2 Samuel 23:21

He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records Benaiah’s exploits within a catalog of David’s mighty men, positioned between accounts of his earlier victories and a summary statement of his elevated status.

The words — הִכָּה (hi.Kah) means "he struck down," and מַרְאֶה (mar.'Eh) literally denotes "appearance," describing the Egyptian’s imposing stature.

The thread — The narrative parallels David’s disarming of Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:51 and appears in the parallel chronicle account at 1 Chronicles 11:23.

Why it lands — The text states that Benaiah seized the Egyptian’s own spear to kill him, demanding recognition of tactical reversal as proof of decisive victory.

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

And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 17:51 David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
1 Chronicles 11:23 He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.
Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.