Bible/1 Chronicles/20

1 Chronicles 20:8

20:7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him. defied: or, reproached Shimea: called Shammah
These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

KJV

Save image

These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

What does 1 Chronicles 20:8 mean?

1 Chronicles 20:8 is a verse in the book of 1 Chronicles, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אֵל (ʼêl), יָלַד (yâlad), רָפָא (râphâʼ). It connects to 4 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Theseאֵלʼêl/ale/H411these or those
were
bornיָלַדyâlad/yaw-lad'/H3205to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
unto
the
giantרָפָאrâphâʼ/raw-faw'/H7497a giant
in
Gath;גַּתGath/gath/H1661Gath, a Philistine city
and
they
fellנָפַלnâphal/naw-fal'/H5307to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
by
the
handיָדyâd/yawd/H3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
of
David,דָּוִדDâvid/daw-veed'/H1732David, the youngest son of Jesse
and
by
the
handיָדyâd/yawd/H3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
of
his
servants.עֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/H5650a servant

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 20:8

HENRY_FULL · 1 Chronicles 20:4–8
4 And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued. 5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam. 6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant. 7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him. 8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. The Philistines were nearly subdued ( ch. xviii. 1 ); but, as in the destruction of the Canaanites by Joshua the sons of Anak were last subdued ( Josh. xi. 21 ), so here in the conquest of the Philistines the giants of Gath were last brought down. In the conflicts between grace and corruption there are some sins which, like these giants, keep their ground a great while and are not mastered without much difficulty and a long struggle: but judgment will be brought forth unto victory at last. Observe, 1. We never read of giants among the Israelites as we do of the giants among the Philistines-giants of Gath, but not giants of Jerusalem. The growth of God's plants is in usefulness, not in bulk. Those who covet to have cubits added to their stature do not consider that it will but make then more unwieldy. In the balance of the sanctuary David far outweighs Goliath. 2. The servants of David, though men of ordinary stature, were too hard for the giants of Gath in every encounter, because they had God on their side, who takes pleasure in abasing lofty looks, and mortifying the giants that are in the earth, as he did of old by the deluge, though they were men of renown. Never let the church's friends be disheartened by the power and pride of the church's enemies. We need not fear great men against us while we have the great God for us. What will a finger more on each hand do, or a toe more on each foot, in contest with Omnipotence? 3. These giants defied Israel ( v. 7 ) and were thus made to pay for their insolence. None are more visibly marked for ruin that those who reproach God and his Israel. God will do great things rather than suffer the enemy to behave themselves proudly, Deut. xxxii. 27 . The victories of the Son of David, like those of David himself, are gradual. We see not yet all things put under him; but it will be seen shortly: and death itself, the last enemy, like these giants, will be triumphed over.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Samuel 18:20

And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. pleased him: Heb. was right in his eyes

2 Samuel 3:36

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. pleased them: Heb. was good in their eyes

2 Chronicles 30:4

And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. pleased: Heb. was right in the eyes of the king

Esther 8:5

And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: devised: Heb. the device which he: or, who wrote

Topics

GathGoliathRapha

People & places in this verse

People

Places

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Chronicles 20:8.

1 Chronicles 20:6

And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant. great: Heb. a man of measure the son: Heb. born to the giants, or, Rapha

1 Samuel 17:23

And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

2 Samuel 21:20

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. the giant: or, Rapha

2 Samuel 21:22

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Genesis 24:10

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. for: or, and

Genesis 24:2

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Genesis 24:9

And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

Genesis 32:16

And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Chronicles 20:8 say?

1 Chronicles 20:8 (King James Version) reads: "These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants."

Is 1 Chronicles 20:8 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Chronicles 20:8 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Chronicles.

Reflect

As you read 1 Chronicles 20:8, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on 1 Chronicles 20:8
20:7Read all of 1 Chronicles 20