Then David became angryDavid's anger reflects a complex emotional response to the death of Uzzah. This reaction can be understood in the context of his deep desire to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. His anger may have been directed at himself for not following the prescribed method of transporting the Ark, at Uzzah for touching the Ark, or even at God for the severity of the punishment. This moment highlights the tension between human emotion and divine holiness.
because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah.
The phrase "burst forth" indicates a sudden and powerful action by God, reminiscent of the earlier event at Baal-perazim (2 Samuel 5:20), where God "burst through" David's enemies. Uzzah's death serves as a stark reminder of the holiness of God and the importance of adhering to His commands, particularly regarding the sacredness of the Ark. The Ark was to be carried by Levites using poles, as outlined inNumbers 4:15, and not on a cart, which was the method used by the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:7-8).
So he named that place Perez-uzzah,
The naming of the place Perez-uzzah, meaning "outburst against Uzzah," serves as a memorial to the event. Naming places after significant events was a common practice in biblical times, serving both as a reminder of God's actions and as a teaching tool for future generations. This act of naming underscores the importance of remembering and learning from past events.
as it is called to this day.
The phrase "as it is called to this day" suggests that the account was written or compiled at a time when the name was still in use, indicating the lasting impact of the event on the collective memory of Israel. This enduring name serves as a testament to the seriousness with which God views His holiness and the obedience of His people. It also reflects the historical reliability of the biblical narrative, as such place names often provide geographical and archaeological insights into the biblical world.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
DavidThe King of Israel, a man after God's own heart, who is leading the procession to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
2.
UzzahA man who touched the Ark of the Covenant to steady it and was struck down by God for his irreverence.
3.
The LORDThe God of Israel, who enacts judgment upon Uzzah for his actions.
4.
Perez-uzzahThe place named by David, meaning "outburst against Uzzah," marking the event where God struck Uzzah.
5.
The Ark of the CovenantThe sacred chest representing God's presence, being transported to Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
Reverence for God's HolinessThe incident with Uzzah underscores the importance of approaching God with reverence and respect for His holiness. It serves as a reminder that God's instructions are to be followed precisely.
Obedience to God's CommandsThe event highlights the necessity of adhering to God's commands, as outlined in Scripture. Disobedience, even with good intentions, can lead to severe consequences.
Understanding God's JusticeDavid's anger and fear reflect a human response to divine justice. This passage invites believers to grapple with the nature of God's justice and the importance of aligning our understanding with His character.
The Role of LeadershipAs a leader, David's reaction and subsequent actions demonstrate the responsibility of leaders to ensure that God's commands are followed and to respond appropriately to God's discipline.
Naming and RememberingNaming the place Perez-uzzah serves as a memorial of God's actions. It is important for believers to remember and learn from past events to grow in their faith and understanding.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 6:8?
2.Why was David angry with the LORD in 2 Samuel 6:8?
3.How can we reconcile God's holiness with His actions in 2 Samuel 6:8?
4.What lessons about reverence for God can we learn from 2 Samuel 6:8?
5.How does 2 Samuel 6:8 connect with God's holiness in Leviticus 10:1-3?
6.How should we respond when God's actions challenge our understanding, like David's reaction?
7.Why was David angry in 2 Samuel 6:8 after Uzzah's death?
8.How does 2 Samuel 6:8 reflect God's holiness and justice?
9.What does Uzzah's punishment in 2 Samuel 6:8 teach about obedience to God's commands?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 6?
11.Who is Uzzah in biblical history?
12.Why does God kill Uzzah instantly for touching the Ark to prevent it from falling (2 Samuel 6:7)?
13.2 Samuel 6:7 – Why would an all-knowing God strike Uzzah dead for physically stabilizing the Ark when his intention seemed good?
14.Why does 1 Chronicles 18:12 credit Abishai with killing 18,000 Edomites, while 2 Samuel 8:13 attributes the same victory to David?What Does 2 Samuel 6:8 Mean
Then David became angry• The passage follows the sudden death of Uzzah for touching the Ark while it was being moved on a cart (2 Samuel 6:6–7).
• David’s reaction shows the tension between zeal for God and the shock of divine judgment. Similar emotional struggles appear inJonah 4:1 andPsalm 73:21–22.
• His anger likely stems from
– grief over losing a loyal servant,
– fear of God’s holiness (Proverbs 9:10),
– frustration with himself for neglecting God’s clear instructions on transporting the Ark (Numbers 4:15;1 Chronicles 15:13).
because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah• “Burst forth” recalls the earlier victory named Baal-Perazim when God “burst out” against the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:20). The same power now judges Israel’s careless worship.
