The Meaning of 2 Samuel 6:3 Explained

2 Samuel 6:3

KJV: And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

YLT: And they cause the ark of God to ride on a new cart, and lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which is in the height, and Uzzah and Ahio sons of Abinadab are leading the new cart;

Darby: And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was upon the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

ASV: And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they set  the ark  of God  upon a new  cart,  and brought  it out of the house  of Abinadab  that [was] in Gibeah:  and Uzzah  and Ahio,  the sons  of Abinadab,  drave  the new  cart. 

What does 2 Samuel 6:3 Mean?

Study Notes

new cart
The story of David's new cart and its results is a striking illustration of the spiritual truth that blessing does not follow even the best intentions in the service of God except as that service is rendered in God's way. It is a constant point of failure. God had given explicit directions how the ark should be borne. Numbers 4:1-15 but David adopted a Philistine expedient.
1 Samuel 6:7 ; 1 Samuel 6:8 . The church is full of Philistine ways of doing service to Christ. Cf.; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 ; 2 Corinthians 10:4 ; 2 Corinthians 10:5 . See, also, 1 Chronicles 15:2 .

Context Summary

2 Samuel 6:1-11 - The Return Of The Ark Interrupted
We have heard nothing of the Ark since it left the land of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 7:1-2. The spiritual life of the nation was low, else this holy symbol of God's presence would not have been thus neglected. David wished to make the new capital the religious as well as the political center of his kingdom. It was necessary, therefore, that the Ark be removed thither.
The sacredness of the Ark lay in its association with Jehovah Sabaoth, "the Lord of Hosts." It was His seat or throne. "He dwelled between the cherubim." The clear order was that it should be borne on the shoulders of the Levites, and David had no right to substitute a new cart, after the manner of the Philistines, Numbers 7:9; 1 Chronicles 15:12-16. The death of Uzzah and the blessing on the house of Obed-edom illustrate the severity and the goodness of God. Not one jot or tittle of the law can fail; therefore the least violation must bring suffering on the part of those who offend; while reverence, obedience and faith secure an immediate response of the divine favor and love. God can and will take care of His own. We need not fear for the safety of His Church. [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 6:3 mean?

So they set - the ark of God on a cart new and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] on the hill and Uzza and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the cart new
וַיַּרְכִּ֜בוּ אֶת־ אֲר֤וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־ עֲגָלָ֣ה חֲדָשָׁ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֔הוּ מִבֵּ֥ית אֲבִינָדָ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וְעֻזָּ֣א וְאַחְי֗וֹ בְּנֵי֙ אֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב נֹהֲגִ֖ים הָעֲגָלָ֥ה חֲדָשָֽׁה

וַיַּרְכִּ֜בוּ  So  they  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָכַב  
Sense: to mount and ride, ride.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲר֤וֹן  the  ark 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עֲגָלָ֣ה  a  cart 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲגִילָה 
Sense: cart, wagon.
חֲדָשָׁ֔ה  new 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חָדָשׁ  
Sense: new, new thing, fresh.
וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֔הוּ  and  brought  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
מִבֵּ֥ית  out  of  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֲבִינָדָ֖ב  of  Abinadab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינָדָב  
Sense: a man of Gibeah who sheltered the ark.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that  [was] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה  on  the  hill 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּבְעָה  
Sense: hill.
וְעֻזָּ֣א  and  Uzza 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֻזָּא 
Sense: a man slain by Jehovah for touching the sacred ark.
וְאַחְי֗וֹ  and  Ahio 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַחְיׄו  
Sense: son of Abinadab who sheltered the ark.
בְּנֵי֙  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב  of  Abinadab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינָדָב  
Sense: a man of Gibeah who sheltered the ark.
נֹהֲגִ֖ים  drove 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָהַג 
Sense: to drive, lead, guide, conduct.
הָעֲגָלָ֥ה  the  cart 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲגִילָה 
Sense: cart, wagon.
חֲדָשָֽׁה  new 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חָדָשׁ  
Sense: new, new thing, fresh.

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