What Does 2 Samuel 6:16 Mean in the King James?
And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
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
David’s name carries “beloved,” yet Michal sees him dance and her heart assigns him contempt.
THE MEANING
You can witness unguarded praise and still regard the one expressing it as beneath you: the eye registers a body leaping and dancing before the LORD, while contempt forms in the heart. Seeing and valuing are separate acts; what is plainly visible does not determine what the heart esteems.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the assumption that clear sight guarantees clear judgment: someone can see an act plainly and still despise the person before them.
THE ROOT
וַתִּבֶז
wattivez
GROWS FROM
בזה
To regard as worthless, treat lightly, or hold in contempt.
“despised” in this verse is wattivez. English gives the act but not its word-family: the same root can name contempt and the condition of being held low. Michal’s judgment is an inward act of assigning David little or no worth.
ALSO GROWS
bazah: To despise or regard as worthless.
בָּזָה
This dictionary form names the low valuation condensed in wattivez.
nivzeh: Despised, lowly, treated as insignificant.
נִבְזֶה
Isaiah 53:3 uses this related form for someone regarded as low, turning the act of contempt into the state of being despised.
דָּוִד
David
GROWS FROM
דוד
Beloved, dear one; also a word for a close male relative.
David’s name is tied to the language of being beloved, while this verse’s verb says Michal despises him. The verse places “beloved” and “despised” side by side: her heart’s verdict collides with the name’s carried meaning.
ALSO GROWS
dod: Beloved or dear one; also uncle or kinsman in some uses.
דּוֹד
The name David is linked to this word, so the name itself carries the sense of beloved.
dodim: Loves, affection, or caresses.
דּוֹדִים
The Song of Songs uses this related form for love’s affection, extending the root into the language of desire and intimacy.
THE PATTERN
What the eye registers does not settle worth; the heart’s valuation shapes judgment.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.THE THREAD
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.Michal’s וַתִּבֶז (wattivez, “she despised”) and Esau’s וַיִּבֶז (vayyivez, “he despised”) share the root בזה (bazah), “to regard as worthless.” The objects differ, but the same Hebrew verb names the inward act of assigning little worth to what stands before a person.
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