2 Samuel 23:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 23:15 mean?

2 Samuel 23:15 describes David’s deep desire for water from a familiar well in Bethlehem. His words express a personal longing for a particular place, not merely a request for any water. The well’s location matters because Bethlehem was David’s hometown.

The well stood by the town gate, a recognizable entrance to Bethlehem. At this point in the story, a Philistine garrison occupied the town (verse 14). David’s wish therefore concerned a place he could not simply visit.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 23:15

• “longed” — אָוָה (avah): This word carries the sense of strongly desiring something. It gives David’s words the force of a heartfelt wish.
• “well” — בּוֹר (bor): This word can refer to a pit or cistern, as well as a well. It points to a place where water was collected or drawn, though the word alone does not tell us its exact construction.

Why 2 Samuel 23:15 matters

• David’s words are expressed as a wish, rather than a direct order to named men: “Oh that one would give me drink.” That wording helps explain the contrast with the dangerous action taken afterward.
• The story turns on both loyalty and the cost of obtaining the water. Three of David’s men break through the Philistine camp to bring it to him, but David refuses to drink it because they risked their lives (verses 16–17).