What Does 2 Samuel 1:14 Mean in the King James?

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

2 Samuel 1:14 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The hand is sent toward destruction, and “the LORD’s anointed” names the boundary it crosses.

THE MEANING

The question meets the moment before harm becomes action: a hand reaches toward destruction, and a life named as the LORD’s anointed is treated as disposable. The verse asks what could make someone unafraid to cross that boundary.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that having power over a life makes that life yours to destroy.

THE ROOT

לִשְׁלֹחַ

lishloach

GROWS FROM

שָׁלַח

shalach

Send forth, release, or let go.

The phrase translated “stretch forth” is literally the act of sending out the hand. The root also appears in Shiloach, “Sent,” the pool associated with restored sight; what is sent forth can carry destruction or restoration.

ALSO GROWS

send away: Send away or release.

שִׁלֵּחַ

This branch makes the hand’s movement an act of release into motion, rather than merely a gesture.

Shiloach: Sent; the name behind Siloam.

שִׁלֹחַ

John 9:7 glosses Siloam as “Sent” and links its waters with restored sight, showing another direction this root’s sending can take.

מְשִׁיחַ

meshiach

GROWS FROM

מָשַׁח

mashach

Smear or anoint.

“The LORD’s anointed” names someone through the act of anointing, not just through an honorific label. The verse sets the hand’s movement against a person whose anointing is named as belonging to the LORD.

ALSO GROWS

anoint: Apply oil or mark by anointing.

מָשַׁח

The verb behind “anointed” keeps the identity tied to the act that marks the person.

anointing oil: Anointing oil.

מִשְׁחָה

This related noun shows the physical practice carried in the root behind the title.

THE PATTERN

Scripture places a limit on human hands that claim the right to take or destroy life.

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Genesis 9:6 · KJVThe verse treats the taking of human life as an act with a consequence, because human life bears the image of God.

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Psalm 105:15 · KJVThe warning names the anointed as lives beyond the reach of a hand that would harm them.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Matthew 26:52 · KJVThe sword’s violence returns upon the one who takes it up, placing a limit on the hand that reaches for it.

THE THREAD

And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

1 Samuel 24:6 · KJV

The same two roots meet here: shalach sends the hand forth, and mashach names the anointed one. Together the verses focus attention on the hand’s direction toward a person whose anointing is named as the LORD’s.

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