2 Samuel 22:36

KJV

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou hast also given {H5414} me the shield {H4043} of thy salvation {H3468}: and thy gentleness {H6031}{H6038} hath made me great {H7235}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You give me your shield, which is salvation; your answers make me great.

Berean Standard Bible

You have given me Your shield of salvation, and Your gentleness exalts me.

American Standard Version

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath made me great.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 22:36 captures David's profound gratitude and theological insight, attributing his protection and elevation not to his own might but entirely to God's divine intervention and character. This verse, part of David's song of deliverance, celebrates God as the ultimate source of salvation and acknowledges that it was God's benevolent "gentleness"—His humble condescension and grace—that enabled David's rise from obscurity to kingship and sustained his greatness amidst relentless adversity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a magnificent psalm of praise and thanksgiving, nearly identical to [Psalm 18](/psalm/18 "Psalm 18 - David's Song of Deliverance"). Positioned towards the end of David's life and reign, this poetic masterpiece serves as a retrospective on God's unwavering faithfulness. It follows a narrative of intense conflict and miraculous deliverance, beginning with the declaration that the Lord "delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul" ([2 Samuel 22:1](/2_samuel/22-1 "2 Samuel 22:1 - David's Song of Deliverance")). The preceding verses vividly describe God's powerful intervention in cosmic terms, depicting a God who shakes the heavens and earth to rescue His servant. Verse 36, therefore, acts as a personal summation of David's experience, directly linking God's character to his own success and survival.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David's life was a tumultuous journey marked by constant peril, from his early days as a shepherd facing Goliath to his anointing as king, followed by years of fleeing King Saul, and later, defending Israel against numerous foreign adversaries like the Philistines, Ammonites, and Arameans. Even within his own family, he faced rebellion from Absalom. In a world where kings often boasted of their own military prowess and divine favor was seen as a reward for strength, David's humility in attributing his "greatness" to God's "gentleness" is striking. The imagery of a "shield" was deeply resonant in a warrior culture, symbolizing ultimate protection in battle, and David's acknowledgment of God as his shield underscores his complete reliance on divine, rather than human, defense.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in 2 Samuel and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **Divine Protection and Deliverance**, portraying God not as a distant deity but as an active, personal protector who intervenes directly in the affairs of His chosen ones, as seen throughout David's life (e.g., [1 Samuel 17:45-47](/1_samuel/17-45 "1 Samuel 17:45-47 - David and Goliath")). It also underscores the theme of **God's Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating how God remained true to His promises to David, despite David's own flaws. Crucially, the verse introduces the profound theme of **The Nature of True Greatness**, asserting that genuine elevation and success are not products of human strength or ambition, but are divinely bestowed, flowing from God's character and grace. This concept of God's "gentleness" or condescension is a profound theological insight into God's willingness to "stoop down" to uplift humanity, a theme echoed in God's interaction with the humble throughout Scripture (e.g., [Psalm 113:5-8](/psalm/113-5 "Psalm 113:5-8 - God Lifts the Needy")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Shield (Hebrew, _magen'_):** This term refers to a defensive weapon, typically a large shield that protected the entire body. In biblical usage, it frequently serves as a powerful metaphor for God's active, comprehensive protection and defense of His people. It signifies not just passive safety, but God's dynamic intervention to guard against harm and adversity.
* **Salvation (Hebrew, _yeshu'ah'_):** This word is rich in meaning, encompassing deliverance, victory, welfare, and rescue. It denotes a holistic well-being and liberation from all forms of distress, whether physical, military, or spiritual. In David's context, it specifically refers to God's repeated acts of saving him from his enemies and preserving his life and kingdom.
* **Gentleness (Hebrew, _'anvah'_):** This is a pivotal word, often translated as "humility," "meekness," or "condescension." It does not imply weakness on God's part but rather His profound willingness to "stoop down," to accommodate Himself to human frailty and needs. It speaks of God's active, benevolent condescension and grace, demonstrating that His humble approach and tender care toward His servant David were the very means by which David was exalted. It is the opposite of haughtiness or pride.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation":** David explicitly attributes his survival and victories to God. The "shield" is a metaphor for God's protective presence and saving power. It signifies that David's security was not in his own military might or strategic genius, but in the divine defense provided by God. God is the active agent who bestows this ultimate protection, ensuring David's deliverance from all his adversaries.
* **"and thy gentleness hath made me great":** This clause reveals the profound source of David's success and elevation. David acknowledges that his rise from a humble shepherd to the king of Israel, and his subsequent triumphs, were not due to his own inherent qualities or efforts, but directly to God's character. God's "gentleness"—His humility, condescension, and gracious willingness to engage with and uplift a lowly servant—was the divine catalyst for David's "greatness." It emphasizes that divine elevation is a gift rooted in God's benevolent nature, not human merit.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically in the phrase "the shield of thy salvation." Here, God's saving power and protective presence are likened to a physical shield, a concrete object of defense, making the abstract concept of divine protection tangible and vivid for the audience. This metaphor emphasizes the active, personal, and comprehensive nature of God's care. Additionally, there is a subtle form of **Anthropomorphism** in the attribution of "gentleness" to God. While God is transcendent, this human-like quality (humility, meekness, condescension) is ascribed to Him to highlight His relational character and His benevolent interaction with humanity. This device makes God's actions more comprehensible and relatable, emphasizing His willingness to "stoop down" to engage with His creation. The structure also presents a form of **Complementary Parallelism**, where the two clauses, though distinct, work together to express a unified idea: God's protective and exalting actions are both rooted in His divine character, leading to David's greatness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse offers a profound theological insight into the nature of God and the source of human flourishing. It teaches that true greatness, whether in leadership, influence, or personal stature, does not originate from human strength, wisdom, or ambition alone, but is a direct result of divine favor and intervention. Specifically, it highlights that God's character—His "gentleness," humility, and gracious condescension—is the foundational principle by which He interacts with and elevates His chosen servants. This concept anticipates the ultimate act of divine condescension in the Incarnation, where God Himself "stooped down" to dwell among humanity.

