Psalm 78:70
New International Version
He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;

New Living Translation
He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens.

English Standard Version
He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;

Berean Standard Bible
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;

King James Bible
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

New King James Version
He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;

New American Standard Bible
He also chose His servant David And took him from the sheepfolds;

NASB 1995
He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds;

NASB 1977
He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;

Legacy Standard Bible
He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds;

Amplified Bible
He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds;

Christian Standard Bible
He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;

American Standard Version
He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:

Contemporary English Version
The Lord God chose David to be his servant and took him from tending sheep

English Revised Version
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheep pens.

Good News Translation
He chose his servant David; he took him from the pastures,

International Standard Version
Then he chose his servant David, whom he took from the sheepfold.

Majority Standard Bible
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds;

NET Bible
He chose David, his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.

New Heart English Bible
He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;

Webster's Bible Translation
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheep-folds:

World English Bible
He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He fixes on His servant David, "" And takes him from the folds of a flock,

Young's Literal Translation
And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will choose in David his servant, and he will take him from the folds of sheep.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he chose his servant David, and took him from the hocks of sheep: he brought him from following the ewes great with young,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he chose his servant David, and he took him from the flocks of the sheep: he received him from following the ewes with their young,

New American Bible
He chose David his servant, took him from the sheepfolds.

New Revised Standard Version
He chose his servant David, and took him from the sheepfolds;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He has chosen David his Servant and led him from a flock of sheep
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He chose David also His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He chose David also his servant, and took him up from the flocks of sheep.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
69He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth He has established forever. 70He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; 71from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 16:11-13
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.” / 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.” / 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.

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.

1 Chronicles 17:7
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.

1 Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’

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.”

2 Samuel 5:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

1 Chronicles 11:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

1 Samuel 16:19
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

1 Samuel 17:15
but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 17:34-35
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.

2 Samuel 23:1
These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, the one anointed by the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:

1 Kings 8:16
‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

1 Chronicles 28:4
Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

Ezekiel 34:23
I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.


Treasury of Scripture

He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

chose

Psalm 89:19,20
Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people…

1 Samuel 16:11,12
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…

2 Samuel 3:18
Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

and took

Exodus 3:1,10
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb…

1 Samuel 17:15
But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

2 Samuel 7:8
Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

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Chose David Fixeth Flock Flocks Folds Pens Servant Sheep Sheepfolds Sheep-Folds
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Chose David Fixeth Flock Flocks Folds Pens Servant Sheep Sheepfolds Sheep-Folds
Psalm 78
1. An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God
9. The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient
67. The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David.














He chose
The phrase "He chose" signifies a divine selection, emphasizing God's sovereign will and purpose. In Hebrew, the word for "chose" is "בָּחַר" (bachar), which implies a deliberate and discerning choice. This choice is not random but is based on God's wisdom and plan. In the broader biblical narrative, God's choosing of individuals often precedes significant acts of leadership and deliverance, as seen with figures like Abraham and Moses. This highlights the theme of divine election, where God selects individuals for specific purposes to fulfill His covenantal promises.

David
David, whose name in Hebrew is "דָּוִד" (David), means "beloved." He is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his heart after God, his psalms, and his role as the second king of Israel. David's life is a testament to God's grace and redemption, as he rose from humble beginnings to become a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). His lineage is significant in the biblical narrative, as it leads to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, fulfilling the Davidic covenant.

His servant
The term "His servant" underscores David's role and identity in relation to God. In Hebrew, "עֶבֶד" (eved) is used, which denotes a servant or slave, but in a biblical context, it often implies a position of honor and responsibility. Being God's servant means being dedicated to His will and purposes. David's servanthood is characterized by his obedience, worship, and leadership, setting a model for believers to follow in their own service to God.

and took him
The phrase "and took him" indicates God's active intervention in David's life. The Hebrew word "לָקַח" (laqach) means to take or seize, suggesting a purposeful action by God to bring David from one place to another. This divine action reflects God's initiative in calling and equipping those He chooses for His work. It is a reminder that God often calls individuals from ordinary circumstances to extraordinary purposes.

from the sheepfolds
"From the sheepfolds" highlights David's humble beginnings as a shepherd. The Hebrew term "מִן־הַמִּכְלְאוֹת" (min-hamikle'ot) refers to the enclosures or pens where sheep are kept. This setting emphasizes David's initial role as a caretaker of sheep, a position that prepared him for his future leadership as king. Shepherding required qualities such as vigilance, courage, and care, which were essential for his later responsibilities. This imagery also foreshadows Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who cares for His flock with love and sacrifice. David's journey from the sheepfolds to the throne illustrates God's ability to elevate the humble and use them for His glory.

Verse 70. - He chose David also his servant (see 1 Samuel 16:1, 12). And took him from the sheepfolds (comp. 1 Samuel 16:11, 19; 2 Samuel 7:8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He chose
וַ֭יִּבְחַר (way·yiḇ·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 977: To try, select

David
בְּדָוִ֣ד (bə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

His servant
עַבְדּ֑וֹ (‘aḇ·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

and took him
וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ (way·yiq·qā·ḥê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

from the sheepfolds;
מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת (mim·miḵ·lə·’ōṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4356: An enclosure, fold


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OT Poetry: Psalm 78:70 He also chose David his servant (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 78:69
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