The Meaning of 2 Samuel 6:13 Explained

2 Samuel 6:13

KJV: And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, when those bearing the ark of Jehovah have stepped six steps, that he sacrificeth an ox and a fatling.

Darby: And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatted beast.

ASV: And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it was [so], that when they that bare  the ark  of the LORD  had gone  six  paces,  he sacrificed  oxen  and fatlings. 

What does 2 Samuel 6:13 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 6:12-23 - The Ark Tabernacled In The City Of David
Josephus tells us that from the moment the Ark rested beneath Obed-edom's roof, a tide of golden prosperity set in, and he passed from poverty to wealth. But 1 Chronicles 26:4-10 sheds a new light on the subject, for there we learn that the whole family became attached to the service of the Lord's house, and even the grandchildren became mighty. If only we would open our homes to God's Ark-that is, if we maintained the observances of religion for our children and dependents-for us also there would be similar blessing. One likes to imagine the reverence and joy with which those boys and girls lay down to sleep at night, feeling that the symbol of God's presence was in the house.
This time the prescribed ritual was minutely observed. The warning given by Uzzah's death had aroused the entire nation to a realization of their indifference and neglect. The stroke had been terrible, but the effect was eminently salutary. It seemed as if the flood-gates of David's joy had been thrown wide open, and he could not contain his ecstasy. Then from an overflowing heart, he turned to bless his people. The one event that marred the day was poor Michal's bitter speech. There is no perfect joy in this world; every rose has its thorn. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 6

1  David fetches the ark from Kirjath Jearim on a new cart,
6  Uzzah is smitten at Perez Uzzah
9  God blesses Obed-Edom for the ark
12  David brings the ark into Zion with sacrifices, and dances before it;
16  for which Michal despises him
17  He places it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting
20  Michal, reproving David for his joy, is childless to her death

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 6:13 mean?

And so it was when had gone those bearing the ark of Yahweh six paces that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep
וַיְהִ֗י כִּ֧י צָעֲד֛וּ נֹשְׂאֵ֥י אֲרוֹן־ יְהוָ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֣ה צְעָדִ֑ים וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח שׁ֖וֹר וּמְרִֽיא

וַיְהִ֗י  And  so  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
צָעֲד֛וּ  had  gone 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: צָעַד  
Sense: to step, march, stride.
נֹשְׂאֵ֥י  those  bearing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֲרוֹן־  the  ark 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
יְהוָ֖ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שִׁשָּׁ֣ה  six 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁשׁ  
Sense: six.
צְעָדִ֑ים  paces 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: צַעַד  
Sense: step, pace, stride.
וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח  that  he  sacrificed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָבַח  
Sense: to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice.
שׁ֖וֹר  oxen 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁור  
Sense: ox, bull, a head of cattle.
וּמְרִֽיא  and  fatted  sheep 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָרָא 
Sense: well-fed, fatling.