Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Good News Translation

1 Chronicles 12:8

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Deer;   Gad;   Thompson Chain Reference - Animals;   Deer;   Shields;   Warriors;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gad, the Tribe of;   Mountains;   Roe, the;   Shields;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Gad;   Roe and Roebuck;   War;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Buckler;   Chronicles, Books of;   David;   Gad;   Roe;   Shield;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   Eliel;   Elzabad;   Footman;   Gad (1);   Lion;   Machbanai;   Naphtali;   Obadiah;   Roe;   War;   Ziklag;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Arms and Armor;   Obadiah;   Tribes of Israel, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Gad;   Gazelle;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Gad;   Ziklag ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Gad;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Armor;   Arms;   David;   Gad (2);   Ziklag;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Arms, Armor;   E'zer;   Roe, Roebuck;   War;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Lion;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - War;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Deer;   Eliab;   Gad (1);   Games;   Gazelle;   Lion;   Roe;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Gad;   Shield;  

Parallel Translations

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.
Hebrew Names Version
Of the Gadi 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;
King James Version
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;
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:
New Century Version
Part of the people of Gad joined David at his stronghold in the desert. They were brave warriors trained for war and skilled with shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and as fast as gazelles over the hills.
New English Translation
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.
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.
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.
World 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;
Geneva Bible (1587)
And of the Gadites there separated them selues some vnto Dauid into the holde of the wildernesse, valiant men of warre, and men of armes, and apt for battel, which coulde handle speare and shielde, and their faces were like the faces of lyons, and were like the roes in the mountaines in swiftnesse,
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty warriors, trained for battle, experts with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:
Contemporary English Version

Warriors from the Gad tribe

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.
Complete Jewish Bible
and Yo‘elah and Z'vadyah the sons of Yerocham from G'dor.
Darby Translation
And of the Gadites, there separated themselves to David in the stronghold in the wilderness mighty men of valour, men fit for the service of war, armed with shield and spear; whose faces were [like] the faces of lions, and who were swift as the gazelles upon the mountains:
Easy-to-Read Version
Part of the tribe of Gad joined David at his fortress in the desert. They were brave soldiers trained for war and skilled with the shield and spear. They looked as fierce as lions, and they could run as fast as gazelles through the mountains.
George Lamsa Translation
And those of the tribe of the Gadites separated themselves to David to go out with him to the stronghold in the wilderness; mighty men and men of stature and fit for battle, who could handle sword and shield, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift for war upon the mountains:
Lexham English Bible
And from the Gadites, valiant mighty warriors, soldiers fit for war, expert with shield and spear, defected to David at the fortress toward the wilderness. And they had faces like lions and were swift as gazelles upon the mountains.
Literal Translation
And of the Gadites, there were separated to David, to the stronghold in the wilderness, valiant warriors, men of the army for battle, setting shield and spear in order, and their faces theface of a lion, and as gazelles on the heightsfor swiftness:
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Of the Gaddites resorted there vnto Dauid to the castell in the wyldernesse, mightie Worthies and men of armes, which hadled speares and swerdes, and had faces like lios, & were as swifte as the Roes vpon ye mountaynes.
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:
Bible in Basic English
And some of the Gadites, siding with David, went to his strong place in the waste land, great and strong men, trained for war, expert in the use of arms, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were quick-footed like roes on the mountains;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And of the Gadites there seperated themselues some vnto Dauid into the houlde of the wildernesse, men of might and men apt for the warre, & that coulde handle shielde and speare, whose faces were lyke the faces of lions, and they were as swyft as the Roes in the mountaynes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of the troop.
King James Version (1611)
And of the Gadites there separated themselues vnto Dauid, into the hold to the wildernesse, men of might, and men of warre, fit for the battel, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of Lyons, and were as swift as the Roes vpon the mountaines:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.
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;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But also of Gaddi strongeste men, and beste fiyteris, holdynge scheld and spere, fledden ouer to Dauid, whanne he was hid in deseert; the faces of hem as the face of a lioun, and thei weren swift as capretis in hillis.
Update Bible Version
And 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;
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 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.
New Life Bible
Powerful soldiers came from the Gadites to David in the strong-place in the desert. They had been taught how to fight in war, and could use the battle-covering and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions. And they were as fast as the deer on the mountains.
New Revised Standard
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:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, of the Gadites, there separated themselves unto David, to the stronghold towards the desert, heroes of valour, men of war, for battle, men that could handle shield and spear, - and, faces of lions, were their faces, and, like gazelles upon the mountains, were they, for swiftness:
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.
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 upon 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:
THE MESSAGE
There were some Gadites there who had defected to David at his wilderness fortress; they were seasoned and eager fighters who knew how to handle shield and spear. They were wild in appearance, like lions, but as agile as gazelles racing across the hills. Ezer was the first, then Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, and Macbannai—eleven of them. These Gadites were the cream of the crop—any one of them was worth a hundred lesser men, and the best of them were worth a thousand. They were the ones who crossed the Jordan when it was at flood stage in the first month, and put everyone in the lowlands to flight, both east and west.
New American Standard Bible (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.

