2 Samuel 5:7
ESV
Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
NIV
Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.
NASB
Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
CSB
Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
NLT
But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.
KJV
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
NKJV
Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
What does 2 Samuel 5:7 mean?
This summarizes the battle for Jerusalem. The Jebusites, who have occupied the city of Jerusalem for many generations, have taunted David that he will never take their city (2 Samuel 5:6). David does exactly that. First Chronicles 11:6 says that he begins by challenging his men, saying, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander." Joab, his nephew and long-time general, takes the challenge.The revelation of David's victory is in the new name given to Jerusalem. Instead of being called "Jebus," as the home of the Jebusites, the stronghold will now be known as "the city of David." This is the first mention of the name "Zion" in the Bible, but it may have been another name for Jerusalem or the mountain it sits on before this moment. From this time forward, Zion will become known in Israel and throughout history and prophecy as God's holy city and the beautiful representation of His promises to His people.
David's decision to move to Jerusalem is smart for several reasons. He lives in Hebron, in central Judah, but Jerusalem is on the border of Judah, where he's from, and Benjamin, the tribe of Saul. He's not disrupting an established Israelite city; he's taking over a Gentile city that the Israelites were supposed to have conquered 400 years before. Although he nicknames it "City of David," he doesn't officially rename it after himself. He's a man of war. "Jerusalem" describes a place of peace, primarily with God.
Jerusalem is first mentioned as Salem, the city of King Melchizedek whom Abraham honored with tithes (Genesis 14:18–20). "Salem" means peace. "Jebus" describes a "threshing place," somewhere beaten down or even polluted. The Jebusites are mentioned in the Table of Nations under Noah's grandson Canaan (Genesis 10:16). The meaning of "Zion" is unclear. It may refer to a fortification or a dry and sunny place. "Jerusalem" means founded in peace.
In this era of David's reign, "Jerusalem" is just what modern people call "the Old City." It's an elongated walled area that stretches off the southwest corner of the temple mount.
