King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 17:28 Mean?

1 Samuel 17:28 in the King James Version says “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said,... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

1 Samuel 17:28 · KJV


Context

26

And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

27

And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

28

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

29

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

30

And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. manner: Heb. word


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

Eliab's angry accusation against David reflects the older brother's wounded pride and perhaps guilt over his own inaction. The charges of pride and 'naughtiness of thine heart' ironically describe Eliab better than David. His dismissive reference to 'those few sheep' denigrates David's faithful service. Family members often struggle most to recognize God's calling on the unexpected one among them.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Elder brothers held authority in Israelite family structure. Eliab may have still smarted from rejection when Samuel had passed him by (16:6-7). His presence in the army without action against Goliath made David's bold faith an implicit rebuke.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does family resistance sometimes test genuine calling?
  2. What does Eliab's accusation reveal about how defensive pride misreads godly zeal?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 34 words
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע1 of 34

heard

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֱלִיאָ֨ב2 of 34

And Eliab

H446

eliab, the name of six israelites

אָחִ֣יו3 of 34

brother

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

הַגָּד֔וֹל4 of 34

his eldest

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ5 of 34

when he spake

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

אֶל6 of 34
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים7 of 34
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

וַיִּֽחַר8 of 34

was kindled

H2734

to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

אַף֩9 of 34

anger

H639

properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire

אֱלִיאָ֨ב10 of 34

And Eliab

H446

eliab, the name of six israelites

בְּדָוִ֜ד11 of 34

against David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀12 of 34

and he said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לָמָּה13 of 34
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

זֶּ֣ה14 of 34
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

יָרָֽדְתָּ׃15 of 34

Why camest thou down

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

וְעַל16 of 34
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מִ֨י17 of 34
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

נָטַ֜שְׁתָּ18 of 34

hither and with whom hast thou left

H5203

properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive

מְעַ֨ט19 of 34

few

H4592

a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)

הַצֹּ֤אן20 of 34

sheep

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

הָהֵ֙נָּה֙21 of 34

those

H2007

themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)

בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר22 of 34

in the wilderness

H4057

a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

אֲנִ֧י23 of 34
H589

i

יָדַ֣עְתִּי24 of 34

I know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

אֶת25 of 34
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

זְדֹֽנְךָ֗26 of 34

thy pride

H2087

arrogance

וְאֵת֙27 of 34
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

רֹ֣עַ28 of 34

and the naughtiness

H7455

badness (as marring), physically or morally

לְבָבֶ֔ךָ29 of 34

of thine heart

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

כִּ֗י30 of 34
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

לְמַ֛עַן31 of 34
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

רְא֥וֹת32 of 34

that thou mightest see

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה33 of 34

the battle

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

יָרָֽדְתָּ׃34 of 34

Why camest thou down

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 17:28 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 17:28 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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