2 Samuel 2:7

Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David addresses the men of Jabesh-Gilead who buried Saul, speaking immediately after his thanksgiving in verse 6 and before Abner’s political maneuvering in verse 8.

The words — The Hebrew תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה (te.che.Zak.nah) literally renders "let them be strong," directly linked to יְדֵיכֶם (ye.dei.Khem) "your hands" and the phrase לִבְנֵי־חַיִל (liv.nei.Cha.yil) "sons of strength."

The thread — The exhortation appears in 2 Samuel 10:12 and Genesis 15:1, while Ephesians 6:10 later repurposes the command for spiritual endurance.

Why it lands — The verse declares that Judah has already anointed David as king despite Saul’s death, demanding the listener acknowledge a settled transfer of authority rather than anticipate future validation.

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

וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ve./'a.Tahand/ now תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָהte.che.Zak.nahlet them be strong יְדֵיכֶ֗םye.dei./Khemhands/ your וִֽהְיוּ֙vi/h.Yuand/ become לִבְנֵי־li/v.nei-<into>/ sons of חַ֔יִלCha.yilstrength כִּי־ki-for מֵ֖תmethe has died אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֣ם'a.do.nei./Khemlord<s>/ your שָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlSaul וְגַם־ve./gam-and/ also אֹתִ֗י'o.T/i<obj.>/ me מָשְׁח֧וּma.she.Chuthey have anointed בֵית־veit-[the] house of יְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahJudah לְמֶ֖לֶךְle./Me.lekhto/ king עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ פ'a.lei./Hemover/ them

King James Version

Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

Cross-references

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
2 Samuel 10:12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
Genesis 15:1 After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
1 Samuel 4:9 Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
1 Samuel 31:12 all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
1 Samuel 31:7 When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

People named

Saul