* [Psalm 3:3](/psalm/3-3 "Psalm 3:3 - God as a Shield")
* [Proverbs 30:5](/proverbs/30-5 "Proverbs 30:5 - God as a Shield for the Trusting")
* [Psalm 75:7](/psalm/75-7 "Psalm 75:7 - God Lifts Up and Puts Down")
* [Luke 1:52](/luke/1-52 "Luke 1:52 - Mary's Magnificat: God Exalts the Humble")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Samuel 22:36 offers profound encouragement and a vital paradigm for believers today. It reminds us that our ultimate security and any true "greatness" we might achieve are not products of our own efforts or merits, but are deeply rooted in God's saving power and His benevolent, humble nature. In a world that often equates greatness with self-assertion and power, David's testimony calls us to a radical dependence on God. It invites us to cultivate a spirit of humility, recognizing that any blessings, successes, or influence we possess are ultimately gifts of God's grace and "gentleness." This perspective fosters deep gratitude, guards against pride, and encourages us to walk in humble reliance on the One who alone can truly protect and exalt. It challenges us to see God not as a distant, unapproachable deity, but as intimately involved in our lives, willingly stooping down in love to lift us up and guide our paths.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing God's "gentleness" as the source of David's greatness reshape your understanding of divine power and your own aspirations?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to trust God more fully as your "shield of salvation" against fear, anxiety, or adversity?**
* **How can embracing humility, mirroring God's "gentleness," lead to true spiritual or personal "greatness" in your own life and relationships?**

### FAQ
**What does "gentleness" mean in this context, and how can God be "gentle" yet powerful?**

Answer: The KJV translation "gentleness" comes from the Hebrew word _'anvah_ (עַנְוָה), which is more accurately rendered as "humility," "meekness," or "condescension." This does not imply weakness on God's part, but rather His profound willingness to "stoop down" or accommodate Himself to human frailty and needs. It's a profound expression of God's grace and active care, demonstrating that His humble, benevolent approach to His servants is precisely what enables their exaltation. God's power is not diminished by His gentleness; rather, His gentleness reveals a deeper, more relational aspect of His omnipotence—a power expressed through loving engagement and humble service, rather than mere overwhelming force. It's the power to uplift, not just to overpower.

**How does this verse relate to David's kingship and his overall legacy?**

Answer: This verse is central to understanding David's perception of his own kingship and legacy. David, who rose from a humble shepherd to become the most celebrated king in Israel's history, explicitly attributes his success and "greatness" not to his own strength, wisdom, or military prowess, but entirely to God's protective hand and gracious elevation. It grounds his authority and accomplishments in divine favor and character, rather than human merit. This perspective kept David humble despite his extraordinary achievements and reminds us that true leadership and lasting legacy are ultimately derived from God's active involvement and benevolent character, as seen throughout David's reign, from his victory over Goliath ([1 Samuel 17:45-47](/1_samuel/17-45 "1 Samuel 17:45-47 - David's Trust in God")) to his establishment of Jerusalem as the capital ([2 Samuel 5:6-10](/2_samuel/5-6 "2 Samuel 5:6-10 - David Captures Jerusalem")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's experience in 2 Samuel 22:36 serves as a powerful foreshadowing of God's ultimate act of condescension and salvation in Jesus Christ. The "shield of thy salvation" finds its fullest and most complete expression in the person and work of Christ, who is our ultimate deliverer from sin, death, and the power of darkness ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus' Victory Over Death")). He is the one who took our place, becoming our impenetrable shield against divine wrath and eternal separation. Furthermore, the profound truth that God's "gentleness hath made me great" reaches its zenith in the Incarnation. God's ultimate act of "gentleness" or humility is seen in Jesus, who, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6 "Philippians 2:6-7 - The Humility of Christ")). This divine condescension, this willingness to "stoop down" to the lowest estate, is precisely what enabled Christ's exaltation "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion" ([Ephesians 1:21](/ephesians/1-21 "Ephesians 1:21 - Christ's Exaltation")) and, through Him, enables believers to be made "great"—to become children of God ([John 1:12](/john/1-12 "John 1:12 - Becoming Children of God")) and co-heirs with Christ ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). Thus, David's greatness, rooted in God's gentle grace, points forward to the infinitely greater salvation and spiritual exaltation available to all who are united with the humble and exalted Lamb of God.

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

Ephesians 6:16

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Psalms 115:14

The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

Psalms 18:35

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Psalms 84:11

For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Genesis 22:17

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Genesis 15:1

¶ After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.

Genesis 12:2

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: