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, who were Korahites, 7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor. Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills. 9Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the 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 12:16Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold.
• 1 Chronicles 11:16David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.
• 1 Samuel 23:14David stayed in the strongholds that were in the desert and in the hill country of the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him all the time, but God did not deliver David into his hand.
• 1 Samuel 24:22David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
• 2 Chronicles 25:5Amaziah assembled the people of Judah and assigned them by families to the commanders of units of a thousand and the commanders of units of a hundred for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted those twenty years old and up and discovered there were 300,000 young men of fighting age equipped with spears and shields.
• Jeremiah 46:9Go ahead and charge into battle, you horsemen! Drive furiously, you charioteers! Let the soldiers march out into battle, those from Ethiopia and Libya who carry shields, and those from Lydia who are armed with the bow.
• 1 Chronicles 11:22Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day.
• 2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
• 2 Samuel 17:10If that happens even the bravest soldier – one who is lion-hearted – will virtually melt away. For all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that those who are with him are brave.
• 2 Samuel 23:20Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day.
• Proverbs 28:1The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.
• 2 Samuel 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there – Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.)
• Proverbs 6:5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, and like a bird from the trap of the fowler.

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