2 Samuel 22:20

KJV

He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

KJV (with Strong's)

He brought me forth {H3318} also into a large place {H4800}: he delivered {H2502} me, because he delighted {H2654} in me.

Complete Jewish Bible

"He brought me out to an open place; he rescued me, because he took pleasure in me.

Berean Standard Bible

He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

American Standard Version

He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 22:20 is a profound declaration within King David's psalm of thanksgiving, mirroring the parallel account in Psalm 18. This verse encapsulates the divine act of deliverance, transforming David's circumstances from overwhelming distress and confinement into a state of expansive freedom. It powerfully attributes this rescue not to human merit or effort, but solely to God's personal, active delight and favor toward David, standing as a testament to God's gracious and sovereign intervention on behalf of those He loves, moving them from peril to security and flourishing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Chapter 22 of 2 Samuel presents a magnificent psalm, a poetic recapitulation of David's life of deliverance, sung "in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul." This psalm, nearly identical to [Psalm 18](/psalm/18 "Psalm 18 - David's Psalm of Deliverance"), serves as a grand theological epilogue to David's reign as recounted in 2 Samuel, summarizing his tumultuous journey from a hunted fugitive to a victorious king. Positioned near the end of 2 Samuel, it offers a retrospective look at God's unwavering faithfulness throughout David's life, emphasizing divine protection and vindication against all adversaries, particularly King Saul, who relentlessly sought his life for many years. The psalm's structure moves from David's desperate cries to God's dramatic, cosmic intervention, culminating in fervent praise for God's steadfast love, power, and righteousness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David's life was undeniably marked by constant peril, from his early anointing and subsequent flight from King Saul, through numerous battles against the Philistines and other nations, to internal rebellions like Absalom's. The concept of being "brought forth into a large place" (מֶרְחָב, *merchâb*) would have resonated profoundly with an ancient Near Eastern audience, who understood "narrow straits" (מֵצַר, *metzar*) as a potent metaphor for distress, siege, oppression, and imminent danger. Conversely, "spaciousness" symbolized security, prosperity, liberty, and freedom from enemies. Kings in this era were often seen as divine representatives, and their success or failure was attributed to the favor or displeasure of their gods. David's psalm, therefore, functions as a public theological statement, affirming that Yahweh, the God of Israel, was uniquely powerful and intimately involved in the affairs of His chosen king, demonstrating His favor through tangible acts of rescue and the expansion of David's kingdom and personal well-being.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within 2 Samuel and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, **Divine Deliverance** is paramount, portraying God as an active, powerful rescuer who intervenes directly in human affairs to save His chosen ones from seemingly insurmountable odds. David's entire narrative is a testament to this, from his victory over Goliath to his escape from Saul's relentless pursuit, as seen throughout [1 Samuel](/1-samuel/1 "1 Samuel - The Rise of David") and [2 Samuel](/2-samuel/1 "2 Samuel - The Reign of David"). Secondly, the theme of **From Confinement to Freedom** is vividly expressed by the imagery of being brought "into a large place," symbolizing a transition from distress, oppression, and limited circumstances to a state of security, peace, and flourishing. This echoes the foundational Exodus narrative where God brought Israel out of the "narrow" confines of Egyptian bondage into the "spacious" promised land, as detailed in [Exodus 15](/exodus/15 "Exodus 15 - The Song of Moses"). Finally, and most profoundly, the verse highlights **God's Delight and Favor**, asserting that God's actions are rooted in His personal affection for His servant. This concept of divine pleasure (חָפֵץ, *châphêts*) is a powerful theological motif, suggesting that God's grace is not merely transactional but flows from His inherent love and good disposition towards His people, a truth beautifully articulated in [Zephaniah 3:17](/zephaniah/3-17 "Zephaniah 3:17 - The Lord Delights in His People").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **brought forth (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** This primitive root (H3318) signifies "to go out" or, causatively, "to bring out." In the context of deliverance, it implies an active, powerful extraction from a restrictive or dangerous situation. For David, it means God physically and supernaturally removed him from the confines of peril, persecution, and the "narrow straits" of his enemies' grasp, leading him into a new, liberated state.
