The Meaning of 2 Samuel 6:14 Explained

2 Samuel 6:14

KJV: And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

YLT: And David is dancing with all strength before Jehovah, and David is girded with a linen ephod,

Darby: And David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

ASV: And David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And David  danced  before  the LORD  with all [his] might;  and David  [was] girded  with a linen  ephod. 

What does 2 Samuel 6:14 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 6:12-23 - The Ark Tabernacled In The City Of David
Josephus tells us that from the moment the Ark rested beneath Obed-edom's roof, a tide of golden prosperity set in, and he passed from poverty to wealth. But 1 Chronicles 26:4-10 sheds a new light on the subject, for there we learn that the whole family became attached to the service of the Lord's house, and even the grandchildren became mighty. If only we would open our homes to God's Ark-that is, if we maintained the observances of religion for our children and dependents-for us also there would be similar blessing. One likes to imagine the reverence and joy with which those boys and girls lay down to sleep at night, feeling that the symbol of God's presence was in the house.
This time the prescribed ritual was minutely observed. The warning given by Uzzah's death had aroused the entire nation to a realization of their indifference and neglect. The stroke had been terrible, but the effect was eminently salutary. It seemed as if the flood-gates of David's joy had been thrown wide open, and he could not contain his ecstasy. Then from an overflowing heart, he turned to bless his people. The one event that marred the day was poor Michal's bitter speech. There is no perfect joy in this world; every rose has its thorn. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 6

1  David fetches the ark from Kirjath Jearim on a new cart,
6  Uzzah is smitten at Perez Uzzah
9  God blesses Obed-Edom for the ark
12  David brings the ark into Zion with sacrifices, and dances before it;
16  for which Michal despises him
17  He places it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting
20  Michal, reproving David for his joy, is childless to her death

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 6:14 mean?

And David danced with all [his] might before Yahweh [was] wearing a ephod linen
וְדָוִ֛ד מְכַרְכֵּ֥ר בְּכָל־ עֹ֖ז לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד

וְדָוִ֛ד  And  David 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
מְכַרְכֵּ֥ר  danced 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: כָּרַר  
Sense: (Pilpel) to whirl, dance.
בְּכָל־  with  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֹ֖ז  [his]  might 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
חָג֖וּר  [was]  wearing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: חָגַר  
Sense: to gird, gird on, gird oneself, put on a belt.
אֵפ֥וֹד  a  ephod 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֵפֹד  
Sense: ephod.
בָּֽד  linen 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּד  
Sense: linen, white linen.