2 Samuel · Chapter 22 · Faith

2 Samuel 22:31 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

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Read in chapter context · 2 Samuel 22

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him."

KJV · King James Version

"As for God410, his way1870 is perfect8549; the word565 of the LORD3068 is tried6884: he is a buckler4043 to all them that trust2620 in him. tried: or, refined"

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses the, lord, tried, buckler, while the WEB renders these as yahweh, tested, shield, those. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

2 Samuel 22:31 in 2 Samuel 22

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is 2 Samuel 22:31 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of 2 Samuel 22. Read the full chapter →

v.29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.
v.30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
v.31 As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
v.32 For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God?
v.33 God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.

Book background

About the Book of 2 Samuel

Testament: Old Testament
Genre: Historical narrative
Author: Compiled from court records
Date written: c. 930 BC
Audience: Davidic monarchy and after
Chapters: 24

2 Samuel covers David's reign — his consolidation of the kingdom, the Davidic covenant in chapter 7 (the promise of an eternal throne, ultimately fulfilled in Christ), his fall with Bathsheba, and the painful consequences including Absalom's rebellion. It shows both David's greatness and his deep flaws, magnifying God's mercy.

Setting: David's 40-year reign as king of Israel.

Key themes: kingship · covenant · sin · repentance · God's faithfulness

Read 2 Samuel from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise 2 Samuel 22:31

2 Samuel 22:31 contains 23 words in 4 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

As for God

AFG
2

his way is perfect

HWIP
3

Yahweh’s word is tested

YWIT
4

He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

HIASTA

Frequently asked

FAQ about 2 Samuel 22:31

What does 2 Samuel 22:31 say?

2 Samuel 22:31 reads: "As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him." — from the Old Testament, 2 Samuel (Historical narrative). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is 2 Samuel 22:31 in?

2 Samuel 22:31 is in the book of 2 Samuel, traditionally attributed to Compiled from court records and written around c. 930 BC. 2 Samuel is historical narrative in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Davidic monarchy and after. Best known for the Davidic covenant and David's sin with Bathsheba.

What is 2 Samuel 22:31 about?

2 Samuel 22:31 is primarily a Bible verse about Faith. Within 2 Samuel, 2 Samuel covers David's reign — his consolidation of the kingdom, the Davidic covenant in chapter 7 (the promise of an eternal throne, ultimately fulfilled in Christ), his fall with Bathsheba, and the painful consequences including Absalom's rebellion. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between 2 Samuel 22:31 in WEB and KJV?

2 Samuel 22:31 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "As for God410, his way1870 is perfect8549; the word565 of the LORD3068 is tried6884: he is a buckler4043 to all them that trust2620 in him. tried: or, refined". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is 2 Samuel 22:31?

2 Samuel 22:31 is 23 words in the WEB translation (108 characters), broken into 4 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 7 seconds.

How can I memorise 2 Samuel 22:31?

To memorise 2 Samuel 22:31, split it into its 4 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does 2 Samuel 22:31 matter in 2 Samuel?

How can I apply 2 Samuel 22:31 today?

Many readers use 2 Samuel 22:31 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download 2 Samuel 22:31 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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