Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

2 SAMUEL 6:23KJV
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2 Samuel 6:23 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 6:23 mean?

2 Samuel 6:23 states that Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child until the day of her death. This means that Michal remained childless for the rest of her life, and she never bore any children.

This verse comes at the end of the story where Michal, King David’s wife and Saul’s daughter, criticized David for how he celebrated as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem. The verse quietly notes the consequence: Michal never had children, which in her culture would have been seen as a significant loss or even a form of judgment.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 6:23

  • בַּת (bat, H1323): This word means "daughter." The verse emphasizes Michal’s identity as Saul’s daughter, connecting her fate to the former king’s family line.
  • יֶלֶד (yeled, H3206): This word means "child." The verse uses it to state plainly that Michal had no offspring, underlining the end of her lineage.
  • יּוֹם (yom, H3117): This word means "day." The phrase "unto the day of her death" uses this word to stress that her childlessness lasted her entire life.

Why 2 Samuel 6:23 matters

  • The verse highlights a turning point for Michal, showing the lasting impact of her conflict with David and marking the end of Saul’s family line through her.
  • By mentioning Michal’s childlessness, the verse draws attention to the importance of family and legacy in ancient Israel, especially for royal families.
  • This detail ties back to the wider story, where David’s kingship is being established and Saul’s house is fading from prominence, reinforcing the shift in Israel’s leadership.

Where else these words appear

“child” Hebrew H2056 · used in 2 verses

“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.

“child” Hebrew H3206 · used in 76 verses

  • Genesis 4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
  • Exodus 21:4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
  • 2 Chronicles 10:14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.