* **large place (Hebrew, _merchâb'_):** This noun (H4800) denotes "enlargement," "breadth," or "spaciousness." It is a powerful metaphor, consistently contrasted with "distress" or "narrow straits." For David, it represents not merely physical space but a comprehensive state of security, freedom, relief from constraint, and well-being. It signifies ample room to live, breathe, and thrive without the crushing pressures of enemies and adversity, symbolizing God's provision of safety and prosperity.
* **delivered (Hebrew, _châlats'_):** This primitive root (H2502) means "to pull off," "strip," or "draw out." In the context of rescue, it conveys the idea of extricating someone from danger, often with the nuance of equipping or preparing them for freedom. It emphasizes God's direct, effective action in releasing David from the grip of his adversaries and the perils that surrounded him, underscoring the completeness of his salvation.
* **delighted (Hebrew, _châphêts'_):** This primitive root (H2654) expresses a strong sense of pleasure, desire, or inclination. It's not a passive liking but an active, intentional favor and affection. When God "delights" in someone, it indicates His deep satisfaction, approval, and benevolent disposition towards them, motivating Him to act on their behalf. This divine delight is a powerful, unmerited source of grace and intervention, highlighting God's sovereign choice and love as the ultimate reason for His saving acts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He brought me forth also into a large place":** This clause describes God's active, powerful intervention to fundamentally change David's circumstances. The imagery of being "brought forth" suggests a decisive rescue from a confined, dangerous, or oppressive situation. The "large place" (מֶרְחָב, *merchâb*) symbolizes a state of freedom, security, peace, and flourishing, contrasting sharply with the "narrow straits" of distress, siege, or persecution that David had endured. It signifies a transition from constraint and peril to spaciousness and safety, indicating God's comprehensive deliverance and the establishment of a secure environment.
* **"he delivered me":** This phrase reiterates and confirms the act of salvation, emphasizing its completeness and divine origin. The verb "delivered" (חָלַץ, *châlats*) implies rescue, release, or drawing out from danger, often with the nuance of equipping or arming for freedom. It underscores God's direct, effective action in extricating David from the grasp of his enemies and the perils that surrounded him, highlighting the thoroughness of his salvation from all his adversaries.
* **"because he delighted in me":** This final, pivotal clause provides the profound theological reason for God's deliverance. It asserts that God's saving action was not a result of David's merit, performance, or even his desperate cry alone, but fundamentally because God had a personal, active pleasure and favor (חָפֵץ, *châphêts*) toward him. This highlights the unmerited grace of God, demonstrating that His intervention is often motivated by His loving disposition and sovereign choice, revealing the depth of His personal relationship with His chosen servant and the unearned nature of His redemptive work.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices that amplify its theological message. **Metaphor** is central, with "large place" serving as a powerful metaphor for security, freedom, and prosperity, implicitly contrasting with the "narrow straits" of distress and danger that David had experienced. This **Contrast** emphasizes the dramatic and positive shift in David's circumstances brought about by divine intervention. The entire psalm is an extended **Hymn of Thanksgiving**, marked by vivid **Imagery** that paints pictures of God's mighty acts of salvation, often drawing from natural phenomena. The **Parallelism** between "He brought me forth also into a large place" and "he delivered me" reinforces the idea of comprehensive rescue and divine agency. The concluding "because he delighted in me" functions as a crucial **Causal Clause**, providing the ultimate theological rationale for God's actions, elevating the divine motivation of love and favor above human circumstances or merit, making God's character the primary explanation for His redemptive work.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates the biblical truth that God's saving acts are rooted in His character of loving-kindness and sovereign delight, rather than solely on human performance or need. It underscores the concept of divine election and favor, where God actively chooses and acts on behalf of those He loves, bringing them from conditions of oppression and confinement into abundant freedom and security. This demonstrates God's personal involvement in the lives of His people, providing a profound basis for trust and hope even in the direst circumstances. It teaches that God's delight is a powerful, unmerited catalyst for His redemptive work, transforming lives and situations and revealing the depth of His covenant faithfulness.

