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;
• 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:
• New Living Translation (NLT)Some brave and experienced warriors from the tribe of Gad also defected to David while he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and as swift as deer on the mountains.

Context of 1 Chronicles 12:8

6Elkanah, Ishiah, 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 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. 9Ezer was the chief, 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 12:16Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold.
• 1 Chronicles 11:16At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
• 1 Samuel 23:14David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
• 1 Samuel 24:22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
• 2 Chronicles 25:5Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men fit for military service, able to handle the spear and shield.
• Jeremiah 46:9Charge, you horses! Drive furiously, you charioteers! March on, you warriors—men of Cush and Put who carry shields, men of Lydia who draw the bow.
• 1 Chronicles 11:22Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
• 2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan— in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
• 2 Samuel 17:10Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.
• 2 Samuel 23:20Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
• Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
• 2 Samuel 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle.
• Proverbs 6:5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare 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
• Eliab
• Gad (1)
• Games

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