1 Chronicles 20:8 kjv
These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
1 Chronicles 20:8 nkjv
These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
1 Chronicles 20:8 niv
These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
1 Chronicles 20:8 esv
These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
1 Chronicles 20:8 nlt
These Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.
1 Chronicles 20 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 13:33 | "And there we saw the Nephilim... and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers." | Fear of giants in Canaan. |
| Deut 2:10-11 | "The Emim formerly lived there... a people great, numerous, and tall as the Anakim." | Rephaim (Emim) defeated by Moabites. |
| Deut 3:11 | "For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim..." | Another famous giant, Og, defeated by Israel. |
| Josh 11:21-22 | "Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country..." | Joshua's conquest removed many giants. |
| 1 Sam 17:49-51 | "David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone... struck the Philistine on his forehead." | David defeats Goliath, the most famous giant. |
| 2 Sam 21:15-22 | "When there was again war between the Philistines and Israel... four sons of Rapha." | Parallel account of these specific victories. |
| 1 Chr 20:4 | "Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the Rephaim..." | One of the four giants. |
| 1 Chr 20:5 | "Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite." | Another giant defeated. |
| 1 Chr 20:6-7 | "Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature... Jonathan the son of Shimea." | Two more giants defeated. |
| 1 Chr 18:1-13 | "After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them..." | David's broader victories over Philistines. |
| 1 Sam 30:1-end | "David brought back all who had gone captive, and David rescued his two wives." | David's men loyal and effective in battle. |
| Psa 18:32-34 | "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect... He trains my hands for war." | God empowers David for victory. |
| Psa 44:3 | "For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but by your right hand and your arm, and by the light of your face." | God is the source of Israel's victory. |
| Zech 12:8 | "On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David." | God makes weak strong for battle. |
| Eph 6:10 | "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." | Believers relying on God's strength. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | