Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

2 SAMUEL 6:20KJV
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2 Samuel 6:20 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 6:20 mean?

2 Samuel 6:20 describes David returning home to bless his family after bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, but Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s wife, confronts him sarcastically for what she sees as undignified behavior during the celebration. Michal criticizes David for exposing himself before the servant girls, comparing his actions to those of a shameless or “vain” person.

David is coming back from a major public religious event, where he danced with great enthusiasm as the ark was brought into the city. Michal meets him at the door, not with joy but with sharp words, mocking the way he, as king, “uncovered” himself (likely meaning he wore less formal clothing) in front of others. The verse sets up a contrast between David’s joyful worship and Michal’s concern for royal dignity and appearances.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 6:20

  • “Uncovered” (גָּלָה, galah): This word appears several times in the verse and means to reveal or expose. Here, it refers to David’s actions during his dance, suggesting he was less covered than usual for a king, which Michal found inappropriate.
  • “Vain fellows” (רֵיק, reyq): This term means empty or worthless people. Michal uses it to insult David, implying his behavior was like that of someone with no self-respect or status.
  • “Handmaids” (אָמָה, amah): This word means female servants. Michal singles out the presence of these lower-status women as witnesses to David’s behavior, heightening her sense of embarrassment or shame for him.

Why 2 Samuel 6:20 matters

  • The verse highlights a clash between two views of what is fitting for a king: David’s focus on joyful worship versus Michal’s concern for royal decorum and public image.
  • Michal’s words reveal deeper tensions in her relationship with David and her lingering loyalty to her father Saul’s style of kingship.
  • This moment sets the stage for the consequences that follow in the next verses, showing how attitudes toward worship and leadership can deeply affect personal and family relationships.

Where else these words appear

“fellows” Hebrew H7386 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 37:24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
  • Judges 9:4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
  • Nehemiah 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

“Michal” Hebrew H4324 · used in 17 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
  • 1 Samuel 19:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
  • 2 Samuel 3:14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

“handmaids” Hebrew H519 · used in 49 verses

  • Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
  • Leviticus 25:44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
  • 1 Samuel 25:31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

“glorious” Hebrew H3513 · used in 109 verses

  • Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
  • 2 Samuel 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
  • Proverbs 12:9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.