2 Samuel 22:44-51
“Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.”
King James Version
David's victory song (parallel to Psalm 18) climaxes: 'thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me' — words Paul quotes (v.50 = Ps. 18:49) as prophecy of the Gentiles praising God in Christ (Rom. 15:9).
Fulfillment References
Psalm 18:43-50 Romans 15:9 Matthew 28:19
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalA people David never knew serves David's greater Son today — every Gentile congregation calling on the name of the Lord is this verse in motion.
JewishDavid's song celebrates his historical victories; the serving nations are his imperial vassals (Moab, Edom, Aram).
CatholicThe Church of the nations, singing praise 'unto thy name' (v.50), fulfills the king's song as Paul teaches.
ProtestantPaul's citation in Romans 15:9 makes this the Bible's own interpretation: David's words outrun David.
DispensationalPreliminary Gentile blessing now; the full submission of the nations to David's Seed comes with the kingdom.
Academic2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18 are twin recensions of one archaic royal hymn; v.51's 'his anointed… his seed for evermore' gave it a natural messianic afterlife.
Scholarship & Sources
The double transmission (2 Sam. 22 / Ps. 18) is a textbook case in OT scholarship (Cross & Freedman's early study); Paul's use of v.50 is treated in Moo (Romans, NICNT).
Open the full interactive entry →Cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.