Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

2 SAMUEL 21:6KJV
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2 Samuel 21:6 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 21:6 mean?

2 Samuel 21:6 describes a request made to King David that seven male descendants of Saul be handed over to be executed in Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, as an act of justice before the LORD. King David agrees to this request, granting permission for the men to be given up.

This verse takes place during a time of famine, which the people believed was a result of Saul’s earlier wrongdoing against the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites ask David for the lives of seven of Saul’s sons as reparation. The verse shows David’s response, highlighting the seriousness of ancient justice and the significance of Saul’s legacy in Israel’s history.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 21:6

  • “Seven” (שִׁבְעָה, shiv‘ah): The number seven often symbolizes completeness or totality in Hebrew thought, suggesting the Gibeonites wanted a full measure of justice.
  • “Delivered” (נָתַן, natan): This word means “to give” or “to hand over.” Here, it emphasizes the act of surrendering Saul’s descendants, not just physically but as a formal, legal act.
  • “Hang them up” (יָקַע, yaqa‘): This verb means “to hang” or “to expose.” It refers to a public execution, which in this context is meant to be a visible act before the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH).
  • “Choose” (בָּחַר, bachar): The verse notes that Saul was the one “whom the LORD did choose,” reminding the reader that Saul’s family had a special status, making this act especially significant.

Why 2 Samuel 21:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the famine was believed to be a direct result of Saul’s actions, and that justice was sought through a specific, public act involving his descendants.
  • The mention of Gibeah and Saul’s chosen status highlights the weight of what is being asked—this is not a random punishment but one tied to Saul’s unique role in Israel’s history.
  • Understanding the original Hebrew words helps show the legal and ritual seriousness of the request, and why David’s agreement is such a significant moment in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“up” Hebrew H3363 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
  • 2 Samuel 21:9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
  • Jeremiah 6:8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

“choose” Hebrew H972 · used in 13 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 16:13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
  • Psalms 106:5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
  • Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

“Gibeah” Hebrew H1390 · used in 43 verses

  • Joshua 15:57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
  • Judges 20:21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
  • 1 Samuel 14:16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.