* [Psalm 18:19](/psalm/18-19 "Psalm 18:19 - Parallel Account of Deliverance")
* [Psalm 37:23](/psalm/37-23 "Psalm 37:23 - The Lord Delights in the Way of the Righteous")
* [Zephaniah 3:17](/zephaniah/3-17 "Zephaniah 3:17 - God's Delight and Rejoicing Over His People")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Samuel 22:20 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating their own "narrow places" of life—whether they be periods of anxiety, financial hardship, relational conflict, spiritual struggle, or physical illness. It reminds us that our God is not distant or indifferent but intimately involved and supremely capable of transforming our direst circumstances into spacious freedom. When we feel hemmed in, overwhelmed, or without viable options, this verse calls us to remember God's power to deliver and, more importantly, His profound, unmerited delight in us. Our security and deliverance are not contingent on our strength, ingenuity, or even our perceived worthiness, but on His unfailing love and sovereign favor. This understanding should cultivate a deep sense of trust and confidence, empowering us to rest in His faithfulness and to anticipate His gracious intervention, knowing that His actions flow from His very heart of love for His children, leading us into a life of greater freedom and peace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what "narrow places" or confined circumstances do you currently find yourself, and how does the promise of God bringing you into a "large place" offer hope and perspective?**
* **How does understanding that God "delights" in you personally change your perception of His actions in your life, especially during times of difficulty and uncertainty?**
* **What specific past experiences of God's deliverance can you recall that affirm His faithfulness and delight in you, and how can remembering these strengthen your faith today?**
* **How might a deeper appreciation of God's delight in you impact your worship, your prayer life, and your overall posture of trust and surrender before Him?**

### FAQ
**What does "large place" signify in a spiritual or metaphorical sense for believers today?**

Answer: For believers today, the "large place" signifies not just physical security but a profound spiritual and emotional freedom, peace, and abundance found in Christ. It represents liberation from the "narrow straits" of sin, fear, anxiety, condemnation, spiritual bondage, and the oppressive weight of the law. It speaks to the spaciousness of God's grace, the boundless freedom found in His presence, and the expansive life offered through the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the experience of walking in God's favor, where one finds ample room to grow, serve, and thrive, unconstrained by the world's pressures or personal limitations. This spiritual "large place" is often found even in the midst of external difficulties, as God provides inner peace, resilience, and an unshakeable hope that transcends understanding, as powerfully described in [Philippians 4:6-7](/philippians/4-6-7 "Philippians 4:6-7 - The Peace of God").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's experience of divine deliverance, rooted in God's delight, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David was delivered from his earthly enemies and brought into a "large place" of physical and political security, Christ is the one in whom God's delight is perfectly and eternally expressed, and through whom humanity is brought into the ultimate "large place" of spiritual freedom and eternal life. God declared His delight in Jesus at His baptism ([Matthew 3:17](/matthew/3-17 "Matthew 3:17 - God's Delight in Jesus at Baptism")) and transfiguration ([Matthew 17:5](/matthew/17-5 "Matthew 17:5 - God's Delight in Jesus at the Transfiguration")), not because of Christ's need for deliverance from sin, but because of His perfect obedience and redemptive mission. Jesus, through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, conquered the ultimate enemies: sin, death, and the devil. He was brought forth from the "narrow place" of the tomb and the confines of death into the "large place" of resurrection life and ascension, opening the way for all who believe in Him to share in this expansive freedom. Through Christ, we are delivered from the condemnation of sin ([Romans 8:1-2](/romans/8-1-2 "Romans 8:1-2 - Freedom from Condemnation in Christ")), from the power of darkness ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from the Domain of Darkness")), and from the fear of death ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Deliverance from the Fear of Death")). Our adoption as children of God means that God now delights in us, not based on our merit, but solely because we are "in Christ," His beloved Son ([Ephesians 1:4-6](/ephesians/1-4-6 "Ephesians 1:4-6 - Chosen and Beloved in Christ")). Thus, the "large place" for the New Testament believer is the boundless grace, eternal security, and abundant life found in union with the Beloved Son, Jesus, who is our ultimate Deliverer and the very embodiment of God's delight.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 31:8

And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

Psalms 118:5

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.

2 Samuel 15:26

But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, [here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

Psalms 22:8

He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Psalms 147:11

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Psalms 149:4

For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Acts 2:32

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.