Bible Strands
2 Samuel 1:27
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David delivers this closing line immediately after recounting his grief for Jonathan, concluding his public eulogy over the fallen King Saul and his son.
The words — The Hebrew אֵ֚ךְ ('eikh) and נָפְל֣וּ גִבּוֹרִ֔ים (nafeLu gibboRim) literally render "how [have] fallen [the] mighty ones," directly stating the collapse of Israel's military leadership.
The thread — This exact refrain appears in 2 Samuel 1:19 and 2 Samuel 1:25, and parallels the future promise in Psalm 46:9 that God will ultimately break bows and shatter spears.
Why it lands — The text states the factual loss of armed strength and demands that readers acknowledge the temporary nature of human military power when divine protection is withdrawn.
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
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 1:25 How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
- 2 Samuel 1:19 “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
- Psalms 46:9 He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.
- Ezekiel 39:9 Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.
- 2 Kings 2:12 As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two.
- 2 Kings 13:14 When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”