1 Chronicles 12:8

1 Chronicles 12:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;
• New International Version (NIV)Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.
• English Standard Version (ESV)From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains:
• New King James Version (NKJV)Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

Context of 1 Chronicles 12:8

6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor. Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were valiant warriors, trained for battle, expert with shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains. 9Ezer was the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth,

1 Chronicles 12:8 word by word

וּמִן־הַגָּדִ֡י נִבְדְּל֣וּ אֶל־דָּוִיד֩ לַמְצַ֨ד מִדְבָּ֜רָה גִּבֹּרֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל אַנְשֵׁ֤י צָבָא֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עֹרְכֵ֥י צִנָּ֖ה וָרֹ֑מַח וּפְנֵ֤י אַרְיֵה֙ פְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וְכִצְבָאיִ֥ם עַל־הֶהָרִ֖ים לְמַהֵֽר׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And of the Gaditesגָּדִיgâdîy · GadH1425
• there separatedבָּדַלbâdal · to separateH914
• themselves unto Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• into the holdמְצָדmetsad metsâd metsâdâh · strongholdH4679
• to the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
• menגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• of mightחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
• menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of warצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · army: warH6635
• for the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• that could handleעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
• shieldצִנָּהtsinnâh · shieldH6793
• and bucklerרֹ֫מַחrômach · spearH7420
• whose facesפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• of lionsאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
• as swiftמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• as the roesצְבִיtsebîy · gazelleH6643
• upon the mountainsהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022

Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 12:8

• 1 Chronicles 12:16Other Benjaminites and men from Judah also went to David at the stronghold.
• 1 Chronicles 11:16At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
• 1 Samuel 23:14David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.
• 1 Samuel 24:22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
• 2 Chronicles 25:5Then Amaziah gathered Judah and assembled them according to ancestral families, according to commanders of thousands, and according to commanders of hundreds. He numbered those twenty years old or more for all Judah and Benjamin. He found there to be three hundred thousand fit young men who could serve in the army, bearing spear and shield.
• Jeremiah 46:9Rise up, you cavalry! Race furiously, you chariots! Let the warriors march out — Cush and Put, who are able to handle shields, and the men of Lud, who are able to handle and string the bow.
• 1 Chronicles 11:22Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
• 2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful, they were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
• 2 Samuel 17:10Then, even a brave man with the heart of a lion will lose heart because all Israel knows that your father and the valiant men with him are warriors.
• 2 Samuel 23:20Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
• Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
• 2 Samuel 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was a fast runner, like one of the wild gazelles.
• Proverbs 6:5Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a hunter’s trap.

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 12:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8And were as swift as the roes - That swiftness was considered to be a grand accomplishment in a warrior, appears from all ancient writings which treat of military affairs.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Into the hold to the wilderness - Rather, “into the hold toward the wilderness.” Some understand by this Ziklag, some En-gedi 1 Samuel 24:1-2; but it seems most probable that here and in 1 Chronicles 12:16 the stronghold of Adullam is intended 1 Chronicles 11:15-16.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22Support for making David king started before Saul's death. When Saul was king and David was on the run, warriors joined David, forming a large group from various tribes across Israel. Even Saul's relatives left him to support David as king (1 Chronicles 12:2). David wisely assessed these deserters (1 Chronicles 12:17) to ensure they were not spies for Saul. Before David was officially anointed at Hebron, the people's wishes aligned with God's will for…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-138-13. of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David--that is, from the service of Saul and from the rest of the Gadites who remained steadfast adherents of his cause. into the hold--or fortress, that is, of Ziklag, which was in the wilderness of Judah. whose faces were like the faces of lions, &c.--A fierce, lion-like countenance (2Sa 1:23), and great agility in pursuit (2Sa 2:18), were qualities of the highest estimation in ancient warfare.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Chronicles 12:8

• David
• Deer
• Gad

In the dictionaries

• David
• Buckler
• Chronicles, Books of
• Close
• Gad
• Roe
• Shield
• Chronicles, Books of
• Deer
• Eliab

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary