2 Samuel 5:20
New International Version
So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.

New Living Translation
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The LORD did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).

English Standard Version
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.

Berean Standard Bible
So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.

King James Bible
And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

New King James Version
So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

New American Standard Bible
Then David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.

NASB 1995
So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.

NASB 1977
So David came to Baal-perazim, and defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.

Legacy Standard Bible
So David came to Baal-perazim, and there David struck them down; and he said, “Yahweh has broken through my enemies before me, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.

Amplified Bible
So David came to Baal-perazim, and he defeated them there, and said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” So he named that place Baal-perazim (master of breakthroughs).

Christian Standard Bible
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” Therefore, he named that place The Lord Bursts Out.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” Therefore, he named that place the Lord Bursts Out.

American Standard Version
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

Contemporary English Version
David attacked the Philistines and defeated them. Then he said, "I watched the LORD break through my enemies like a mighty flood." So he named the place "The Lord Broke Through."

English Revised Version
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, The LORD hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, "The LORD has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood." That is why that place is called Baal Perazim [The Lord Overwhelms].

Good News Translation
So David went to Baal Perazim and there he defeated the Philistines. He said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies like a flood." And so that place is called Baal Perazim.

International Standard Version
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He called the place Baal-perazim, because he said, "Like a bursting flood, the LORD has jumped out in front of me to fight my enemies."

Majority Standard Bible
So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, ?Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.? So he called that place Baal-perazim.

NET Bible
So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, "The LORD has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out." So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

New Heart English Bible
So David came to Baal Perazim, and he defeated them there, and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of waters." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon my enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

World English Bible
David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. Then he said, “Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David comes to Ba‘al-Perazim, and David strikes them there, and says, “YHWH has broken forth [on] my enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters”; therefore he has called the name of that place Ba‘al-Perazim.

Young's Literal Translation
And David cometh in to Baal-Perazim, and David smiteth them there, and saith, 'Jehovah hath broken forth on mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters;' therefore he hath called the name of that place Baal-Perazim.

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will come against the Lord of Breaches, and David will strike them there, and he will say, Jehovah broke down mine enemies before me as the breach of waters: for this he called the name of that place, the Lord of the Breaches.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David came to Baal Pharisim: and defeated them there, and he said: The Lord hath divided my enemies before me, as waters are divided. Therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharisim.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, David went to Baal-perazim. And he struck them there. And he said, “The Lord has divided my enemies before me, just as the waters are divided.” Because of this, the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

New American Bible
So David went to Baal-perazim, and he defeated them there. He said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me just as water breaks through a dam.” Therefore that place was called Baal-perazim.

New Revised Standard Version
So David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. He said, “The LORD has burst forth against my enemies before me, like a bursting flood.” Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there, and David said, The LORD has made a breach through my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David came to Baal Partsim and he struck them there. And David said: “LORD JEHOVAH broke through his enemies before me like a breach of waters.” Because of this, he called the name of that country, Baal Partsim
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said: 'The LORD hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters.' Therefore the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David came from Upper Breaches, and smote the Philistines there: and David said, The Lord has destroyed the hostile Philistines before me, as water is dispersed; therefore the name of that place was called Over Breaches.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Two Victories over the Philistines
19So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 20So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim. 21There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 14:11
So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.

Isaiah 28:21
For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

1 Samuel 17:45-47
But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

Psalm 18:29
For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall.

Psalm 144:1
Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.

Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

Joshua 10:10-11
And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. / As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

Judges 7:22
And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

1 Samuel 7:10
As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

1 Samuel 14:23
So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.

2 Samuel 22:30
For in You I can charge an army; with my God I can scale a wall.

1 Chronicles 11:14
But Eleazar and David stationed themselves in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

Isaiah 59:19
So shall they fear the name of the LORD where the sun sets, and His glory where it rises. For He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD.

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?


Treasury of Scripture

And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD has broken forth on my enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

Baal-perazim.

Isaiah 28:21
For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

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Baal Baalperazim Baal-Perazim Ba'al-Pera'zim Breach Break Breakthrough Broken Bursting David Defeated Enemies Fighting Forces Forth Overcame Perazim Smote Struck Wall Waters
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Baal Baalperazim Baal-Perazim Ba'al-Pera'zim Breach Break Breakthrough Broken Bursting David Defeated Enemies Fighting Forces Forth Overcame Perazim Smote Struck Wall Waters
2 Samuel 5
1. The tribes come to Hebron and anoint David over Israel,
4. David's age
6. Taking Zion from the Jebusites, he dwells in it
11. Hiram sends to David,
13. Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem
17. David, directed by God, smites the Philistines at Baal-perazim
22. And again at the mulberry trees














So David went to Baal-perazim
The name "Baal-perazim" translates to "Lord of the Breakthroughs" in Hebrew. This location is significant as it marks a pivotal victory for David over the Philistines. The act of David going to Baal-perazim signifies his obedience and reliance on God's guidance. Historically, this site is believed to be near the Valley of Rephaim, a strategic location for military encounters. David's journey to this place underscores his role as a divinely appointed leader who seeks God's direction in battle.

and there he defeated them
The phrase highlights David's military success, which is attributed to divine intervention rather than mere human strategy. The Hebrew root for "defeated" conveys a sense of striking down or overcoming, emphasizing the completeness of the victory. This victory is not just a physical triumph but also a spiritual one, as it demonstrates God's power working through David. It serves as a reminder of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where God promises to fight for His people.

and said, 'As waters break out
This metaphor of waters breaking out is vivid and powerful, illustrating the unstoppable force of God's intervention. In the Hebrew context, water often symbolizes chaos and overwhelming power. Here, it signifies the sudden and decisive nature of God's action against the enemies. The imagery of water breaking through barriers reflects the idea that no obstacle can withstand God's will. It inspires believers to trust in God's ability to overcome any challenge they face.

the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me.'
The use of "LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenant name of God, highlighting His faithfulness and sovereignty. The phrase "broken out" suggests a divine eruption or breakthrough, indicating that the victory was not by David's might but by God's intervention. This acknowledgment of God's hand in the victory serves as a testament to David's humility and recognition of God's supremacy. It encourages believers to attribute their successes to God's providence and to remain humble in their achievements.

So he called that place Baal-perazim
Naming the place "Baal-perazim" serves as a memorial to God's deliverance and power. In ancient times, naming a location after a significant event was a way to commemorate God's acts and ensure that future generations would remember His deeds. This act of naming also reflects the importance of testimony in the life of faith, as it bears witness to God's faithfulness and encourages others to trust in Him. It reminds believers of the importance of remembering and recounting God's interventions in their lives.

(20) Baal ? perazim = possessor (or lord) of breaches. After David had inquired of the Lord and received a favourable answer (2Samuel 5:19), he made a sudden attack, like a bursting forth of waters, and carried all before him. The victory was so signal as to give a new name to the locality, and to be remembered centuries afterwards as a memorable instance of Divine aid (Isaiah 28:21). The name has no reference to the heathen deity Baal.

Verse 20. - Baal-Perazim; literally, possessor of breaches, that is, the place where the attack burst forth. It is called Mount Perazim, "the hill of breaches," in Psalm 28:21, and as we have seen, it was the rocky height on the north of the valley of Rephaim. David must, therefore, have stolen round the army of the Philistines, creeping, probably by night, up to this ridge of Ben-Hinnom, and thence at the dawn of day have rushed down upon the camp. And his onset was sudden and irresistible, like the rush of the waters of some mountain lake when, swollen with rains, it bursts through the opposing dam, and carries hasty destruction to everything that lies in its way.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So David
דָוִ֥ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

went
וַיָּבֹ֨א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to Baal-perazim,
פְּרָצִים֮ (pə·rā·ṣîm)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1188: Baal-perazim -- 'possessor of breaches', a place in Palestine

where he defeated [the Philistines]
וַיַּכֵּ֣ם (way·yak·kêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

and said,
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Like a bursting
כְּפֶ֣רֶץ (kə·p̄e·reṣ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6556: A bursting forth, breach

flood,
מָ֑יִם (mā·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

the LORD
יְהוָ֧ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has burst out
פָּרַ֨ץ (pā·raṣ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6555: To break through

against my enemies
אֹיְבַ֛י (’ō·yə·ḇay)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

before me.”
לְפָנַ֖י (lə·p̄ā·nay)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

So
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

he called
קָרָ֛א (qā·rā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

that
הַה֖וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

place
הַמָּק֥וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

Baal-perazim.
פְּרָצִֽים׃ (pə·rā·ṣîm)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1188: Baal-perazim -- 'possessor of breaches', a place in Palestine


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OT History: 2 Samuel 5:20 David came to Baal Perazim and David (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
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