Bible Strands
2 Samuel 22:26
To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses the Lord directly in a song of deliverance, describing God’s reciprocal character after recounting his own deliverance from enemies. The passage functions as a theological summary of how divine response matches human posture.
The words — The verb תִּתְחַסַּד (tit.cha.Sad), from the root חָסַד, literally means "you show yourself faithful" or "deal mercifully," paired with חָסִיד (cha.Sid), "a faithful person." The parallel verb תִּתַּמֵּם (ti.ta.Mam), from תָּמִים (ta.Mim), "blameless," repeats the exact grammatical structure to describe God’s response to integrity.
The thread — The text states that God’s outward dealings mirror the moral condition of those He encounters. This reciprocal pattern appears in Matthew 5:7 and James 2:13, and continues structurally in 2 Samuel 22:27 with the pure and the crooked.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that divine response is not arbitrary but directly corresponds to human moral alignment. It demands honest self-examination regarding one’s own posture before approaching God.
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
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
Cross-references
- Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.