1 Samuel 17:29
New International Version
“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”

New Living Translation
“What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”

English Standard Version
And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?”

Berean Standard Bible
“What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?”

King James Bible
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

New King James Version
And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”

New American Standard Bible
But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?”

NASB 1995
But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?”

NASB 1977
But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a question?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a word?”

Amplified Bible
But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a [harmless] question?”

Christian Standard Bible
“What have I done now? ” protested David. “It was just a question.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.”

American Standard Version
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And David said: “What have I done now? Behold, this is a speech!”

Contemporary English Version
"Now what have I done?" David answered. "Can't I even ask a question?"

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said: What have I done? is there not cause to speak?

English Revised Version
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"What have I done now?" David snapped at him. "Didn't I [merely] ask a question?"

Good News Translation
"Now what have I done?" David asked. "Can't I even ask a question?"

International Standard Version
"What have I done now?" David asked. "It was just a question, wasn't it?"

JPS Tanakh 1917
And David said: 'What have I now done? Was it not but a word?'

Literal Standard Version
And David says, “What have I done now? Is it not a word?”

Majority Standard Bible
“What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?”

New American Bible
David protested, “What have I done now? I was only talking.”

NET Bible
David replied, "What have I done now? Can't I say anything?"

New Revised Standard Version
David said, “What have I done now? It was only a question.”

New Heart English Bible
David said, "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

World English Bible
David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith, 'What have I done now? is it not a word?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Accepts the Challenge
28Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!” 29“What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?” 30Then he turned from him toward another and asked about the offer, and those people answered him just as the first ones had answered.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:28
Now when David's oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. "Why have you come down here?" he asked. "And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart--you have come down to see the battle!"

1 Samuel 17:30
Then he turned from him toward another and asked about the offer, and those people answered him just as the first ones had answered.


Treasury of Scripture

And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Acts 11:2-4
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, …

1 Corinthians 2:15
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Jump to Previous
Cause David Laid Question Speak Word
Jump to Next
Cause David Laid Question Speak Word
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














(29) Is there not a cause?--David answers his jealous and over-bearing elder brother with all gentleness and forbearance, but he does not cease to make his inquiries of the soldiers respecting the giant, nor does he refrain from loudly expressing his astonishment at such a public insult to the God of Israel being allowed to continue for so many days. The Hebrew here would be more literally rendered, "Is it not a word," or "It was only a word," thus deprecating his elder brother's anger. "What have I done? It was but a mere word. I was only speaking with holy anger about this impious challenge of the Philistine; nothing more." The ancient versions thus understand this clause.

If we render as the Authorised Version, then the sense is quite clear. "You seem bitterly displeased with my zeal in this matter, but surely, is there not a good cause for my passionate emotion here--such an insult to our God?"



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“What
מֶ֥ה (meh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have I done
עָשִׂ֖יתִי (‘ā·śî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

now?”
עָ֑תָּה (‘āt·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

David.
דָּוִ֔ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

“Was it not
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

just a question?”
דָּבָ֥ר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


Links
1 Samuel 17:29 NIV
1 Samuel 17:29 NLT
1 Samuel 17:29 ESV
1 Samuel 17:29 NASB
1 Samuel 17:29 KJV

1 Samuel 17:29 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 17:29 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 17:29 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 17:29 French Bible
1 Samuel 17:29 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 17:29 David said What have I now done? (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:28
Top of Page
Top of Page