2 Samuel 21:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Gibeonites ask for seven of Saul's descendants to be executed at Gibeah, Saul's own town; David consents.
What Does 2 Samuel 21:6 Mean?
Their request is grave: seven of Saul's male descendants, to be put to death at Gibeah, the very place from which Saul had reigned. The number seven signals a full and complete reckoning. David agrees, accepting that the debt of blood must be answered.
This is among the hardest passages in the book, a sober record of how seriously the ancient world held a broken oath sealed in God's name. Scripture sets it down without flinching, neither celebrating it nor softening it. The reader is left with the weight of guilt and the long shadow that sin casts, and with the longing for a final reconciliation that mere human justice cannot reach.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 21:6
What does 2 Samuel 21:6 mean?
The Gibeonites ask for seven of Saul's descendants to be executed at Gibeah, Saul's own town; David consents.