1 Samuel 17:15

1 Samuel 17:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Beth–lehem.
• New International Version (NIV)but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

Context of 1 Samuel 17:15

13Jesse's three oldest sons had joined Saul's army to fight the war. They were Eliab, Jesse's oldest son, his second son, Abinadab, and his third son, Shammah. 14David was Jesse's youngest son. While Jesse's three oldest sons were in Saul's army, David would sometimes leave Saul and go back home to Bethlehem. He did that to take care of his father's sheep. 16For 40 days, Goliath would stand up and insult the Israelite army every morning and every evening. 17One day, Jesse said to his son David, ‘Take some food to your brothers in the army. Here is a large bag of grain that we have cooked, and ten loaves of bread. Take them quickly to the army camp.

1 Samuel 17:15 word by word

וְדָוִ֛ד הֹלֵ֥ךְ וָשָׁ֖ב מֵעַ֣ל שָׁא֑וּל לִרְע֛וֹת אֶת־צֹ֥אן אָבִ֖יו בֵּֽית־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• and returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• from Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• to feedרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
• his father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
• sheepצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• at Beth–lehemבֵּית לֶ֫חֶםbêyth lechem · BethlehemH1035

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:15

• 1 Samuel 16:11Samuel asked Jesse, ‘Are those all of your sons?’ Jesse answered, ‘I have one more son. He is the youngest. He is taking care of my sheep.’ Samuel said, ‘Send someone to bring him here. We cannot continue to offer the sacrifice until he arrives.’

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:15

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15David went … - “Was gone,” referring to 1 Samuel 16:19-20. Had he been Saul‘s armour-bearer at this time it is highly improbable that he would have left him to feed sheep.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-30Verses 12-30 Jesse little thought of sending his son to the army at that critical juncture; but the wise God orders actions and affairs, so as to serve his designs. In times of general formality and lukewarmness, every degree of zeal which implies readiness to go further, or to venture more in the cause of God than others, will be blamed as pride and ambition, and by none more than by near relations, like Eliab, or negligent superiors. It was a trial of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15went back and forth: He worked as a musician and armor bearer for Saul (see 1 Samuel 16:19–23) while also managing his responsibilities at home. This irregular service might explain why Saul did not recognize David during the encounter with Goliath (see 1 Samuel 17:55–58).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 17:15

• Armies
• Championship
• Jesse

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Arise
• Assay
• Carriage
• Cattle
• Cause
• Coat
• Elhanan

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17

• 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
• EGW Writings