King James Version

What Does 2 Samuel 23:16 Mean?

2 Samuel 23:16 in the King James Version says “And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that wa...” — study this verse from 2 Samuel chapter 23 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.”

2 Samuel 23:16 · KJV

Context

14

And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

16

And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

17

And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

18

And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. and slew them: Heb. slain

Read 2 Samuel 23 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

This verse contributes to the narrative of Last Words and Mighty Men, emphasizing legacy, faithful servants. David's last words emphasize the eternal covenant God established (v. 5) and declare principles of righteous rule. The accounts of David's mighty men demonstrate extraordinary courage and devotion. The water-drawing incident reveals David's unwillingness to value his comfort above his soldiers' lives. Theological themes include the importance of final testimonies, the eternal nature of God's covenant, the value of faithful servants, and the necessity of sacrificial leadership.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The historical setting of 2 Samuel 23 occurs during David's reign (circa 1010-970 BCE) over Israel's united monarchy. Archaeological discoveries, including the Tel Dan inscription mentioning the 'House of David,' corroborate biblical historicity. Ancient Near Eastern customs regarding legacy, faithful servants provide crucial background. The geopolitical situation involved regional powers—Philistines, Ammonites, Arameans, Moabites, Edomites—as David consolidated and expanded Israel's territory. Cultural practices concerning kingship, warfare, covenant relationships, family dynamics, and religious observance differed significantly from modern Western contexts, requiring careful attention to avoid anachronistic interpretation while extracting timeless theological principles applicable across cultures and eras.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage deepen your understanding of legacy, faithful servants?
  2. What does this verse reveal about God's character, and how should that shape your worship and obedience?
  3. In what specific ways can you apply this truth to your current circumstances and relationships this week?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיִּבְקְעוּ֩1 of 22

“brake through”

H1234

to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open

שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת2 of 22

“And the three”

H7969

three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice

הַגִּבֹּרִ֜ים3 of 22

“mighty men”

H1368

powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant

בְּמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה4 of 22

“the host”

H4264

an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e

פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים5 of 22

“of the Philistines”

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

וַיִּֽשְׁאֲבוּ6 of 22

“and drew”

H7579

to bale up water

מַ֙יִם֙7 of 22

“water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

מִבֹּ֤אר8 of 22

“out of the well”

H953

a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)

בֵּֽית9 of 22
H0
לֶ֙חֶם֙10 of 22

“of Bethlehem”

H1035

beth-lechem, a place in palestine

אֲשֶׁ֣ר11 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בַּשַּׁ֔עַר12 of 22

“that was by the gate”

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ13 of 22

“and took”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

וַיָּבִ֣אוּ14 of 22

“it and brought”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל15 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

דָּוִ֑ד16 of 22

“it to David”

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

וְלֹ֤א17 of 22
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אָבָה֙18 of 22

“nevertheless he would”

H14

to breathe after, i.e., (figuratively) to be acquiescent

לִשְׁתּוֹתָ֔ם19 of 22

“not drink”

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

וַיַּסֵּ֥ךְ20 of 22

“thereof but poured it out”

H5258

to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king

אֹתָ֖ם21 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לַֽיהוָֽה׃22 of 22

“unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Samuel 23:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Samuel 23:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 35:142 Corinthians 5:14Lamentations 2:191 Samuel 7:6Romans 5:7Philippians 2:17

Places in This Verse

Bethlehem 1Settlement · Modern: Bethlehem · 31.70°N, 35.21°E52 verses across 14 books
View all places in 2 Samuel 23 →

Test Your Knowledge

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