The Meaning of 2 Samuel 5:9 Explained

2 Samuel 5:9

KJV: So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

YLT: And David dwelleth in the fortress, and calleth it -- City of David, and David buildeth round about, from Millo and inward,

Darby: So David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from the Millo and inward.

ASV: And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So David  dwelt  in the fort,  and called  it the city  of David.  And David  built  round about  from Millo  and inward. 

What does 2 Samuel 5:9 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 5:1-12 - David King In Jerusalem
David was anointed thrice: by Samuel in his home, by the men of Judah, and here. So our Lord has been crowned in the Father's purpose and by his Church. There awaits another day, when he will be recognized as King by the entire universe, Revelation 11:15, etc. The reasons for David's coronation apply equally to our Lord: (1) kinship; (2) power to lead; (3) God's eternal purpose.
Because of its impregnable position, it was wise policy to secure Jerusalem as the site of the capital. Here was the beginning of new prosperity for Israel, and for Jerusalem as well, which was now to become "the joy of the whole earth." See 1 Chronicles 12:23, etc. David's influence increased by leaps and bounds, 2 Samuel 5:10. There broke on his mind a perception of the divine purpose, 2 Samuel 5:12. Often we are unable to descry this in the earlier stages of our life. We see no meaning, no purpose. But as year is added to year, God's great scheme begins to unfold. Only be sure that any position or opportunity is intended, not for us alone, but for his people's sake. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 5

1  The tribes come to Hebron and anoint David over Israel,
4  David's age
6  Taking Zion from the Jebusites, he dwells in it
11  Hiram sends to David,
13  Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem
17  David, directed by God, smites the Philistines at Baal-perazim
22  And again at the mulberry trees

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 5:9 mean?

And dwelt David in the stronghold and called it the City of David And built all around from the Millo and inward
וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב דָּוִד֙ בַּמְּצֻדָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָא־ לָ֖הּ עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּ֤בֶן סָבִ֔יב מִן־ הַמִּלּ֖וֹא וָבָֽיְתָה

וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב  And  dwelt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
דָּוִד֙  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בַּמְּצֻדָ֔ה  in  the  stronghold 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְצוּדָה 
Sense: net, prey, net prey.
וַיִּקְרָא־  and  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
עִ֣יר  the  City 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
דָּוִ֑ד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
וַיִּ֤בֶן  And  built 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
סָבִ֔יב  all  around 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
הַמִּלּ֖וֹא  the  Millo 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלֹּא 
Sense: a place near Shechem; site unknown.
וָבָֽיְתָה  and  inward 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.