
They looked about, but there was none to saue them, euen vnto the Lord, but he answered them not.
Strictly literal
They looked, and there was none to save — Unto Jehovah, and he answered them not.
They look, and there is no saviour; Unto Jehovah, and He hath not answered them.
They look, and there is no savior; To YHWH, and He has not answered them.
They look about, but there is none to help; unto the Lord—but he answereth them not.
They cried for help, but no one saved them; they cried out to Yahweh, but he did not answer them.
From the Latin
They shall cry, and there shall be none to save: to the Lord, and he shall not hear them.
Simplified
They cried out for help, but no one came to rescue them. They even called out to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
They were crying out, but there was no one to come to their help: even to the Lord, but he gave them no answer.
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 יִשְׁע֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין מֹשִׁ֑יעַ אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽם׃, which is closely matched by the Septuagint. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain some restored words but agree with the overall meaning of the verse.
יִשְׁע֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין מֹשִׁ֑יעַ אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽם׃
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.
ישועו [ואין] מושיע אל יהוה [ולוא] [ענ׳ם]
3 words on the leather — 1 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 22:42
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.
שָׁעָה (sha`ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gaze or look at, often with interest or consideration. It can imply various actions such as inspecting, regarding, or even feeling bewildered. The entries indicate different forms, including Qal (to gaze), Hiphil (to cause to look away), and Hithpael (to gaze in dismay).
שָׁעָה vb. gaze (steadily, with interest, etc.)
Qal gaze at, regard (with favour)
Hiph. cause thy gaze to turn away from me
Hithp. gaze not about
base
H8159 שָׁעָה gaze (steadily, with interest, etc.)
8159 sha`ah shaw-aw'
a primitive root; to gaze at or about (properly, for help);
by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be
nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or
bewildered:--depart, be dim, be dismayed, look (away),
regard, have respect, spare, turn.
שָׁעָה (sha.ah) — to gaze.
1) to look at or to, regard, gaze at or about
1a) (Qal) to gaze at, regard, behold, look about
1b) (Hiphil) to look away, cause gaze to turn away
1c) (Hithpael) to look in dismay, gaze about (in anxiety)
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.
אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought
to nothing, as nothing
cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
in circumst. clauses
with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
with prefixes
base
H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing
. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
. in circumst. clauses
. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
. with prefixes
369 'ayin ah'-yin
as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not
exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative
particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,
in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,
thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),
well-nigh, without. Compare 370.
see HEBREW for 0370
אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.
1) nothing, not, nought n
1a) nothing, nought neg
1b) not
1c) to have not (of possession) adv
1d) without w/prep
1e) for lack of
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
יָשַׁע (yasha`) is a Hebrew root meaning to save or deliver. It encompasses various forms of salvation, including liberation from physical and moral troubles, victory in battle, and general safety. The word can appear in different grammatical forms, such as Niph. (to be saved) and Hiph. (to save).
[יָשַׁע] vb. Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass.
Niph.
be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)
be saved in battle, victorious
Hiph.
deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)
save from moral troubles
give victory to
base
H3467 [יָשַׁע] Hiph. deliver; Niph. intrans. and pass. . . be liberated, saved (prop. placed in freedom)
. be saved in battle, victorious
. . deliver, save (prop. give width and breadth to, liberate)
. save from moral troubles
. give victory to
3467 yasha` yaw-shah'
a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e.
(by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or
succor:--X at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help,
preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation,
save(-iour), get victory.
יָשַׁע (ya.sah) — to save.
1) to save, be saved, be delivered
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered
1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to save, deliver
1b2) to save from moral troubles
1b3) to give victory to
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singularHVhrmsa
→ An appellation of Jesus Ro 11:26
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep — PrepositionHR
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
The Hebrew word עָנָה (*anah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to heed or pay attention, covering a range of meanings including to answer, respond, testify, and sing. It appears in contexts where one responds to speech or circumstances, and can also refer to singing. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both verbal responses and musical expression.
[עוּן] vb. dwell
base
עָנָה 316 vb. answer, respond
Qal
answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
money meets all demands
specif. respond as a witness, testify
less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
Niph.
make answer
be answered
Hiph. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
base
עָנָה vb. sing
Qal sing, utter tunefully
Pi. sing sweetly of it
base
H6030a עוּן dwell H6030b עָנָה answer, respond .. answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
. . respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
. money meets all demands
. . specif. respond as a witness, testify
. less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
. . make answer
. be answered
. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
H6030c עָנָה sing
6030 `anah aw-naw'
a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed,
i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to
begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify,
announce:--give account, afflict (by mistake for 6031),
(cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for 6031), cry,
hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing
(together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.
See also 1042, 1043.
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 01042
see HEBREW for 01043
עוּן (un) — to dwell.
(Qal) to dwell
עָנָה (a.nah) — to answer.
1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to answer, respond to
1a2) to testify, respond as a witness
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to make answer
1b2) to be answered, receive answer
Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)
עָנָה (a.nah) — to sing.
(Qal) to sing, utter tunefully
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqp3ms/Sp3mp
