2 Samuel 22:39

KJV

And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I have consumed {H3615} them, and wounded {H4272} them, that they could not arise {H6965}: yea, they are fallen {H5307} under my feet {H7272}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I destroyed them, crushed them; they can't get up; they have fallen under my feet.

Berean Standard Bible

I devoured and crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.

American Standard Version

And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, so that they cannot arise: Yea, they are fallen under my feet.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 22:39 is a powerful declaration from David's song of deliverance, a hymn of thanksgiving to God for His decisive intervention and victory over all of David's enemies, including King Saul. This verse encapsulates the completeness and finality of the triumph granted by God, depicting the adversaries as utterly incapacitated and subjugated, unable to recover or pose any further threat. It underscores the theme of divine empowerment in warfare and the absolute nature of God's deliverance for His anointed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within 2 Samuel chapter 22, which is an almost identical parallel to [Psalm 18](/psalm/18 "Psalm 18 - David's Song of Deliverance"). Both passages record David's profound song of praise and gratitude to the Lord, offered after God delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. The preceding verses (2 Samuel 22:35-38) describe God equipping David for battle, strengthening his arms, and enabling him to pursue and overtake his enemies. Verse 39, therefore, serves as the triumphant culmination of this pursuit, detailing the irreversible defeat of those adversaries. The language is highly militaristic and poetic, reflecting the realities of ancient kingship and the constant threats David faced throughout his reign, yet consistently attributing all success and deliverance to Yahweh.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David's life was characterized by continuous warfare, from his early days fighting Goliath ([1 Samuel 17](/1_samuel/17 "1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath")) to his long conflict with Saul and subsequent battles against the Philistines, Ammonites, Arameans, and other surrounding nations. The concept of a king's victory being a divine gift was prevalent in the ancient Near East, but David uniquely attributes his success to the one true God, Yahweh. The imagery of enemies "fallen under my feet" was a common and potent symbol of absolute conquest in the ancient world, often depicted in reliefs where a victorious monarch literally placed his foot on the neck or back of a vanquished foe, signifying total humiliation and subjugation. This verse, therefore, taps into a culturally understood idiom of complete dominion.
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme evident in this verse, and throughout David's song, is **Divine Empowerment for Victory**. David unequivocally attributes his overwhelming success against his foes not to his own military prowess or strategic genius, but to God's active intervention, strength, and guidance. This resonates with the declaration in [1 Samuel 17:47](/1_samuel/17-47 "1 Samuel 17:47 - The Battle is the Lord's") that "the battle is the Lord's." Another crucial theme is **Total and Irreversible Defeat** of the enemies. The strong verbs "consumed," "wounded," and the declaration "could not arise" convey an absolute and final incapacitation. The adversaries are not merely repelled but utterly destroyed as a threat, unable to recover or resist further. Finally, the verse highlights **Complete Subjugation**, powerfully expressed by the idiom "they are fallen under my feet," signifying absolute conquest and dominion, a theme that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messianic reign.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Consumed (Hebrew, _kalah'_):** This verb (כָּלָה) means to bring to an end, to finish, to complete, or to utterly destroy. In this context, it speaks to the comprehensive and decisive eradication of the threat posed by David's enemies. It implies a thoroughness that leaves no remnant or possibility of resurgence, signifying a complete and final cessation of their power to harm.
* **Wounded (Hebrew, _machats'_):** The verb (מָחַץ) denotes a crushing blow, a severe and debilitating wound, or to smite through. It suggests an injury so profound that it renders the recipient helpless and unable to fight back or recover. This is not a superficial injury but one that incapacitates and ensures the enemy's inability to "arise."
* **Arise (Hebrew, _qum'_):** This verb (קוּם) means to rise, stand up, or endure. In the negative ("could not arise"), it emphasizes the utter helplessness and permanent defeat of the enemies. They are so thoroughly vanquished that they cannot regain their footing, recover their strength, or re-establish their position as a threat.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I have consumed them,"**: This opening clause declares the comprehensive nature of the victory. Through God's power, David has utterly destroyed his enemies, bringing their threat to a complete end. This is not a partial victory but a total one, leaving no room for their continued existence as a hostile force.
* **"and wounded them,"**: Building on the previous clause, this specifies the means of their destruction – a decisive and incapacitating blow. The wounding is severe and debilitating, ensuring their inability to retaliate or recover. This emphasizes the physical and military reality of the defeat.
* **"that they could not arise:"**: This clause highlights the consequence and finality of the "consuming" and "wounding." The enemies are so thoroughly defeated that they are rendered permanently immobile and powerless. They cannot recover, stand up again, or mount any further resistance, signifying an irreversible end to their threat.
* **"yea, they are fallen under my feet."**: This powerful, climactic statement uses a vivid ancient Near Eastern idiom. To have enemies "fallen under one's feet" signifies absolute conquest, complete subjugation, and total dominion. It portrays the victor's supreme authority and the vanquished's utter humiliation and powerlessness, confirming the comprehensive and irreversible nature of the victory.

