But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
Parallel translations
- KJV But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
- BSB But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.
- NKJV But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
- NASB But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and return before them.
- NLT But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.
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
All Israel and Judah love David because of his leadership among them. The people's affection stands in sharp contrast to Saul's fear.
Overview
While Saul dreads David, the whole nation loves him for his faithful leadership going out and coming in before them. The people's devotion confirms David's fitness to lead and God's favor upon him. This widespread love both validates David's calling and intensifies Saul's jealousy, sharpening the conflict at the heart of the story.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Sam 18:5David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
- 1 Kgs 3:7Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
- Num 27:17who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
- Luke 19:48They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
- 2 Sam 5:2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”
- Luke 20:19The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people — for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 18:16 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.