For at that time men came to David day after day to help him, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like God’s army.
- KJV For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
- NKJV For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God.
- NASB For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God.
- NLT Day after day more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God.
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
Day after day men came to David until he had a great army, like the army of God. His forces grew into something vast and God-given.
Overview
The Chronicler summarizes the steady stream of support that swelled David's ranks into a host described as 'like God's army.' This phrase credits the LORD for assembling such overwhelming strength around His chosen king. The gathering of a great, God-given host to David foreshadows the multitude drawn to Christ, whose kingdom grows until it fills the earth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 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.
- Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
- Gen 32:2When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
- Josh 5:14“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?”
- 2 Sam 2:2–4So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
- Ps 148:2Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
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 12:22 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.