2 Samuel 5:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David defeats the Philistines at the place he names Baal-perazim, declaring that the LORD broke through his enemies like a flood.
What Does 2 Samuel 5:20 Mean?
Acting on God's word, David strikes the Philistines and wins. He marks the victory by naming the place and giving the glory away: the LORD has broken through his enemies like a sudden bursting of waters through a dam. The name Baal-perazim means "master of breakings-through."
David takes no credit. The image of a flood breaking forth captures how God overwhelms what stands against His purposes, irresistible and complete. The one who inquired humbly now testifies openly, attaching God's name to the ground itself. Victory that begins in prayer ends in praise, and the believer who seeks the Lord before the battle will have cause to glorify Him after it.
2 Samuel 5:20 in the Original Language
perets (פֶּרֶץ), 'breach' -- a bursting-through; the place was named for the LORD's breaking forth like flood-waters.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 5:20
What does 2 Samuel 5:20 mean?
David defeats the Philistines at the place he names Baal-perazim, declaring that the LORD broke through his enemies like a flood.