2 Samuel 6:20

18 When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.

19 Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each for his own home.

As soon as David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”

21 But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,

22 and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

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
As soon as David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”
KJV
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
WEB
Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
ASV
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
DARBY
And David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How honourable did the king of Israel make himself to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the lewd fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!
BLB
And David returned to bless his house. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How honored today was the king of Israel, who has uncovered himself today in the eyes of the maidservants of his servants, as one of the vain ones is openly uncovered.”
ÅB
Da David kom hjem igjen for å velsigne sitt hus, gikk Mikal, Sauls datter, ut imot ham og sa: Hvor høyt Israels konge er blitt æret idag - han som idag har blottet seg for øynene på sine tjeneres piker, som løse folk pleier å gjøre!
OTB
Men da David vendte tilbake for å velsigne sitt eget hus, kom Mikal, Sauls datter, ut for å møte David og sa, “Hvor storartet Israels konge utmerket seg i dag! Han blottet seg i dag for sine tjeneres kvinnelige slaver, som en av de tåpelige skamløst blotter seg!”
B1930
Da David kom hjem igjen for å velsigne sitt hus, gikk Mikal, Sauls datter, ut imot ham og sa: Hvor høit Israels konge er blitt æret idag - han som idag har blottet sig for øinene på sine tjeneres piker, som løse folk pleier å gjøre!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 6:16

    As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 6:14

    And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,

    Read in context
  • Judges 9:4

    So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.

    Read in context
  • Mark 3:21

    When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”

    Read in context
  • Philippians 2:7–8

    but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 4:3–4

    Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 30:1

    I will exalt You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up and have not allowed my foes to rejoice over me.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 6:18

    When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.

    Read in context