1 Chronicles 11:4 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

1 Chronicles 11:4 kjv

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

1 Chronicles 11:4 nkjv

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

1 Chronicles 11:4 niv

David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there

1 Chronicles 11:4 esv

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

1 Chronicles 11:4 nlt

Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to be called), where the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land, were living.

1 Chronicles 11 4 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
2 Sam 5:6-9	And the king and his men went to Jerusalem... which are the Jebusites... David took the stronghold of Zion...	Parallel account of David capturing Jebus/Jerusalem, strengthening its military significance.
Josh 15:63	As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out...	Earlier failure of Judah to conquer Jebus, highlighting its long-standing impenetrability.
Judg 1:21	But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem...	Similar failure of Benjamin to expel the Jebusites, showing the enduring challenge.
Gen 14:18	Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine...	Earliest mention of "Salem" (likely Jerusalem) with a priestly king, foretelling its spiritual destiny.
Gen 22:2,14	Take now your son, your only son Isaac... to the land of Moriah... call the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide...	Mount Moriah, identified with Jerusalem (2 Chron 3:1), site of Abraham's sacrifice.
Ps 78:68-69	He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion... he built his sanctuary like the high heavens...	God's specific choice of Mount Zion/Jerusalem as the dwelling place for His presence.
Ps 87:1-3	His foundation is in the holy mountains... Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God!	Exalting Jerusalem as a divine, chosen city.
Ps 122:1-4	I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!	The joy of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, emphasizing its importance for worship.
Isa 2:2-3	Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established... For out of Zion shall go forth the law...	Prophecy of Jerusalem as the future spiritual center for all nations.
Mic 4:1-2	Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the temple of the Lord... for out of Zion the law shall go forth...	Similar prophecy regarding Jerusalem's future role as a place of divine instruction.
Zech 12:2-3	"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling... And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples..."	Prophecy of Jerusalem's future conflicts and its central role in end-time events.
Zech 14:4	In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives...	Prophecy of the Messiah's return to Jerusalem.
Neh 11:1-2	Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten...	Repopulation of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, highlighting its enduring importance.
1 Kgs 8:1	Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel... to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David...	The bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, solidifying its religious status.
Jer 3:17	At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord...	Prophecy of Jerusalem's ultimate spiritual destiny under God's rule.
Matt 5:35	...nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.	Jesus affirms Jerusalem's special status.
Luke 13:34	"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!"	Jesus laments over Jerusalem, highlighting its historical rejection but continued significance.
Acts 1:8	But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea...	Jerusalem as the starting point for the gospel's spread, embodying both historical and evangelistic importance.
Gal 4:26	But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.	The heavenly Jerusalem representing ultimate spiritual freedom and heritage for believers.
Heb 12:22	But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...	Believers' present connection to the spiritual reality of Jerusalem, emphasizing salvation.
Rev 21:2-3	Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men..."	The vision of the New Jerusalem as God's eternal dwelling place with humanity.
Eph 2:19-20	Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...	Spiritual analogy of believers becoming part of God's 'city' or spiritual structure, linked to the concept of the divine city.

1 Chronicles 11 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

1 Chronicles 11 4 Meaning

This verse marks the crucial moment of King David's campaign to establish Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel. It states that David, accompanied by all Israel, went to the city previously known as Jebus. It further specifies that this city was inhabited by the Jebusites, a persistent Canaanite tribe who had managed to maintain their stronghold within the land of Israel up to this point. The verse sets the scene for David's successful conquest and transformation of Jebus into Jerusalem, the spiritual and political heart of the nation.

1 Chronicles 11 4 Context

First Chronicles chapter 11 opens immediately after David is anointed king over all Israel in Hebron, fulfilling God's promise. The Chronicler emphasizes David's legitimate claim to the throne and his leadership acknowledged by "all Israel." This verse (1 Chron 11:4) shifts focus to David's first significant strategic move as king: the capture of Jerusalem.

