The Meaning of 2 Samuel 21:22 Explained

2 Samuel 21:22

KJV: These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

YLT: these four have been born to the giant in Gath, and they fall by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Darby: These four were born to Raphah, in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

ASV: These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

These four  were born  to the giant  in Gath,  and fell  by the hand  of David,  and by the hand  of his servants. 

What does 2 Samuel 21:22 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 21:12-22 - More Giants Slain
It was in unsettled weather that Rizpah began her watch; but no hardship daunted her, no cost was too great. She shielded the dear remains from bird and beast till the falling rain gave assurance that the long famine was ended, 2 Samuel 21:10, r.v. Her devotion seems to have aroused David to treat with similar honor the remains of Saul and Jonathan, and all were buried together in the sepulcher of Kish.
Love ignites love, as fire kindles fire, without impoverishment. How often a voice raised in prayerful and passionate affection to Jesus has made volcanic fires leap out where all had seemed extinct! Do not stint your alabaster-boxes, for though they drive a Judas to desperation, they will stimulate a David or a Peter to a forgotten duty.
Monstrous sin stalked the world in the person of these giants, 2 Samuel 21:16-22. They beset the old age of David, as they did his youth, though we may not be assailed by the identical temptations as at first, there never will be a time when the progeny of sin will not molest us-if not passion, then jealousy, or avarice, or pride. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 21

1  The three year Gibeonite famine ceases, by hanging seven of Saul's sons
10  Rizpah's kindness unto the dead
12  David buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan in his father's tomb
15  Four battles against the Philistines, wherein four men of David slay four giants

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 21:22 mean?

- Four these were born of Rapha in Gath and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants -
אֶת־ אַרְבַּ֥עַת אֵ֛לֶּה יֻלְּד֥וּ לְהָרָפָ֖ה בְּגַ֑ת וַיִּפְּל֥וּ בְיַד־ דָּוִ֖ד וּבְיַ֥ד עֲבָדָֽיו פ

אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַרְבַּ֥עַת  Four 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אַרְבַּע  
Sense: four.
אֵ֛לֶּה  these 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
יֻלְּד֥וּ  were  born 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
לְהָרָפָ֖ה  of  Rapha 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְפָאִים 
Sense: giants, Rephaim.
בְּגַ֑ת  in  Gath 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גַּת  
Sense: one of the five royal or chief cities of the Philistines and the native city of Goliath.
וַיִּפְּל֥וּ  and  fell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
בְיַד־  by  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
דָּוִ֖ד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
וּבְיַ֥ד  and  by  the  hand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עֲבָדָֽיו  of  his  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation