2 Samuel 6 · Verse 14

2 Samuel 6:14

And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
2 Samuel 6:14, King James Version

2 Samuel 6:14 in other translations

BSBAnd David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,
WEBDavid danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
ASVAnd David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
YLTAnd David is dancing with all strength before Jehovah, and David is girded with a linen ephod,
DARBYAnd David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
BBEAnd David, clothed in a linen ephod, was dancing before the Lord with all his strength.
WebsterAnd David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

What does 2 Samuel 6:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. David danced before the Lord--The Hebrews, like other ancient people, had their sacred dances, which were performed on their solemn anniversaries and other great occasions of commemorating some special token of the divine goodness and favor. with all his might--intimating violent efforts of leaping, and divested of his royal mantle (in a state of undress), conduct apparently unsuitable to the gravity of age or the dignity of a king. But it was unquestionably done as an act of religious homage, his attitudes and dress being symbolic, as they have always been in Oriental countries, of penitence, joy, thankfulness, and devotion. [See on 1Ch 15:27.]

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 And David danced before the Lord - Dancing is a religious ceremony among the Hindoos, and they consider it an act of devotion to their idols. It is evident that David considered it in the same light. What connection dancing can have with devotion I cannot tell. This I know, that unpremeditated and involuntary skipping may be the effect of sudden mental elation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 6:12-19

It became evident, that happy was the man who had the ark near him. Christ is indeed a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those that are disobedient; but to those that believe, he is a Corner-stone, elect, precious, 1Pe 2:6-8. Let us be religious. Is the ark a blessing to others' houses? We may have it, and the blessing of it, without fetching it away from our neighbours. David, at first setting out…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 6:12-19 →

2 Samuel 6:14 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.

וְדָוִ֛דve.da.Vidand DavidH1732
מְכַרְכֵּ֥רme.khar.Ker[was] dancingH3769
בְּכָל\־be.kholwith allH3605
עֹ֖ז'ozstrengthH5797
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וְדָוִ֕דve.da.Vidand DavidH1732
חָג֖וּרcha.Gur[was] girdedH2296
אֵפ֥וֹד'e.Fodan ephod ofH646
בָּֽד\׃BadlinenH906

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 6:14

  • 1 Samuel 2:18

    But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

  • Exodus 15:20

    And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

  • Psalms 149:3

    Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

  • Psalms 150:4

    Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

  • Judges 11:34

    And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

  • Colossians 3:23

    And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

  • 1 Samuel 2:28

    And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

  • Psalms 30:11

    Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

  • 1 Samuel 22:18

    And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

  • Judges 21:21

    And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:27

    And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.

  • Luke 15:25

    Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
danced.
Ex 15:20; Jud 11:34; 21:21; Ps 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; Lu 15:25
with all this.
De 6:5; Ec 9:10; Col 3:23
girded.
1Sa 2:18,28; 22:18; 1Ch 15:27

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 6:13

    And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

  • 2 Samuel 6:14

    And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

  • 2 Samuel 6:15

    So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

Read all of 2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y David saltaba con toda su fuerza delante de Jehová; y tenía vestido David un ephod de lino.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et David dansait de toute sa force devant l’ Éternel; et David était ceint d’un éphod de lin.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und David tanzte mit aller Kraft vor Jehova, und David war mit einem leinenen Ephod umgürtet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et David saltabat totis viribus ante Dominum: porro David erat accinctus ephod lineo.