Historically, Jerusalem (then known as Jebus) was a formidable Canaanite stronghold located on a ridge between Judah and Benjamin. It was an independent enclave that had resisted conquest by Israelite tribes for centuries, serving as a neutral zone. Its impregnable defenses made it a defiant symbol of unconquered pagan presence in the promised land. David's objective was not merely territorial; by taking Jebus, he would create a politically neutral capital that could unite the northern and southern tribes, while also fulfilling God's long-term plan for the city. Culturally, the Jebusites represented an ancient, persistent challenge to Israelite dominance, whose continued presence in the land was a blot on the ideal of the total possession of Canaan. David's action in taking Jebus demonstrated God's power through His chosen king to overcome even the most entrenched spiritual and physical obstacles, reinforcing Israel's unique relationship with the Lord who fights for them, a subtle polemic against the strength of pagan deities and their fortified cities.

1 Chronicles 11 4 Word analysis

Then: Signifies a direct progression from David's anointing as king over all Israel. It immediately follows the affirmation of his kingship (1 Chron 11:1-3), marking the first decisive action of his united reign.
David: (Hebrew: דָּוִד, David) The chosen king, now recognized by "all Israel" (v.3). His name means "beloved." His leadership is central to this act of unification and conquest. His character as a man after God's own heart is underscored by his initiative here.
and all Israel: (וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, w'khol-Yisra'el) Emphasizes national unity. This was not just a campaign of Judah but represented the combined effort and will of the entire nation under David's leadership. It highlights the successful unification of the tribes, a key theme in Chronicles, contrasting with earlier tribal fragmentation.
went to Jerusalem: (וַיֵּלְכוּ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, wayyel'khu Yerushalayim) "Went" implies a deliberate movement and objective. "Jerusalem" (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushalayim), potentially meaning "foundation of peace" or "city of peace," despite its current contested status, already hints at its destined future.
which is Jebus;: (הִיא יְבוּס, hi' Yevus) Provides clarification. "Jebus" (יְבוּס, Yevus) identifies the pre-Israelite name of the city. This clarification is important for the audience to understand the challenge David faced. It signifies the stronghold that defied Israelite conquest for centuries since Joshua's time.
and there were the Jebusites, (וְשָׁם הַיְבוּסִי, w'sham hayYevusi) Highlights the inhabitants. The "Jebusites" were a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Ham (Gen 10:16), one of the groups Israel was commanded to dispossess. Their continued presence signifies their entrenched nature and the difficulty of their displacement.
the inhabitants of the land. (יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ, yoshvei ha'arets) Reinforces their firm claim and deep roots in the territory. It underscores their established presence and the challenge of their eviction, making David's subsequent conquest even more significant as a demonstration of divine power at work through him. This phrase emphasizes the formidable nature of the stronghold David intended to take.

1 Chronicles 11 4 Bonus section

The strategic location of Jerusalem, atop a strong ridge, naturally defended by deep valleys on three sides, made it almost impenetrable in ancient warfare, explaining why the Jebusites held it for so long.
By conquering Jerusalem, which belonged neither to the southern kingdom of Judah nor the northern tribes, David created a neutral capital, ideally positioned to unify the fragmented nation. This was a stroke of political genius, inspired by God's plan.
The act of capturing Jebus by David stands in stark contrast to the failures mentioned in Josh 15:63 and Judg 1:21, serving as a testament to David's divinely appointed leadership and the power of a unified Israel working under God's favor.
The capture of Jebus foreshadows the future establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the Temple, linking this physical conquest to Jerusalem's ultimate spiritual destiny as the holy city.
The repeated emphasis on the "Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land" highlights their indigenous, long-established status, which required a significant divine intervention and human effort through David to overcome. This prepares the reader for the seemingly impossible victory that follows.

1 Chronicles 11 4 Commentary

1 Chronicles 11:4 concisely sets the stage for David's pivotal conquest of Jerusalem, a defining moment for his reign and for the nation of Israel. By explicitly naming the city as "Jebus" and its occupants as "Jebusites," the Chronicler highlights the formidable challenge David faced. This city had remained unconquered since the time of Joshua, a stubborn bastion of paganism and a physical division between the tribes. David's act of taking Jebus, detailed further in subsequent verses (11:5-9), symbolizes the spiritual and political unification of Israel under divine guidance. It was not just a military victory but a theological declaration: God's chosen king, with the unified support of "all Israel," could accomplish what previous generations had not. The transformation of "Jebus" into "Jerusalem," the City of David and later the site of the Temple, underscores its ultimate destiny as the spiritual and administrative heart of God's covenant people. This event is a micro-history of God's faithfulness in enabling His people to fully possess the land promised to their ancestors.