What Does 2 Samuel 5:19 Mean in the King James?

And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

2 Samuel 5:19 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Beneath ‘deliver,’ the verse repeats the Hebrew seed for ‘give,’ casting victory as what the LORD places into David’s hand.

THE MEANING

This verse holds a real battle in view: David asks whether to advance against the Philistines, and the LORD tells him to go, promising their defeat. It joins a concrete human action with an outcome named as the LORD’s giving.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The victory is not presented as David’s achievement alone; it is promised as what the LORD gives into his hand.

THE ROOT

נָתַן

natan

GROWS FROM

נתן

Give, set, place.

“deliver” in this verse is natan. The Hebrew asks whether the LORD will give the Philistines into David’s hand, then answers with an intensified repetition of the same root: literally, ‘giving, I will give.’ The hand receives what the LORD gives, so the promised victory is not depicted as something David manufactures.

ALSO GROWS

mattanah: Gift.

מַתָּנָה

This noun for what is given brings the gift-like shade of the root into the promise.

netinim: Given ones; dedicated servants.

נְתִינִים

This form carries the same root into the idea of people set apart for service.

שָׁאַל

sha’al

GROWS FROM

שאל

Ask, inquire, request.

“enquired” in this verse is sha’al. The scene opens with an explicit question before David moves. This root can name both asking and a request, so the inquiry is already a spoken request for direction.

ALSO GROWS

she’elah: Question, request, or petition.

שְׁאֵלָה

The branch holds together the question David speaks and the petition he brings.

Sha’ul: Saul; ‘asked for.’

שָׁאוּל

The same root can name what is requested, turning the act of asking into a name.

THE PATTERN

A spoken request is paired with a concrete response or promised provision.

And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

1 Samuel 30:8 · KJVDavid’s questions about pursuing receive a direct answer and a promised outcome.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Psalm 32:8 · KJVThe promise of guidance gives direction for the way ahead.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 7:7 · KJVThe verse sets asking beside receiving, seeking beside finding, and knocking beside an opened door.

THE THREAD

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

1 Samuel 1:27 · KJV

Hannah’s verse joins the same two Hebrew roots found here: sha’al, asking, and natan, giving. In both, what is asked is answered through the language of the LORD’s giving.

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