#### Literary Devices
David's song in 2 Samuel 22 is rich with poetic and militaristic imagery. In verse 39, **Hyperbole** is evident in the strong language of "consumed" and "wounded" to the point of total inability to "arise," emphasizing the overwhelming and absolute nature of the victory, perhaps beyond a literal, individual annihilation of every single foe, but certainly of their collective power and threat. The phrase "fallen under my feet" is a potent **Metaphor** and **Idiom**, visually representing complete subjugation and triumph without needing a literal act of stepping on a defeated enemy. This verse also employs **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the clauses build upon and reinforce each other, expressing the same central idea of decisive, irreversible defeat from different angles: "consumed and wounded" leads to "could not arise," which is then powerfully affirmed by "fallen under my feet." The entire passage is an example of **Anthropomorphism** in attributing human-like actions of warfare (consuming, wounding, subjugating) to God, who works through David as His agent.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, particularly in granting victory over seemingly insurmountable foes. It reinforces the theological truth that true strength and deliverance come from the Lord, not human might. David's experience serves as a paradigm for God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating His power to protect and vindicate His anointed. The complete and irreversible defeat described here foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over all opposing forces, ensuring that no enemy, whether physical or spiritual, can ultimately stand against His sovereign will. This divine empowerment for victory is a recurring theme throughout biblical history, from the Exodus to the establishment of the monarchy.

* [Psalm 18:38](/psalm/18-38 "Psalm 18:38 - Parallel Verse")
* [Psalm 110:1](/psalm/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Dominion Over Enemies")
* [Joshua 10:24](/joshua/10-24 "Joshua 10:24 - Joshua's Victory Over Kings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, 2 Samuel 22:39 offers profound encouragement and a powerful framework for understanding spiritual warfare. While we may not face physical armies in the same way David did, we contend with spiritual adversaries—the forces of evil, sin, and death. This verse reminds us that the same God who empowered David for total victory is at work in our lives, equipping us and fighting on our behalf. It calls us to trust in His divine strength when facing challenges that seem insurmountable, whether they are personal struggles, temptations, or the broader spiritual battles for truth and righteousness. Our victories, like David's, are ultimately attributed to God's power, not our own. This fosters humility and deep gratitude, compelling us to acknowledge Him as the source of our strength and deliverance from every "enemy" that seeks to undermine our faith or purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "enemies" or challenges in your life feel insurmountable, and how does David's declaration of God's complete victory encourage you?**
* **In what ways do you tend to rely on your own strength rather than God's power when facing adversity?**
* **How can acknowledging God as the source of all victory cultivate greater humility and gratitude in your life?**
* **How does the imagery of enemies "fallen under my feet" apply to the spiritual battles you face as a believer?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse promote violence or a vengeful spirit?**

Answer: While the language is militaristic and describes the destruction of enemies, it's crucial to understand the context. This is a song of thanksgiving to God for deliverance, not a call for personal vengeance. David attributes the victory entirely to God's hand. The "enemies" often represent those who oppose God's purposes and His anointed, and their defeat signifies the triumph of divine justice and righteousness. For the believer, this imagery is primarily spiritualized, representing the decisive victory God grants over sin, spiritual forces of evil, and ultimately death, rather than advocating for physical violence against people. The focus is on God's power to deliver and establish His kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Samuel 22:39 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's earthly victories, though divinely empowered, were but shadows of the decisive triumph achieved by the true King, Jesus. The language of enemies being "consumed," "wounded," and "fallen under my feet" perfectly describes Christ's victory over the ultimate adversaries: sin, death, and the devil. Through His sacrificial death on the cross and His glorious resurrection, Jesus dealt a fatal blow to the power of darkness, ensuring that these foes "could not arise" again to hold humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities")). The New Testament explicitly declares that God has put "all things in subjection under His feet" ([Ephesians 1:22](/ephesians/1-22 "Ephesians 1:22 - Christ's Authority Over All Things")), and that Christ "must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet" ([1 Corinthians 15:25](/1_corinthians/15-25 "1 Corinthians 15:25 - Christ's Reign and Subjugation of Enemies")). This Messianic victory is not merely a historical event but an ongoing reality, guaranteeing that the Lamb of God has indeed taken away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) and will ultimately bring every opposing force into complete submission, establishing His eternal kingdom where righteousness dwells.

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

Malachi 4:3

And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.

Psalms 118:10

All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

Psalms 118:12

They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

Psalms 110:1

¶ A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Psalms 18:37

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

Psalms 110:5

¶ The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

Psalms 110:6

He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.