Contextual Overview

1 David was living in Ziklag, where he had gone to escape from King Saul. There he was joined by many experienced, reliable soldiers, 2 members of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul belonged. They could shoot arrows and sling stones either right-handed or left-handed. 3They were under the command of Ahiezer and Joash, sons of Shemaah, from Gibeah. These were the soldiers: Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of "The Thirty" Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johannan, and Jozabad, from Gederah Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah, from Hariph Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, of the clan of Korah Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor 8 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. 9They were ranked in the following order: Ezer, Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, and Machbannai. 14 Some of these men from the tribe of Gad were senior officers in command of a thousand men, and others were junior officers in command of a hundred. 15 In the first month of one year, the time when the Jordan River overflowed its banks, they crossed the river, scattering the people who lived in the valleys both east and west of the river. 16 Once a group of men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah went out to the fort where David was. 17 David went to meet them and said, "If you are coming as friends to help me, you are welcome here. Join us! But if you intend to betray me to my enemies, even though I have not tried to hurt you, the God of our ancestors will know it and punish you." 18 God's spirit took control of one of them, Amasai, who later became the commander of "The Thirty," and he called out, "David son of Jesse, we are yours! Success to you and those who help you! God is on your side." David welcomed them and made them officers in his army.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

into the hold: 1 Chronicles 12:16, 1 Chronicles 11:16, 1 Samuel 23:14, 1 Samuel 23:29, 1 Samuel 24:22

of war: Heb. of the host

handle: 2 Chronicles 25:5, Jeremiah 46:9

whose faces: 1 Chronicles 11:22, 2 Samuel 1:23, 2 Samuel 17:10, 2 Samuel 23:20, Proverbs 28:1

as swift as the roes upon the mountains: Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make haste, 2 Samuel 2:18, Proverbs 6:5, Song of Solomon 8:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:20 - Blessed Ezekiel 1:10 - the face of a lion Ezekiel 38:4 - handling Revelation 9:17 - as the

Cross-References

Genesis 4:26
Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. It was then that people began using the Lord 's holy name in worship.
Genesis 12:12
When the Egyptians see you, they will assume that you are my wife, and so they will kill me and let you live.
Genesis 12:14
When he crossed the border into Egypt, the Egyptians did see that his wife was beautiful.
Genesis 12:15
Some of the court officials saw her and told the king how beautiful she was; so she was taken to his palace.
Genesis 12:16
Because of her the king treated Abram well and gave him flocks of sheep and goats, cattle, donkeys, slaves, and camels.
Genesis 13:4
and had built an altar. There he worshiped the Lord .
Genesis 21:33
Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and worshiped the Lord , the Everlasting God.
Genesis 28:19
He named the place Bethel. (The town there was once known as Luz.)
Genesis 35:3
We are going to leave here and go to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who helped me in the time of my trouble and who has been with me everywhere I have gone."
Joshua 7:2
Joshua sent some men from Jericho to Ai, a city east of Bethel, near Bethaven, with orders to go and explore the land. When they had done so,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David, into the hold to the wilderness,.... Men of the tribe of Gad, who lived on the other side Jordan; these separated themselves from the rest of their tribe, from their families and dwellings, and from the government of Saul, and came over to David, and joined him either when he was in some strong hold in the wilderness of Ziph, or Maon, 1 Samuel 23:14, or, as some think, when he was at Ziklag, in the hold there, said to be in the wilderness of Judah:

men of might, and men of war, fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler; warlike, valiant, and courageous men, well skilled in military discipline: whose faces were like the face of lions; bold, stern, and fierce. The philosopher observes d, that of all creatures the lion most resembles a man, having a great mouth, a square face and forehead, large eye brows, c.

and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains which are remarkable for their swiftness on the mountains, see Song of Solomon 2:17. Aelianus e speaks of one sort of them that run as swift as a tempest. These Gadites, as with their undaunted looks and courage, intimidated their enemies, and put them to flight, so they were swift to pursue them, and overtake them.

d Aristot. Physiognom. c. 5. e De Animal. l. 14. c. 14.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Into the hold to the wilderness - Rather, “into the hold toward the wilderness.” Some understand by this Ziklag, some En-gedi 1 Samuel 24:1-2; but it seems most probable that here and in 1 Chronicles 12:16 the stronghold of Adullam is intended 1 Chronicles 11:15-16.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Chronicles 12:8. And were as swift as the roes — That swiftness was considered to be a grand accomplishment in a warrior, appears from all ancient writings which treat of military affairs.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile