2 Samuel 22:6

The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

The sorrows {H2256} of hell {H7585} compassed me about {H5437}; the snares {H4170} of death {H4194} prevented {H6923} me;

the ropes of Sh'ol were wrapped around me, the snares of death lay there before me.

The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.

Commentary

In 2 Samuel 22:6, King David vividly describes the intense peril and despair he faced, likening his predicament to being trapped by the very forces of death. This verse is part of a magnificent song of praise and thanksgiving, nearly identical to Psalm 18:6, which David sang to the Lord after being delivered from all his enemies, especially from the hand of Saul.

Context

This powerful declaration of distress sets the stage for David's testimony of God's mighty deliverance. The entire chapter, 2 Samuel 22, is a poetic recounting of David's life-threatening experiences and God's consistent rescue. Verse 6 specifically focuses on the depth of his suffering and the feeling of being overwhelmed by circumstances that threatened his very life, making his subsequent praise for God's intervention all the more profound.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Distress: David expresses a feeling of being surrounded and trapped by forces that seemed intent on his destruction. This conveys the profound psychological and physical anguish he endured.
  • The Imminence of Death: The imagery of "snares of death" suggests that death was not just a distant possibility but an active, cunning hunter setting traps for him. He felt on the very brink of demise.
  • A Cry from the Depths: Although this verse describes the plight, its placement within a song of deliverance highlights that it represents the desperate state from which David cried out to God, knowing that only divine power could save him. This emphasizes the theme of God as the ultimate Deliverer from affliction.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Sorrows of hell": The KJV word "hell" here translates the Hebrew word Sheol (ืฉึฐืืื•ึนืœ). In the Old Testament, Sheol primarily refers to the grave, the underworld, or the realm of the dead, rather than a place of eternal punishment. The word "sorrows" (ื—ึถื‘ึฐืœึตื™ - chevley) can also mean "cords" or "pains" (like birth pangs). Thus, "cords of Sheol" or "pains of death" convey the idea of being bound or seized by the forces leading to death.
  • "Compassed me about": This phrase, from the Hebrew sabab (ืกึธื‘ึทื‘), means to surround, enclose, or encompass, emphasizing the feeling of being utterly overwhelmed and without escape.
  • "Snares of death prevented me": The Hebrew qadam (ืงึธื“ึทื) translated as "prevented" means "to confront," "to meet," or "to come upon." It implies that these deadly traps actively assailed or ambushed him, leaving him no room to maneuver.

Practical Application

David's raw expression of despair in 2 Samuel 22:6 offers profound comfort and insight for believers today. When we face overwhelming challenges, feeling as though we are surrounded by insurmountable problems or caught in the "snares of death" (whether literal danger, severe illness, deep depression, or crushing circumstances), this verse reminds us:

  • It's Normal to Feel Overwhelmed: Even a man after God's own heart experienced profound distress. It validates our own feelings of despair.
  • The Depth of Our Need for God: Such extreme circumstances highlight our complete dependence on God for deliverance. Just as David cried out, we are encouraged to bring our deepest fears to the Lord, trusting in His power to rescue.
  • Hope in Deliverance: The verse, while describing the low point, is part of a broader narrative of God's faithfulness. It foreshadows God's intervention, reinforcing the truth that God is with us even in the darkest valleys and is capable of turning our deepest sorrows into songs of praise.
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Cross-References

  • Psalms 116:3 (6 votes)

    The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

  • Proverbs 5:22 (2 votes)

    His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

  • Job 36:8 (2 votes)

    And if [they be] bound in fetters, [and] be holden in cords of affliction;

  • Psalms 140:5 (2 votes)

    The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

  • Acts 2:24 (2 votes)

    Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

  • Proverbs 13:14 (2 votes)

    ยถ The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

  • Proverbs 14:27 (2 votes)

    The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.