And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.
Parallel translations
- WEB David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him.
- KJV So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.
- NKJV So David went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with him.
- NASB And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of armies was with him.
- NLT And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David grew greater and greater because Yahweh of Armies was with him. His success flowed from God's presence, not his own strength.
Overview
The Chronicler gives the reason for David's rising power: the LORD of hosts (Armies) was with him. This refrain credits God, not military skill or ambition, for David's flourishing. It echoes the assurance given to all God's servants that true greatness and lasting fruit come from divine presence, supremely realized in Christ, with whom the Father was always pleased.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Sam 3:1Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
- Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Isa 41:14Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 2 Sam 5:10And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.
- Esth 9:4For Mordecai exercised great power in the palace, and his fame spread throughout the provinces as he became more and more powerful.
- 1 Chr 9:20In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.
- Ps 46:7The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Isa 8:9–10Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- Ps 46:11The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 11:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.