But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

2 SAMUEL 15:26KJV
Know the Bible

2 Samuel 15:26 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 15:26 mean?

2 Samuel 15:26 shows David expressing his willingness to accept whatever God decides for him, even if God no longer delights in him and chooses to let something unfavorable happen. David is surrendering himself to God's judgment, saying he will accept whatever God thinks is good.

In this verse, David is speaking as he flees Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion. He is talking to Zadok the priest about returning the ark of God to the city, showing his trust in God’s will rather than trying to manipulate events for his own safety. David’s words reveal his humility and deep faith, as he leaves his fate entirely in God’s hands.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 15:26

  • "delight" (חָפֵץ, ḥāphēṣ): This word means to take pleasure in or to desire. Here, David is acknowledging the possibility that God may no longer take pleasure in him, showing his honesty and humility before God.
  • "do" (עָשָׂה, ʿāsāh): This is the common Hebrew verb for "to do" or "to make." David is inviting God to act freely, without restriction, according to what God sees as best.
  • "seemeth" (עַיִן, ʿayin): Literally meaning "eye," this word is used here in the sense of "what seems right in the eyes of" or "what appears good to." David is saying he trusts God’s perspective, not his own.
  • "good" (טוֹב, ṭov): This word means "good," "pleasant," or "right." David is leaving the definition of what is good up to God, not insisting on his own idea of what should happen.

Why 2 Samuel 15:26 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that David was trying to force God’s favor or manipulate the outcome; instead, David is shown as fully trusting God’s wisdom, even if it means personal loss.
  • The verse emphasizes David’s humility and faith during a crisis, connecting to the wider story of his response to Absalom’s rebellion and his refusal to cling to power at any cost.
  • It highlights a key theme in David’s life: surrendering to God’s will, which stands in contrast to many other leaders in the Bible who try to control their own destiny.

Where else these words appear

“delight” Hebrew H2654 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 34:19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.
  • Job 21:14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
  • Song of Solomon 2:7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.