2 Samuel 22:31

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

2 Samuel 22:31

Study notes

God's way is perfect and His word is tested and true; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Explanation

This is from David's song of praise after God rescued him from his enemies (22:1). The same song is Psalm 18. "Flawless" or "refined" pictures metal tested in fire.

Original language

תָּמִ֣ים (ta.Mim): unblemished
Hebrew · Adjective, masculine, singular, absolute · Strong's H8549G · text: Leningrad Codex (as recorded in TAHOT)
Blameless, perfect.
Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAHOT: Translators Amalgamated Hebrew Old Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 2 Samuel 22:31, word 2
אִמְרַ֤ת ('im.Rat): word
Hebrew · Noun, feminine, singular, construct · Strong's H0565A · text: Leningrad Codex (as recorded in TAHOT)
Word.
Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAHOT: Translators Amalgamated Hebrew Old Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 2 Samuel 22:31, word 4
צְרוּפָ֔ה (tze.ru.Fah): to refine
Hebrew · Verb, qal, participle (passive), feminine, singular, absolute · Strong's H6884 · text: Leningrad Codex (as recorded in TAHOT)
Refined, tested.
Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAHOT: Translators Amalgamated Hebrew Old Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 2 Samuel 22:31, word 6
מָגֵ֣ן (ma.Gen): shield
Hebrew · Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · Strong's H4043 · text: Leningrad Codex (as recorded in TAHOT)
Shield.
Source: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAHOT: Translators Amalgamated Hebrew Old Testament, STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8, 2 Samuel 22:31, word 7

Cross-references

Psalm 18:30 · Parallel account
The same words in Psalm 18.
Proverbs 30:5 · Same theme
Every word of God is flawless.
Deuteronomy 32:4 · Same theme
His work is perfect.

Sources

STEP Bible (Tyndale House, Cambridge), TAHOT: Translators Amalgamated Hebrew Old Testament
Dataset · STEPBible-Data commit ed476a8 · Licence: CC BY 4.0 · Used for: Original language

Original language and places

Reference data from open datasets, shown as published by their sources. Word-by-word English is a literal guide, not a translation.

Original language (Hebrew)

הָאֵ֖ל תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכּ֑וֹ אִמְרַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ צְרוּפָ֔ה מָגֵ֣ן ה֔וּא לְכֹ֖ל הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃

הָאֵ֖לha.'El“<the> God”
Definite article + Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from אֵל · “God” · Strong's H0410G
תָּמִ֣יםta.Mim“[is] blameless”
Adjective, masculine, singular, absolute · from תָּמִים · “unblemished” · Strong's H8549G
דַּרְכּ֑וֹdar.Ko“way his”
Noun, both genders, singular, construct + Suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from דֶּ֫רֶךְ · “conduct” · Strong's H1870G
אִמְרַ֤ת'im.Rat“[the] word of”
Noun, feminine, singular, construct · from אִמְרָה · “word” · Strong's H0565A
יְהוָה֙Yah.weh“Yahweh”
Noun, proper name, title · from יהוה · “LORD” · Strong's H3068G
צְרוּפָ֔הtze.ru.Fah“[is] refined”
Verb, qal, participle (passive), feminine, singular, absolute · from צָרַף · “to refine” · Strong's H6884
מָגֵ֣ןma.Gen“[is] a shield”
Noun, masculine, singular, absolute · from מָגֵן · “shield” · Strong's H4043
ה֔וּאHu'“he”
Pronoun, personal, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from הוּא · “he; she; it” · Strong's H1931
לְכֹ֖לle.Khol“for all”
Preposition + Noun, masculine, singular, construct · from כֹּל · “all” · Strong's H3605
הַחֹסִ֥יםha.cho.Sim“those [who] seek refuge”
Definite article + Verb, qal, participle (active), masculine, plural, absolute · from חָסָה · “to seek refuge” · Strong's H2620
בּֽוֹ׃bo“in <the> him”
Preposition with article + Suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular · from Os3m · “him” · Strong's H9033

Prepared by the God & Savior team. Not yet reviewed by an editor.
Hebrew and Aramaic words: STEP Bible (STEPBible.org), based on work at Tyndale House, Cambridge. CC BY 4.0. Source (version ed476a8)