What Does 2 Samuel 6:14 Mean in the King James?
And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
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 Hebrew says David is whirling with all his strength “to the face of the LORD”: the king’s power becomes visible as movement in God’s presence.
THE MEANING
Your strength can move in the presence of the LORD; it can be visible in the body. David is girded in a linen ephod and dances with all his might, making devotion something you can see.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that reverence must look controlled and physically restrained; David’s reverence appears as full-bodied movement.
THE ROOT
לִפְנֵי
lifnei
GROWS FROM
פנה
panah
Turn, face toward
The phrase rendered “before the LORD” carries the face-and-presence word family: David dances toward the LORD’s face, in direct presence. This puts the LORD, rather than the watching crowd, at the center of the scene.
ALSO GROWS
panim: Face; presence
פָּנִים
The phrase לִפְנֵי uses this face-word to frame the dance as taking place in the LORD’s presence.
panah: To turn or face toward
פָּנָה
This verbal form gives the word family a sense of direction: David’s dance is oriented toward the LORD.
עֹז
ʿoz
GROWS FROM
עזז
ʿazaz
Be strong
The word translated “might” is עֹז, strength. In this verse, strength becomes visible as movement; elsewhere, its word family can name a stronghold, מָעוֹז (maʿoz).
ALSO GROWS
ʿaz: Strong, powerful
עָז
This related form shows the shared root’s sense of strength.
maʿoz: Stronghold, refuge
מָעוֹז
The same word family can describe strength as a place of refuge, while David’s strength here takes the form of dance.
THE PATTERN
Joy in the LORD’s presence becomes visible in bodily movement.
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.THE THREAD
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.The word עֹז (ʿoz, strength) in David’s verse is the same Hebrew word used here for the strength the LORD gives. David’s dance makes that strength visible as movement.
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