These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
Parallel translations
- WEB These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army: he who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.
- BSB These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.
- NKJV These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a thousand.
- NASB These men from the sons of Gad were captains of the army; the one who was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest, to a thousand.
- NLT These warriors from Gad were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand!
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
These Gadites were army captains, the least equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. Each was worth many ordinary soldiers.
Overview
The Chronicler praises the Gadites' valor with a memorable measure: even the least could face a hundred foes, the greatest a thousand. This hyperbole or high estimate conveys their extraordinary effectiveness in battle. Their God-given might, placed in service of David, illustrates how the LORD equips His servants for great usefulness in His kingdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Deut 32:30How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
- Lev 26:8And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
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 12:14 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.