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. They belonged to Korah's clan. 7Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor town. Many soldiers from Gad's tribe joined David's army at his strong place in the desert. These men were brave soldiers who knew how to fight well. They could use shields and spears. They could fight like lions. They could run as fast as deer on the mountains. 9Ezer was their leader. After him there were: Obadiah (2), Eliab (3), 10Mishmannah (4), Jeremiah (5),

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 12:16Some other men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah also came to David in his strong place.
• 1 Chronicles 11:16David was in his strong safe place. A group of Philistine soldiers had made their home in Bethlehem.
• 1 Samuel 23:14David stayed in places where he would be safe. They were in the desert, and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul always tried to find David. But God did not let Saul catch David.
• 1 Samuel 24:22So David made a strong promise to Saul. Then Saul returned to his home. But David and his men went back to the place where they had been hiding.
• 2 Chronicles 25:5Then Amaziah brought all the people of Judah together. For each of their clans he chose officers to lead groups of 1,000 men and groups of 100 men. He did that for the clans of Judah's tribe and the clans of Benjamin's tribe. He counted all the men who were 20 years old or older who could fight with spears and shields. There were 300,000 of them.
• Jeremiah 46:9So ride your horses quickly into the battle! Drive your chariots as fast as they will go! Tell your soldiers to march forward into the battle. Send your soldiers of Ethiopia and Libya who carry shields. Send your soldiers of Lydia who have bows and arrows.
• 1 Chronicles 11:22Jehoiada's son, Benaiah, was also one of David's brave soldiers. He came from Kabzeel and he did many great things. He killed two of Moab's best soldiers. He also went down into a deep hole to kill a lion when snow was on the ground.
• 2 Samuel 1:23People loved Saul and Jonathan as great people while they lived. They were still together when they died. They moved faster than eagles They were stronger than lions.
• 2 Samuel 17:10Then your bravest soldiers will be very frightened, even if they are as brave as lions. Everyone in Israel knows that your father is a fighter. And they know that the men with him are brave.
• 2 Samuel 23:20Jehoiada's son, Benaiah, was also one of David's brave soldiers. He came from Kabzeel and he did many great things. He killed two of Moab's best soldiers. He also went down into a deep hole to kill a lion when snow was on the ground.
• Proverbs 28:1A wicked person runs away even when nobody is chasing him. But a righteous person is as brave as a lion.
• 2 Samuel 2:18Zeruiah's three sons were there. They were Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a wild deer.
• Proverbs 6:5You must make yourself free from the trap. Escape quickly, like a bird or a deer that runs away from a hunter.

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