2 Samuel 5:6 Meaning: The Blind and the Lame
The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here,” thinking, “David can’t come in here.”
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither.
And the king goeth, and his men, to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusite, the inhabitant of the land, and they speak to David, saying, `Thou dost not come in hither, except thou turn aside the blind and the lame;' saying, `David doth not come in hither.'
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they spoke to David, saying, Thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame will drive thee back; as much as to say, David will not come in hither.
Meaning in one sentence
The Jebusites taunted David that even the blind and lame could defend Jerusalem. But God gave him the city, turning a boast into a lesson in trust.
Context
David had just been anointed king over all Israel. His first major act was to take Jerusalem, a fortress that had never been fully conquered by the tribes. The city sat on a ridge deep in Canaanite territory, and the Jebusites who lived there were confident. They had held it for centuries. When David and his men arrived, the defenders mocked him from the walls. They said that even their weakest inhabitants, the blind and the lame, could keep him out. It was a boast meant to cut deep. And it sets up one of the great turnarounds in Scripture: what they thought was unshakeable would soon become David's own city.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words stand at the heart of the Jebusites' taunt. 'Ivver means blind, and pisseach means lame. Both are plural nouns, describing people. The Jebusites were not making a theological point; they were pointing to actual weak individuals and saying, in effect, 'Even these can stop you.'
The verb behind 'take away' or 'turn aside' is sur, to cause something to depart or be removed. The Jebusites say, 'Unless you remove the blind and lame, you will not come in here.' The confidence is staggering. They are telling David that his whole army cannot get past a few disabled defenders.
And then the word bo, 'to come', appears twice. 'You will not come.' 'David cannot come.' The repetition drives home their mockery. But the story that follows shows that human confidence is no match for God's purpose. The same verb that the Jebusites used to shut the door becomes the word for David entering the city.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this taunt in different ways. Many commentators, like John Wesley and Albert Barnes, take it literally: the Jebusites put blind and lame people on the wall as a visible insult, showing that even the weakest could defend against David. Others, including John Gill, suggest the Jebusites may have placed idols on the walls, images that David and his men would have scornfully called 'blind and lame' because idols have eyes and see not, feet and walk not. Still others, like Matthew Henry, read it as a proverbial boast about the city's strength, not necessarily a reference to actual people.
Each reading tries to make sense of why the Jebusites chose those exact words. What all traditions agree on is the outcome: David took the stronghold, and the taunt became a proverb about what belongs inside God's house (verse 8). The mockers did not have the last word.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take this verse to mean that God or David considered disabled people worthless or cursed. In fact, the Jebusites used 'the blind and the lame' as a taunt against David, not as a statement about people with disabilities. David's response in verse 8 became a proverb against those who had mocked him, not a divine command about who may approach God. The Bible elsewhere shows God's care for the disabled (Leviticus 19:14, Luke 14:13). This verse is about human boasting, not divine rejection.
Living This Out
You may not be marching on a fortified city, but you know what mockery sounds like. Maybe someone has told you that your situation is impossible, that you'll never make it through a hard marriage, a financial hole, or a lonely season. The Jebusites were sure of their walls. But David didn't retreat. He found a way through the water shaft and took the city.
What looks like a locked door today might be the very place where God shows His strength. The obstacle that seems most secure is not beyond Him. You don't need to see the whole path. You just need to take one step toward what He has called you to, even when others laugh.
Main takeaway: No human boast can stand against the Lord's purpose; what looks like a fortress of opposition can become a place of victory when He goes before you.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When David came to fight for Jerusalem, the people who lived there made fun of him. They said even blind and lame people could keep him out. But God helped David win the city anyway. God is stronger than any bully.
For ages 9, 12
The Jebusites were very sure of themselves. They put weak people on the walls to mock David, thinking the city could never be taken. But David found a secret water tunnel and led his men up into the fortress. God gave him victory over those who laughed at him. When people laugh at you for trusting God, remember that He sees a way you don't. The thing they think is impossible might be exactly where He wants to show His power.
Questions People Ask
What did the Jebusites mean by 'the blind and the lame'?
They were taunting David, saying that even the weakest defenders could keep him out. It was a boast meant to humiliate him. The exact meaning is debated, some see it as literal disabled people on the wall, others as idols, and still others as a proverb about the city's strength.
Does this verse teach that disabled people are cursed or unwelcome?
No. The Jebusites used the phrase as an insult against David, not as a statement about disability. David's later saying about the blind and lame not entering the house (verse 8) was a proverb directed at those who had mocked him, not a divine command. Scripture elsewhere shows God's care for people with disabilities.
How did David actually capture Jerusalem?
David's men entered through a water tunnel, called 'the gutter' or watercourse, that led up into the fortress. They took the city by surprise rather than by breaking down the walls. This is described in 2 Samuel 5:8 and 1 Chronicles 11:6.
Why was Jerusalem so important to David?
Jerusalem was a neutral city on the border of Judah and Benjamin, making it a fitting capital for the united kingdom. It was also a strong natural fortress. Later, God chose it as the site for the temple, making it the center of worship for Israel.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study