2 Samuel 5:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The tribes recall that even under Saul, David led Israel, and that the LORD had appointed him to shepherd His people.
What Does 2 Samuel 5:2 Mean?
The elders rehearse David's history. Even while Saul reigned, it was David who led the armies of Israel out to battle and home again. More than his record, they remember the LORD's own word: that David would shepherd Israel and be its captain.
The image of the king as shepherd runs deep through Scripture. To "feed" the people is to guard, lead, and nourish them, not merely to rule. David's rise rests not on ambition but on a divine calling, and the picture of a true Shepherd-King finds its fullness in the One who would later say, "I am the good shepherd," laying down His life for the sheep.
2 Samuel 5:2 in the Original Language
ra'ah (רָעָה), 'feed' -- to shepherd, to tend a flock with care and provision.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 5:2
What does 2 Samuel 5:2 mean?
The tribes recall that even under Saul, David led Israel, and that the LORD had appointed him to shepherd His people.