2 Samuel 21:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of [great] stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

Complete Jewish Bible:

There was again war at Gat, where there was a belligerent man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot - twenty-four in all - and he too was a son of the giant.

Berean Standard Bible:

And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha,

American Standard Version:

And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And there was yet a battle^{H4421} in Gath^{H1661}, where was a man^{H376} of great stature^{{H4067}{H4055}}, that had on every hand^{H3027} six^{H8337} fingers^{H676}, and on every foot^{H7272} six^{H8337} toes^{H676}, four^{H702} and twenty^{H6242} in number^{H4557}; and he also was born^{H3205} to the giant^{H7497}.

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Commentary for 2 Samuel 21:20

2 Samuel 21:20 is part of a narrative that details a series of battles between the Israelites and the Philistines during the reign of King David. The verse specifically mentions a confrontation in Gath, one of the five principal Philistine cities, which is significant because Gath was known for being a stronghold of the Anakim, a group of giants descended from Anak, who were known for their formidable size and strength.

The man described in this verse is another member of this giant clan, characterized by his extraordinary physical attributes—having six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, totaling 24 digits. This description is reminiscent of the biblical account of Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath who was also described as a giant and was defeated by the young David (1 Samuel 17). The reference to the man being "born to the giant" suggests a lineage of these extraordinary beings and emphasizes their continued presence as adversaries to the Israelites.

This verse underscores several themes:

1. **The ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines**, which was a central conflict during this period of Israel's history.
2. **The presence of the Anakim**, who were seen as remnants of the ancient, pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, representing a persistent challenge to Israel's security and God's promises.
3. **The exceptional nature of these adversaries**, which served to highlight the valor of those who dared to face them and the divine favor bestowed upon the Israelites in their victories.
4. **The fulfillment of divine promises**, as the continued conquests over such formidable enemies demonstrated God's faithfulness to His people.

Historically, this verse reflects the ancient cultural belief in giants, which is a motif found in various Near Eastern mythologies. In the context of the Bible, these giants symbolize the obstacles that the Israelites had to overcome to possess the land that God had promised to them. The account serves to reinforce the idea that with God's help, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4421
   There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
   Transliteration: milchâmâh
   Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
   Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior).
   
2. Strong's Number: H1661
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גַּת
   Transliteration: Gath
   Pronunciation: gath
   Description: the same as גַּת; Gath, a Philistine city; Gath.
   
3. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4067
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָדוֹן
   Transliteration: mâdôwn
   Pronunciation: maw-dohn'
   Description: from the same as מֶדֶו; extensiveness, i.e. height; stature.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4055
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַד
   Transliteration: mad
   Pronunciation: mad
   Description: or מֵד; from מָדַד; properly, extent, i.e. height; also a measure; by implication, a vesture (as measured); also a carpet; armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment, stature.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8337
   There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
   Transliteration: shêsh
   Pronunciation: shaysh
   Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
   
8. Strong's Number: H676
   There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶצְבַּע
   Transliteration: ʼetsbaʻ
   Pronunciation: ets-bah'
   Description: from the same as צֶבַע (in the sense of grasping); something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe; finger, toe.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7272
   There are 232 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֶגֶל
   Transliteration: regel
   Pronunciation: reh'-gel
   Description: from רָגַל; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda; [idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.
   
10. Strong's Number: H702
    There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַרְבַּע
    Transliteration: ʼarbaʻ
    Pronunciation: ar-bah'
    Description: masculine אַרְבָּעָה; from רָבַע; four; four.
    
11. Strong's Number: H6242
    There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
    Transliteration: ʻesrîym
    Pronunciation: es-reem'
    Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).
    
12. Strong's Number: H4557
    There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִסְפָּר
    Transliteration: miçpâr
    Pronunciation: mis-pawr'
    Description: from סָפַר; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration; [phrase] abundance, account, [idiom] all, [idiom] few, (in-) finite, (certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, [phrase] time.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3205
    There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַד
    Transliteration: yâlad
    Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
    Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
    
14. Strong's Number: H7497
    There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָפָא
    Transliteration: râphâʼ
    Pronunciation: raw-faw'
    Description: or רָפָה; from רָפָא in the sense of invigorating; a giant; giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s). See also בֵּית רָפָא.