1 Chronicles 12:8
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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:

Berean Standard Bible
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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 American Standard Bible
From the Gadites valiant mighty men went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war who could handle a large shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.

NASB 1995
From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.

NASB 1977
And from the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.

Legacy Standard Bible
From the Gadites, mighty men of valor separated themselves to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men of war who had gone out for military duty, who could handle large shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.

Amplified Bible
Courageous men from the Gadites came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains.

Christian Standard Bible
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were valiant warriors, trained for battle, expert with shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were fighting men, trained for battle, expert with shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.

American Standard Version
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And men, mighty men of power and strong in stature, and valiant men from the tribe of the house of Gad, were gathered to David to go out with him for battle to Matsruth that is in the wilderness, wielders of swords and shields; their appearances were as the appearance of lions and whenever they fought on the Mountain of Herbs for him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And from Gad these separated themselves to David from the wilderness, strong mighty men of war, bearing shields and spears, and their faces were as the face of a lion, and they were nimble as roes upon the mountains in speed.

Contemporary English Version
Men from the tribe of Gad also joined David at his fortress in the desert and served as his warriors. They were also brave soldiers--fierce as lions and quick as gazelles. They were always prepared to fight with shields and spears.

Douay-Rheims Bible
From Gaddi also there went over to David, when he lay hid in the wilderness most valiant men, and excellent warriors, holding shield and spear: whose faces were like the faces of a lion, and they were swift like the roebucks on the mountains.

English Revised Version
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David to the hold in the wilderness, mighty men of valour, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some men left Gad to join David at the fortified camp in the desert. They were warriors, trained soldiers, able to fight with shields and spears. They looked like lions and were as fast as gazelles on the hills.

Good News Translation
These are the names of the famous, experienced soldiers from the tribe of Gad who joined David's troops when he was at the desert fort. They were experts with shields and spears, as fierce looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer.

International Standard Version
Mighty and experienced warriors from the descendants of Gad joined David at his wilderness stronghold. They were expert handlers of both shield and spear, with hardened looks and as agile as a gazelle on a mountain slope.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valour, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;

Literal Standard Version
And of the Gadite there have been separated to David, to the fortress, to the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men of the host for battle, setting in array buckler and spear, and their faces [are as] the face of the lion, and as roes on the mountains for speed:

Majority Standard Bible
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

New American Bible
Some of the Gadites also went over to David when he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were valiant warriors, experienced soldiers equipped with shield and spear, fearsome as lions, swift as gazelles on the mountains.

NET Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
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 on the mountains:

New Heart English Bible
Of the Gadites there separated themselves to David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains;

Webster's Bible Translation
And of the Gadites there separated themselves to David in the hold in 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;

World English Bible
Some Gadites joined David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains:

Young's Literal Translation
And of the Gadite there have been separated unto David, to the fortress, to the wilderness, mighty of valour, men of the host for battle, setting in array target and buckler, and their faces the face of the lion, and as roes on the mountains for speed:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Mighty Men Join David at Ziklag
7and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor. 8Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains: 9Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,…

Cross References
2 Samuel 2:18
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,

1 Chronicles 12:7
and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

1 Chronicles 12:9
Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,


Treasury of Scripture

And of the Gadites there separated themselves to 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 on the mountains;

into the hold

1 Chronicles 12:16
And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.

1 Chronicles 11:16
And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 23:14,29
And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand…

of war [heb] of the host

2 Chronicles 25:5
Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

Jeremiah 46:9
Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

whose faces

1 Chronicles 11:22
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.

2 Samuel 1:23
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

2 Samuel 17:10
And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

2 Samuel 2:18
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

Proverbs 6:5
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Song of Solomon 8:14
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

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Battle Buckler David Faces Fit Gadites Handle Hold Lions Mighty Mountains Roes Separated Shield Spear Stronghold Swift Themselves Trained Valor Valour War Wilderness
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Battle Buckler David Faces Fit Gadites Handle Hold Lions Mighty Mountains Roes Separated Shield Spear Stronghold Swift Themselves Trained Valor Valour War Wilderness
1 Chronicles 12
1. The companies that came to David at Ziklag
23. The armies that came to him at Hebron














(8-18) A. list of Gadites, and an account of a band of Judaeans and Benjammites who joined David in the stronghold (1Chronicles 11:14) towards the desert of Judah.

(8) Separated themselves from the royalists of Gad, who clung to Saul.

Into the hold to (towards) the wilderness.--Perhaps the cave of Adullam (1Samuel 22:1; 1Samuel 22:4), or one of David's other haunts, the wooded Mount of Hachilah (1Samuel 23:19), or the crag of Maon, or the rocks of En-gedi (1Samuel 23:25; 1Samuel 23:29). "Caves and holds" are mentioned together as refuges (Judges 6:2). In the earlier period of his outlawry, David found refuge in the natural fastnesses of Judaea. . . .

Verse 8. - As ver. 1 is introduced by the description of those who came together "to David to Ziklag" at a certain time, so it seems evident that this verse introduces the mention of certain others who befriended David at another time, by coming to him into the hold to the wilderness. These others were Gadites in part, and the hold none more likely than that of Adullam (ver. 16 of last chapter), although the word here employed (לַמְצַד) for "hold" is a different form of the word (מְצוּדָה) found both there and in the parallel (2 Samuel 23:14). There is, however, nothing to negative the choice of other spots and occasions (1 Samuel 22:5; 1 Samuel 23:14, 19, 24, 29, Authorized Version; 1 Samuel 24:1, Authorized Version). This graphic description of the military and indeed native qualities of these Gadites, is in harmony with many other glimpses we get of them and their character (1 Chronicles 5:19-22; 2 Samuel 1:23; 2 Samuel 2:18).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Some
וּמִן־ (ū·min-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Gadites
הַגָּדִ֡י (hag·gā·ḏî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1425: Gadites -- descendants of Gad

defected
נִבְדְּל֣וּ (niḇ·də·lū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 914: To be divided, separate

to David
דָּוִיד֩ (dā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

at his stronghold
לַמְצַ֨ד (lam·ṣaḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4679: Fastness, a stronghold

in the desert.
מִדְבָּ֜רָה (miḏ·bā·rāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

They were mighty warriors,
גִּבֹּרֵ֣י (gib·bō·rê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrant

trained for battle,
לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (lam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

experts
עֹרְכֵ֥י (‘ō·rə·ḵê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order

with shield
צִנָּ֖ה (ṣin·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6793: A hook, a, shield, cold

and spear,
וָרֹ֑מַח (wā·rō·maḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7420: A lance, the iron point

whose faces [were like]
פְּנֵיהֶ֔ם (pə·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

the faces
וּפְנֵ֤י (ū·p̄ə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of lions
אַרְיֵה֙ (’ar·yêh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 743: Aridatha -- a son of Haman

and who were as swift
לְמַהֵֽר׃ (lə·ma·hêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

as gazelles
וְכִצְבָאיִ֥ם (wə·ḵiṣ·ḇā·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6643: Splendor, a gazelle

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

the mountains:
הֶהָרִ֖ים (he·hā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 12:8 Of the Gadites there separated themselves (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 12:7
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