2 Samuel 22:37

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

Thou hast enlarged {H7337} my steps {H6806} under me; so that my feet {H7166} did not slip {H4571}.

You lengthen the steps I can take, yet my ankles do not turn.

You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; And my feet have not slipped.

Commentary

2 Samuel 22:37 is part of King David's profound psalm of thanksgiving, recorded after the Lord delivered him from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. This powerful declaration highlights God's active role in ensuring David's security and progress.

Context

This verse is found within a lengthy and deeply personal psalm of deliverance, almost identical to Psalm 18. David, a man whose life was constantly threatened by adversaries, including King Saul and numerous foreign enemies, reflects on God's unwavering faithfulness. The imagery of "enlarged steps" and "feet not slipping" speaks to the constant dangers David faced and God's miraculous intervention to provide a clear, stable path amidst turmoil. It paints a picture of God clearing obstacles and providing freedom of movement, rather than confinement or stumbling.

Key Themes

  • Divine Empowerment and Guidance: The phrase "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me" signifies that God provides the necessary space, freedom, and clear path for David to walk securely. It's an acknowledgment that God doesn't just protect from falling, but actively makes the way passable and wide, ensuring progress.
  • Security and Stability: "So that my feet did not slip" emphasizes God's perfect protection and the stability He grants. In a world full of unseen pitfalls and known dangers, God ensures that His servant maintains firm footing, preventing spiritual, physical, or emotional falls. This echoes themes found in Psalm 121:3, "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved."
  • Freedom from Constraint: David's life was often one of being hunted and confined. God "enlarging" his steps speaks to a liberation from the narrow, dangerous paths forced upon him by his enemies, granting him broad, secure ground to move forward.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "enlarged" is rachab (ืจึธื—ึทื‘), meaning to make wide, broad, or spacious. This contrasts with being hemmed in or restricted. The concept of "steps" (tsa'ad - ืฆึทืขึทื“) refers to one's walk or progress. To have one's steps enlarged implies a journey made easy, free from obstacles. The word for "slip" is moแนญ (ืžื•ึนื˜), which means to sway, totter, or be moved, clearly conveying instability and the risk of falling.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Samuel 22:37 offers profound encouragement. It reminds us that God is actively involved in our journey, providing not just protection from stumbling, but also making our path clear and spacious. When we face challenges that feel like narrow, treacherous paths, we can trust that God "enlarges our steps," giving us the freedom and stability to move forward. This verse encourages us to place our confidence in God's divine guidance and power to navigate life's difficulties without fear of falling. Just as David trusted God for his physical battles, we can trust Him for our spiritual and daily walk, knowing He secures our footing (Proverbs 3:5-6).

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Cross-References

  • Proverbs 4:12 (4 votes)

    When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

  • Psalms 17:5 (3 votes)

    Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.

  • 1 Samuel 2:9 (3 votes)

    He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

  • Psalms 121:3 (2 votes)

    He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

  • Psalms 18:36 (2 votes)

    Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

  • Psalms 4:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

  • Psalms 94:18 (2 votes)

    When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.