Bible Strands
2 Samuel 1:22
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks this line in his lament over the fallen King Saul and his son Jonathan, addressing the mountains of Gilboa where they died.
The words — The Hebrew נָשׂ֖וֹג (na.Sog) literally means "it turned back" or "retreated," describing the bow of Jonathan that never withdrew from battle. The phrase מֵ/חֵ֙לֶב גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים (me./Che.lev gi.bo.Rim) translates to "from the fat of the mighty," a poetic image of total devastation and rich spoils.
The thread — This imagery of weapons saturated with blood and fat recurs in Deuteronomy 32:42 and Isaiah 34:6 to depict divine judgment. Jonathan’s bow, previously given to David in 1 Samuel 18:4, is here celebrated for its lethal reliability in life.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that martial prowess and loyalty are fleeting when measured against mortality. It asks the reader to acknowledge the cost of human strength without romanticizing the violence that produces it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
- Isaiah 34:6 The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
- Deuteronomy 32:42 I will make My arrows drunk with blood, while My sword devours flesh—the blood of the slain and captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.”
- 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”