2 Samuel 5:6

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
KJV
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
WEB
The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here,” thinking, “David can’t come in here.”
ASV
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither.
DARBY
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they spoke to David, saying, Thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame will drive thee back; as much as to say, David will not come in hither.
BLB
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusite, the dweller of the land, and he spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here, for but the blind and the lame will repel you.” They said, “David cannot come in here.”
ÅB
Så dro kongen og hans menn til Jerusalem mot jebusittene, som bodde der i landet; men de sa til David: Du kommer aldri inn her; blinde og lamme skal drive deg bort med de ord: David kommer aldri inn her.
OTB
Nå dro kongen og hans menn til Jerusalem mot jebusittene, landets innbyggere. Og de sa til David, "Du skal ikke komme inn her, men de blinde og de lamme vil vende deg bort," tenkende, "David kan ikke komme inn her."
B1930
Så drog kongen og hans menn til Jerusalem mot jebusittene, som bodde der i landet; men de sa til David: Du kommer aldri inn her; blinde og lamme skal drive dig bort med de ord: David kommer aldri inn her.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Judges 1:8

    Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 18:28

    And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 15:63

    As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

    Read in context
  • Judges 1:21

    And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 37:10

    For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 11:4–9

    And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

    Read in context
  • Judges 19:10–12

    But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 7:1

    For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

    Read in context