2 Samuel 23 · Verse 1

2 Samuel 23:1

Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
2 Samuel 23:1, King James Version

2 Samuel 23:1 in other translations

BSBThese are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:
WEBNow these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:
ASVNow these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised on high saith, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:
YLTAnd these are the last words of David: --‘The affirmation of David son of Jesse--And the affirmation of the man raised up--Concerning the Anointed of the God of Jacob, And the Sweetness of the Songs of Israel:
DARBYNow these are the last words of David: David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel saith,
BBENow these are the last words of David. David, the son of Jesse, says, the man who was lifted up on high, the man on whom the God of Jacob put the holy oil, the loved one of Israel's songs, says:
WebsterNow these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

What does 2 Samuel 23:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2Sa 23:1-7. David Professes His Faith in God's Promises. 1. Now these be the last words of David--Various opinions are entertained as to the precise meaning of this statement, which, it is obvious, proceeded from the compiler or collector of the sacred canon. Some think that, as there is no division of chapters in the Hebrew Scriptures, this introduction was intended to show that what follows is no part of the preceding song. Others regard this as the last of the king's poetical compositions; while still others consider it the last of his utterances as an inspired writer. raised up on high--from an obscure family and condition to a throne. the anointed of the God of Jacob--chosen to be king by the special appointment of that God, to whom, by virtue of an ancient covenant, the people of Israel owed all their peculiar destiny and distinguished privileges. the sweet psalmist of Israel--that is, delightful, highly esteemed.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The last words of David, 2Sam 23:1-7. The names and exploits of has thirty-seven worthies, vv. 8-39. Verse 1 These be the last words of David - I suppose the last poetical composition is here intended. He might have spoken many words after these in prose, but none in verse. Other meanings are given; this I prefer. The words of this song contain a glorious prediction of the Messiah's kingdom and conquests, in highly poetic language. The sweet psalmist of Israel - This character not only belonged to him as the finest poet in Israel, but as the finest and most Divine poet of the whole Christian world. The sweet psalmist of Israel has been the sweet psalmist of every part of the habitable world, where religion and piety have been held in reverence.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 23:1-7
These words of David are very worthy of regard. Let those who have had long experience of God's goodness, and the pleasantness of heavenly wisdom, when they come to finish their course, bear their testimony to the truth of the promise. David avows his Divine inspiration, that the Spirit of God spake by him. He, and other holy men, spake and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. In many things he had his own neglect and wrong conduct to blame. But David comforted himself that the Lord had made with him an everlasting covenant. By this he principally intended the covenant of mercy and peace, which the Lord made with him as a sinner, who believed in the promised Saviour, who embraced the promised blessing, who yielded up himself to the Lord, to be his redeemed servant. Believers shall for ever enjoy covenant blessings; and God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, shall be for ever glorified in their salvation. Thus pardon, righteousness, grace, and eternal life, are secured as the gift of God through Jesus Christ. There is an infinite fulness of grace and all blessings treasured up in Christ, for those who seek his salvation. This covenant was all David's salvation, he so well knew the holy law of God and the extent of his own sinfulness, that he perceived what was needful for his own case in this salvation. It was therefore all his desire. In comparison, all earthly objects lost their attractions; he was willing to give them up, or to die and leave them, that he might enjoy full happiness, Psa 73:24-28. Still the power of evil, and the weakness of his faith, hope, and love, were his grief and burden. Doubtless he would have allowed that his own slackness and want of care were the cause; but the hope that he should soon be made perfect in glory, encouraged him in his dying moments.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 23:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאֵ֛לֶּהve.'E.lehand theseH428
דִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.Rei[are] [the] words ofH1697
דָוִ֖דda.VidDavidH1732
הָאַֽחֲרֹנִ֑יםha.'a.cha.ro.Nim<the> lastH314
נְאֻ֧םne.'Um[the] utterance ofH5002
דָּוִ֣דda.VidDavidH1732
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
יִשַׁ֗יyi.ShaiJesseH3448
וּנְאֻ֤םu.ne.'Umand [the] utterance ofH5002
הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ha.Ge.verthe manH1397
הֻ֣קַםHu.kam[who] he was raised upH6965
עָ֔ל'AlheightH5920
מְשִׁ֙יחַ֙me.Shi.ach[the] [one] anointed ofH4899
אֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.Hei[the] God ofH430
יַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
וּנְעִ֖יםu.ne.'Imand [the] pleasant [one] ofH5273
זְמִר֥וֹתze.mi.Rot[the] songs ofH2158
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 23:1

  • 1 Samuel 16:12-13

    And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

  • Psalms 89:20

    I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

  • 2 Samuel 7:8-9

    Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

  • Psalms 78:70-71

    He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Luke 24:44

    And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

  • 1 Chronicles 16:7

    Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

  • 1 Samuel 2:10

    The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

  • Ephesians 5:19-20

    Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

  • Psalms 2:6

    Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

  • 1 Chronicles 16:9

    Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

  • 2 Peter 1:13-15

    Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David, in his last words, professes his faith in God's promises to be beyond sense or experience.
6 The different state of the wicked.
8 A catalogue of David's mighty men.

A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015. An. Ex. Is. 476. the last.
Ge 49:1; De 33:1; Jos 23:1-24:32; Ps 72:20; 2Pe 1:13-15
raised.
7:8,9; Ps 78:70
the anointed.
1Sa 2:10; 16:12,13; Ps 2:6; 89:20
sweet psalmist.
1Ch 16:4,5,7,9; Am 6:5; Lu 20:42; 24:44; Eph 5:19,20; Col 3:16
Jas 5:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 23:1

    Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

  • 2 Samuel 23:2

    The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

Read all of 2 Samuel 23

2 Samuel 23:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		ESTAS son las postreras palabras de David. Dijo David hijo de Isaí, dijo aquel varón que fué levantado alto, el ungido del Dios de Jacob, el suave en cánticos de Israel:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et ce sont ici les dernières paroles de David. David, le fils d’Isaï, a dit, et l’homme haut placé, l’oint du Dieu de Jacob, et le doux psalmiste d’Israël, a dit:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und dies sind die letzten Worte Davids: Es spricht David, der Sohn Isais, und es spricht der hochgestellte Mann, der Gesalbte des Gottes Jakobs und der Liebliche in Gesängen Israels:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc autem sunt verba David novissima. Dixit David filius Isai: Dixit vir, cui constitutum est de christo Dei Jacob, egregius psaltes Israël: