1 Samuel 17:14
New International Version
David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul,

New Living Translation
David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army,

English Standard Version
David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,

Berean Standard Bible
And David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

King James Bible
And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

New King James Version
David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul.

New American Standard Bible
So David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

NASB 1995
David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

NASB 1977
And David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

Legacy Standard Bible
But David was the youngest. Now the three oldest had gone after Saul,

Amplified Bible
David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,

Christian Standard Bible
and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

American Standard Version
And David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.

English Revised Version
And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and David was the youngest. The three oldest joined Saul's army.

Good News Translation
David was the youngest son, and while the three oldest brothers stayed with Saul,

International Standard Version
David was the youngest, while the three oldest had followed Saul.

Majority Standard Bible
And David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,

NET Bible
Now David was the youngest. While the three oldest sons followed Saul,

New Heart English Bible
David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.

Webster's Bible Translation
And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

World English Bible
David was the youngest; and the three oldest followed Saul.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David is the youngest, and the three eldest have gone after Saul,

Young's Literal Translation
And David is the youngest, and the three eldest have gone after Saul,

Smith's Literal Translation
And David, he the small; and the three great ones went after Saul.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But David was the youngest. So the three eldest having followed Saul,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But David was the youngest. Therefore, when the three eldest had followed Saul,

New American Bible
David was the youngest. While the three oldest had joined Saul,

New Revised Standard Version
David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David was the youngest;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David was younger
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.--

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Accepts the Challenge
13The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. 14And David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul, 15but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.…

Cross References
Genesis 37:3-4
Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. / When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

1 Samuel 16:11
And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

1 Chronicles 2:13-15
Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third, / Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth, / Ozem sixth, and David seventh.

Psalm 78:70-72
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; / from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance. / So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.

1 Samuel 16:1
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

1 Samuel 16:12
So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

1 Samuel 16:13
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 18:1-2
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. / And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

1 Samuel 18:5
So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

1 Samuel 18:14
and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

1 Samuel 18:17
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

1 Samuel 18:20-21
Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. / “I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

1 Samuel 18:28-29
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, / he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

2 Samuel 7:8
Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.

Matthew 1:6
and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,


Treasury of Scripture

And David was the youngest: and the three oldest followed Saul.

the youngest

1 Samuel 16:11
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Genesis 25:23
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

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Army David Eldest Oldest Saul Saul's Three Youngest
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Army David Eldest Oldest Saul Saul's Three Youngest
1 Samuel 17
1. The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle
4. Goliath challenges a combat
12. David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge
28. Eliab chides him
30. He is brought to Saul
32. shows the reason of his confidence
38. and slays the giant
55. Saul takes notice of David














And David was the youngest
The Hebrew word for "youngest" is "קָטָן" (qatan), which can mean small, insignificant, or least in terms of age or status. In the context of David's life, this phrase highlights the theme of God choosing the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes. David, though the youngest and least likely in human eyes, was chosen by God to be king. This reflects a recurring biblical theme where God often selects the humble and lowly to fulfill His divine plans, as seen with other figures like Joseph and Gideon. It serves as a reminder that God's criteria for selection are not based on human standards but on His sovereign will and purpose.

The three oldest had followed Saul
The phrase "had followed Saul" indicates a commitment and allegiance to the king, which was a significant duty and honor in ancient Israel. The Hebrew root for "followed" is "הָלַךְ" (halak), meaning to walk or go after. This implies that David's older brothers were part of Saul's army, engaged in the ongoing conflict with the Philistines. Historically, serving in the king's army was a prestigious role, often reserved for those of age and stature. This context sets the stage for David's later actions, contrasting the conventional expectations of military service with David's unexpected rise to prominence. It underscores the biblical narrative that God often works through unexpected means and individuals to achieve His purposes, challenging societal norms and expectations.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And David
וְדָוִ֖ד (wə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

was the youngest.
הַקָּטָ֑ן (haq·qā·ṭān)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

The three
וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (ū·šə·lō·šāh)
Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

oldest
הַגְּדֹלִ֔ים (hag·gə·ḏō·lîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

had followed
הָלְכ֖וּ (hā·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

Saul,
שָׁאֽוּל׃ (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites


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OT History: 1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:13
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