2 Samuel 22:45
New International Version
foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

New Living Translation
Foreign nations cringe before me; as soon as they hear of me, they submit.

English Standard Version
Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.

Berean Standard Bible
Foreigners cower before me; when they hear me, they obey me.

King James Bible
Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

New King James Version
The foreigners submit to me; As soon as they hear, they obey me.

New American Standard Bible
“Foreigners pretend to obey me; As soon as they hear, they obey me.

NASB 1995
“Foreigners pretend obedience to me; As soon as they hear, they obey me.

NASB 1977
“Foreigners pretend obedience to me; As soon as they hear, they obey me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Foreigners cower before me; As soon as they hear, they obey me.

Amplified Bible
“Foreigners pretend obedience to me; As soon as they hear [me], they obey me.

Christian Standard Bible
Foreigners submit to me cringing; as soon as they hear, they obey me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Foreigners submit to me grudgingly; as soon as they hear, they obey me.

American Standard Version
The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.

Contemporary English Version
They obey and come crawling.

English Revised Version
The strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Foreigners will cringe in front of me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.

Good News Translation
Foreigners bow before me; when they hear me, they obey.

International Standard Version
Foreigners came cringing to me; they obeyed as soon as they heard me.

Majority Standard Bible
Foreigners cower before me; when they hear me, they obey me.

NET Bible
Foreigners are powerless before me; when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.

New Heart English Bible
as soon as they hear of me they obey me. Foreigners come cringing to me;

Webster's Bible Translation
Strangers shall submit themselves to me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me.

World English Bible
The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me, "" At the hearing of the ear they listen to me.

Young's Literal Translation
Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me, At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me.

Smith's Literal Translation
The sons of the stranger will lie to me: For the hearing of the ear they will hear to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons of the stranger will resist me, at the hearing of the ear they will obey me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of foreigners, who will resist me, at the hearing of the ear they will be obedient to me.

New American Bible
Foreigners cringed before me; as soon as they heard of me they obeyed.

New Revised Standard Version
Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Those who give ear shall hearken to me; the sons of strangers shall be obedient to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The hearing ear shall hear me. The sons of foreigners shall submit themselves to me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sons of the stranger dwindle away before me; As soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The strange children feigned obedience to me; they hearkened to me as soon as they heard.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Song of Deliverance
44You have delivered me from the strife of my people; You have preserved me as the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me. 45Foreigners cower before me; when they hear me, they obey me. 46Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds.…

Cross References
Psalm 18:44
When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.

Isaiah 55:5
Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”

Deuteronomy 33:29
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.”

Psalm 66:3
Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.

Psalm 81:15
Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

Psalm 144:7-11
Reach down from on high; set me free and rescue me from the deep waters, from the grasp of foreigners, / whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful. / I will sing to You a new song, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will make music to You— ...

Isaiah 45:14
This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”

Isaiah 49:23
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”

Isaiah 60:14
The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Micah 7:17
They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.

Acts 13:46-48
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. / For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” / When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Romans 15:9-12
so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.” / Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” / And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.” ...

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 3:9
As for those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you.

Psalm 2:8
Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.


Treasury of Scripture

Strangers shall submit themselves to me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me.

Strangers [heb] Sons of the stranger

Isaiah 56:3,6
Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree…

submit themselves.

Deuteronomy 33:29
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Psalm 18:44,45
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me…

Psalm 66:3
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

Jump to Previous
Authority Countries Cringing Dwindle Ears False. Feign Foreigners Hear Heard Hearken Hearts Obedience Obedient Obey Obeyed Pretend Soon Stranger Strangers Submit Themselves Time
Jump to Next
Authority Countries Cringing Dwindle Ears False. Feign Foreigners Hear Heard Hearken Hearts Obedience Obedient Obey Obeyed Pretend Soon Stranger Strangers Submit Themselves Time
2 Samuel 22
1. David's psalm of thanksgiving for God's deliverance and blessings














Foreigners cower before me;
This phrase reflects the historical context of King David's reign, during which he experienced numerous military victories over surrounding nations. The term "foreigners" refers to the non-Israelite nations that David encountered. In the ancient Near East, it was common for conquered peoples to show submission to their conquerors. This cowering can be seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel victory over its enemies (Deuteronomy 28:7). Theologically, it underscores God's sovereignty and the divine mandate given to Israel to be a light to the nations. This submission of foreigners can also be seen as a type of the ultimate submission of all nations to Christ, as prophesied in Philippians 2:10-11, where every knee will bow to Jesus.

when they hear me,
The phrase "when they hear me" suggests the authority and respect that David commanded as a king. In the cultural context of the time, a king's word was law, and his voice carried the weight of authority. This can be connected to the biblical theme of the power of the spoken word, as seen in Genesis 1, where God speaks creation into existence. David's ability to command obedience through his voice can be seen as a reflection of God's authority working through him. This also prefigures the authority of Jesus Christ, whose words commanded power and obedience, as seen in the Gospels (e.g., Mark 1:27).

they obey me.
The obedience of the foreigners highlights the effectiveness of David's leadership and the fulfillment of God's promises to him. This obedience is not just a result of military might but also of the divine favor that rested upon David. In a broader biblical context, this obedience can be seen as a foreshadowing of the messianic kingdom, where Christ will rule with perfect justice and all nations will submit to His authority (Isaiah 2:2-4). The concept of obedience is central to the biblical narrative, emphasizing the importance of aligning with God's will, as seen throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of this song of praise, David is reflecting on God's deliverance and the victories he has experienced over his enemies. This chapter is a song of thanksgiving to God for His protection and provision throughout David's life.

2. Foreigners
This term refers to the non-Israelite nations and peoples who were often adversaries of Israel. In this context, it highlights the power and influence God granted David over these nations.

3. Israel
The nation chosen by God, of which David was king. The victories over foreign nations were significant for Israel's security and prosperity.

4. God's Deliverance
The overarching theme of this chapter is God's deliverance and faithfulness to David, which is celebrated through this song.

5. The Song of David
This chapter is a poetic expression of David's gratitude and recognition of God's sovereignty and might.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty
God's power and authority extend over all nations. Just as He gave David victory over foreign nations, He remains sovereign over all earthly powers today.

Obedience to God's Anointed
The obedience of the foreigners to David can be seen as a reflection of the respect and submission due to those whom God has placed in authority.

The Power of God's Presence
David's victories were not due to his own strength but because of God's presence with him. Believers today can trust in God's presence to empower them in their own battles.

Gratitude for Deliverance
Like David, we should cultivate a heart of gratitude for the ways God has delivered us from our own "enemies," whether they be physical, spiritual, or emotional.

Witness to the Nations
The submission of the nations to David serves as a reminder of the ultimate goal of God's people to be a light to the nations, drawing them to the knowledge of God.(45) As soon as they hear.--This and the previous clause are transposed in the psalm, this clause there constituting 2Samuel 22:44.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Foreigners
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

cower
יִתְכַּֽחֲשׁוּ־ (yiṯ·ka·ḥă·šū-)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3584: To disappoint, deceive, fail, grow lean

before me;
לִ֑י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

when they hear me,
לִשְׁמ֥וֹעַ (liš·mō·w·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

they obey
יִשָּׁ֥מְעוּ (yiš·šā·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

me.
לִֽי׃ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT History: 2 Samuel 22:45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 22:44
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