2 Samuel 22:35

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — David addresses God in a song of thanksgiving following military deliverance, directly echoing the parallel account in Psalm 18. He speaks as a warrior acknowledging divine preparation for combat.

The words — מְלַמֵּד (me.la.Med) translates literally as "he trains," and זְרֹעֹתָי (ze.ro.'o.Ta/i) means "my arms," establishing the subject of physical conditioning. The compound קֶשֶׁת נְחוּשָׁה (ke.shet- ne.chu.Shah) denotes a "bow of bronze," a material requiring exceptional force to draw.

The thread — The training imagery recurs in Psalm 144:1, which parallels the hands-for-war statement, while Psalm 18:33 repeats the preceding verse's deer-foot metaphor. Psalm 46:9 contrasts this human capability by describing God breaking bows and shattering spears.

Why it lands — The text records divine instruction as the direct cause of human combat proficiency. It requires the reader to attribute martial strength to external training rather than innate ability.

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

מְלַמֵּ֥דme.la.Med[he has] trained יָדַ֖יya.Da/ihands/ my לַמִּלְחָמָ֑הla./mil.cha.Mahfor <the>/ battle וְנִחַ֥תve./ni.Chatand/ it will stretch קֶֽשֶׁת־ke.shet-a bow of נְחוּשָׁ֖הne.chu.Shahbronze זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃ze.ro.'o.Ta/iarms/ my

King James Version

He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Cross-references

Psalms 144:1 Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
Psalms 18:33 He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.
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 39:3 Then I will strike the bow from your left hand and dash down the arrows from your right hand.
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.