The Meaning of 2 Samuel 8:6 Explained

2 Samuel 8:6

KJV: Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

YLT: and David putteth garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and Aram is to David for a servant, bearing a present; and Jehovah saveth David whithersoever he hath gone;

Darby: And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And Jehovah preserved David whithersoever he went.

ASV: Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then David  put  garrisons  in Syria  of Damascus:  and the Syrians  became servants  to David,  [and] brought  gifts.  And the LORD  preserved  David  whithersoever he went. 

What does 2 Samuel 8:6 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 8:1-18 - Victorious On Every Side
Twice in this chapter we are told that the Lord gave victory to David "whithersoever he went," 2 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 8:14. Indeed, he was more than a conqueror, for he obtained not only victory but the spoils of his foes, of which he afterward made large donations to the house of God. We are reminded of those great words: "Now thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ;" and, "They also shall overcome that are with Him [1], called and chosen and faithful," 2 Corinthians 2:14 and Revelation 17:14, r.v.
Never in this world shall we be able to lay down our weapons. Often temptations that we thought had passed out of our lives, will revive in their old vigor and present themselves with even greater subtlety and force. Resolutions and vows will fail us. We shall be constantly kept in mind of our weakness and dependence. The only victory which is permanent is our faith, which receives from Him what we cannot achieve for ourselves. It is a very humbling experience, but it is our safeguard against overweening pride. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 8

1  David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites
3  He smites Hadadezer, and the Syrians
9  Toi sends Joram with presents to bless him
11  David dedicates the presents and the spoil to God
14  He puts garrisons in Edom
16  David's officers

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 8:6 mean?

And put David garrisons among the Arameans in Syrian Damascus and became Syria of David servants [and] brought tribute And preserved Yahweh - David wherever wherever he went
וַיָּ֨שֶׂם דָּוִ֤ד נְצִבִים֙ בַּאֲרַ֣ם דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וַתְּהִ֤י אֲרָם֙ לְדָוִ֔ד לַעֲבָדִ֖ים נוֹשְׂאֵ֣י מִנְחָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤שַׁע יְהוָה֙ אֶת־ דָּוִ֔ד בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלָֽךְ

וַיָּ֨שֶׂם  And  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
דָּוִ֤ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
נְצִבִים֙  garrisons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: נְצִיב  
Sense: set over, something placed, pillar, prefect, garrison, post.
בַּאֲרַ֣ם  among  the  Arameans 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲרָם 
Sense: Aram or Syria the nation.
דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק  in  Syrian  Damascus 
Parse: Preposition, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: דּוּמֶּשֶׂק 
Sense: an ancient trading city, capital of Syria, located in the plain east of Hermon, 30 (205 km) miles northeast of Jerusalem.
וַתְּהִ֤י  and  became 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אֲרָם֙  Syria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲרָם 
Sense: Aram or Syria the nation.
לְדָוִ֔ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
לַעֲבָדִ֖ים  servants 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
נוֹשְׂאֵ֣י  [and]  brought 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
מִנְחָ֑ה  tribute 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
וַיֹּ֤שַׁע  And  preserved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
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.
דָּוִ֔ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בְּכֹ֖ל  wherever 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  wherever 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הָלָֽךְ  he  went 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.