2 Samuel 5:6
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The Jebusites mockingly declare David will be kept out by "the blind and the lame," believing their own weakness would somehow defend them. This reveals a profound irony: they see only human limitations, completely missing the divine power accompanying David, who God had just chosen to be king. Their defiance, rooted in pride and a misunderstanding of God's favor, sets the stage for their swift defeat.
David, now recognized as king over all Israel, makes his move to conquer Jerusalem, a city held by the Jebusites. The Jebusites, confident in their seemingly impregnable stronghold, mock David and his forces, believing their defenses and even the weak among them can repel his army. This verse sets the stage for a pivotal moment where David's audacity and God's favor will overcome what seems impossible.
The Jebusites thought they had David completely outmaneuvered. Their taunt reveals a deep-seated pride and dismissal of God’s chosen leader.
The Jebusites looked at their defenses and their own perceived strength, mocking David's advance. They believed their city walls, coupled with their own physical limitations (the 'blind and the lame'), were enough to repel him.
Trusting Sight Over Faith
Their thinking was entirely based on what they could see and what seemed physically possible to them. They declared, 'David cannot come in here,' because their limited perspective blinded them to any other possibility. This is the arrogance of unbelief – assuming that what we can’t see or what seems impossible to us is impossible for God or His appointed leaders.
A Warning to Us All
This kind of thinking tries to put God in a box, limiting Him to our understanding and our capabilities. It’s a mindset that says, 'This problem is too big,' or 'This person can't possibly succeed,' based solely on earthly assessment.
The very 'weakness' the Jebusites used as a boast became the pathway for David's victory. God loves to work in ways that defy human expectation.
The Jebusites’ taunt was incredibly ironic. They offered up the 'blind and the lame' as their defense, completely unaware that this would be the very method of their downfall.
The Unseen Ascent
Scripture reveals that David didn't overcome the Jebusites by a frontal assault. Instead, he found a 'water shaft' or 'gutter' (as other translations suggest) and scaled the city from within, led by his men. The very defenses that seemed so impenetrable were bypassed through a strategy that utilized a seemingly weak or overlooked point.
God's Strength, Our Weakness
This highlights a profound biblical principle: God’s strength is often made perfect in our weakness. The Jebusites saw the 'blind and the lame' and thought 'impenetrable.' God saw a way to confound the mighty through the unexpected, demonstrating that victory comes not from human might or cleverness, but from obedience and reliance on Him.
Understand the original words
melek · Hebrew Noun
The designated ruler of God’s people, representing God's authority and expected to rule in righteousness and covenant fidelity. In this context, it refers to David, the anointed successor to Saul.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The capital city of the united kingdom, divinely chosen as the center for worship and royal government. It is often referred to as the city of God and, later, the place of the temple.
Yebusi · Hebrew Proper Noun (Collective)
A Canaanite people group who occupied Jerusalem prior to its conquest by David. They represented the remaining unconquered inhabitants of the land of Canaan.
The conquest of Jerusalem was a pivotal military and political act, transforming a defiant enemy stronghold into the divinely chosen capital of a united Israel under David's rule.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking the transition from a tribal confederacy to a monarchy.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David is secretly anointed king by Samuel, but serves Saul for many years before Saul's death.
c. 1010 BC
David Becomes King of Judah
After Saul's death, David is made king over the tribe of Judah in Hebron, beginning a 7-year reign in the south.
c. 1003 BC— this verse
David Captures Jerusalem
David leads his men to conquer Jerusalem, a strategically located Jebusite stronghold, and establishes it as his capital.
c. 1003 BC
David Becomes King of All Israel
This passage recounts the same event but adds context that the Jebusites wrongly believed their defenses were impenetrable, highlighting their arrogance before David's victory.
Judges 1:21This verse describes how the tribe of Benjamin could not drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem, showing the deep historical hold the Jebusites had on the city, making David's conquest even more remarkable.
Psalm 18:29David himself reflects on God's power enabling him to overcome obstacles, echoing the sentiment of breaking through seemingly impossible defenses, like the walls of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 36:1This passage later mentions Jerusalem being inhabited by Jebusites, illustrating how David's conquest was not an extermination, but a reintegration, with the Jebusites still present long after.
The Jebusites mockingly declare David will be kept out by "the blind and the lame," believing their own weakness would somehow defend them. This reveals a profound irony: they see only human limitations, completely missing the divine power accompanying David, who God had just chosen to be king. Their defiance, rooted in pride and a misunderstanding of God's favor, sets the stage for their swift defeat.
David, now recognized as king over all Israel, makes his move to conquer Jerusalem, a city held by the Jebusites. The Jebusites, confident in their seemingly impregnable stronghold, mock David and his forces, believing their defenses and even the weak among them can repel his army. This verse sets the stage for a pivotal moment where David's audacity and God's favor will overcome what seems impossible.
David, now recognized as king over all Israel, makes his move to conquer Jerusalem, a city held by the Jebusites. The Jebusites, confident in their seemingly impregnable stronghold, mock David and his forces, believing their defenses and even the weak among them can repel his army. This verse sets the stage for a pivotal moment where David's audacity and God's favor will overcome what seems impossible.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 2 Samuel 5:6 is available in the Sola app.
Following the capture of Jerusalem, all the tribes of Israel anoint David king over the united kingdom.
c. 1003 BC - 975 BC
David's Reign as United King
David rules from Jerusalem, expanding Israel's territory, consolidating power, and establishing Jerusalem as the religious and political center.
"And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.”" — The Jebusites mockingly declare David will be kept out by "the blind and the lame," believing their own weakness would somehow defend them. This reveals a profound irony: they see only human limitati…
