Bible Strands
2 Samuel 23:7
The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David delivers this poetic declaration as part of his final testimony, describing the worthlessness of the wicked immediately before introducing the list of his mighty men in 2 Samuel 23:8.
The words — The Hebrew יִגַּע (yi.Ga') translates to "he will touch," and שָׂר֥וֹף (sa.Rof) means "certainly burn."
The thread — This burning imagery of worthless vegetation appears in Hebrews 6:8 regarding cursed land, and parallels the divine annihilation of the lawless in 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
Why it lands — The text states that the wicked cannot be gathered by hand and must be destroyed with weapons and fire. Readers must acknowledge that divine judgment requires forceful removal and total consumption rather than gentle handling.
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
But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 6:8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
- 2 Samuel 22:8 Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
- Isaiah 27:4 I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground.
- Matthew 3:10 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Matthew 13:42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Luke 19:14 But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
- Luke 19:27 And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”
- John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.