2 Samuel 1:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David composes and sings a lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.
What Does 2 Samuel 1:17 Mean?
The narrative pauses to introduce one of the most beautiful elegies in Scripture. David, the poet and singer, pours his grief into a formal lament over Saul and Jonathan. The man who would be king first becomes the mourner of the king who came before.
That David memorializes Saul in song reveals the largeness of his heart. He does not erase his predecessor or rejoice in his fall but enshrines his memory with honor. Grief, given voice and beauty, becomes a kind of love. The shepherd who once soothed Saul with the harp now lifts his harp once more, this time to weep for him.
2 Samuel 1:17 in the Original Language
qinah (קִינָה), 'lamentation' -- a formal song of mourning, sung to grieve the dead with measured, poetic sorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 1:17
What does 2 Samuel 1:17 mean?
David composes and sings a lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.