New English Translation
1 Samuel 17:29
29David replied, “What have I done now? Can’t I say anything?”
1 Samuel 17:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
- New International Version (NIV)“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”
Context of 1 Samuel 17:29
27The soldiers told him what had been promised, saying, “This is what will be done for the man who can strike him down.” 28When David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, he became angry with David and said, “Why have you come down here? To whom did you entrust those few sheep in the desert? I am familiar with your pride and deceit! You have come down here to watch the battle!” David replied, “What have I done now? Can’t I say anything?” 30Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question, but they gave him the same answer as before. 31When David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him.
Read all of 1 Samuel 171 Samuel 17:29 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתִי עָ֑תָּה הֲל֖וֹא דָּבָ֥ר הֽוּא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:29
- Proverbs 15:1A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
- Acts 11:2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him,
- 1 Corinthians 2:15The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.
- 1 Peter 3:9Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Is there not a cause? - הוא דבר הלוא halo dabar hu . I believe the meaning is what several of the versions express: I have spoken but a word. And should a man be made an offender for a word?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29Is there not a cause? - i. e., is not Saul‘s promise, and the insolence of Goliath, a sufficent cause for what I am about to do?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
Topics related to 1 Samuel 17:29
In the dictionaries
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
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