• The Ark symbolizes God’s throne (Exodus 25:22). Touching it was explicitly forbidden; only the Levites were to carry it on poles (Exodus 25:14–15).
• Uzzah’s good intention could not override God’s holiness (Leviticus 10:1–3;Hebrews 12:28–29).
• The event underlines that sincerity never excuses disobedience when God has spoken plainly.
So he named that place Perez-uzzah• “Perez” means a breaking-out; “Perez-uzzah” memorializes the exact nature of God’s act.
• Naming places after divine acts was common: seeGenesis 22:14 (Jehovah-Jireh) and1 Samuel 7:12 (Ebenezer).
• Every future traveler who heard the name would be reminded that God guards His holiness.
as it is called to this day• This note shows that, at the time of writing, the name remained in living memory, underscoring the historic reliability of the account (Joshua 4:9;Judges 1:26).
• It also tells modern readers that God’s standards have not shifted with time (Malachi 3:6;James 1:17).
summaryDavid’s anger exposes the human struggle to reconcile God’s mercy with His holiness. The Lord’s “bursting forth” against Uzzah demonstrates that no amount of good intention cancels God’s clear commands. Naming the site Perez-uzzah turns a tragic moment into a lasting warning: approach the Holy One on His terms, not ours.
(8)
Was displeased.--More exactly,
was angry.The cause of his vexation was the Divine judgment upon Uzzah; yet it does not follow that he was angry with God, but rather was simply vexed and disturbed at this most untoward interruption of his plans.
Made a breach.--Comp.Exodus 19:22, where the same word is used of a sudden Divine visitation upon irreverence. The phrase "to this day" is extremely indefinite, and might have been used either ten years or centuries after the event.
Verse 8. -
David was displeased; Hebrew,
David was angry. Neither David nor his people had intended any disrespect, and so severe a punishment for what was at most a thoughtless act seemed to him unjust. Uzzah's death was probably caused by apoplexy, and the sudden effort of stretching forth his hand and seizing the ark had been its immediate cause. So tragic an event spoiled the happiness of the day, filled all present with disappointment, made them break off in haste from the grand ceremonial, and placed David before his subjects in the position of a malefactor. He had prepared a great religious festival, and Jehovah had broken in upon them as an enemy. In his first burst of displeasure he called the place Perez-Uzzah, the word "Perez," or "Breach," conveying to the Hebrews the idea of a great calamity (
Judges 21:15) or of a sudden attack upon a foe (
2 Samuel 5:20). The historian adds that the place bore this name unto his day; but we cannot tell whether these are the words of the original compiler of the Book of Samuel, or, as is more probably the case, those of some subsequent editor or scribe. Many such remarks are supposed to have been inserted by Ezra and the men of the great synagogue.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Then Davidלְדָוִ֔ד(lə·ḏā·wiḏ)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jessebecame angryוַיִּ֣חַר(way·yi·ḥar)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734:To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousybecauseעַל֩(‘al)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe LORDיְהוָ֛ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelhad burst forthפָּרַ֧ץ(pā·raṣ)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6555:To break throughagainst Uzzah;בְּעֻזָּ֑ה(bə·‘uz·zāh)Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5798:Uzza -- four Israelitesso he namedוַיִּקְרָ֞א(way·yiq·rā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, readthatהַהוּא֙(ha·hū)Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, areplaceלַמָּק֤וֹם(lam·mā·qō·wm)Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725:A standing, a spot, a conditionPerez-uzzah,עֻזָּ֔ה(‘uz·zāh)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6560:Perez-uzza -- a place near Jerusalemas it is [called] toעַ֖ד(‘aḏ)Preposition
Strong's 5704:As far as, even to, up to, until, whilethisהַזֶּֽה׃(haz·zeh)Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatday.הַיּ֥וֹם(hay·yō·wm)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117:A day
Links
2 Samuel 6:8 NIV2 Samuel 6:8 NLT2 Samuel 6:8 ESV2 Samuel 6:8 NASB2 Samuel 6:8 KJV
2 Samuel 6:8 BibleApps.com2 Samuel 6:8 Biblia Paralela2 Samuel 6:8 Chinese Bible2 Samuel 6:8 French Bible2 Samuel 6:8 Catholic Bible
OT History: 2 Samuel 6:8 David was displeased because Yahweh had broken (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) 
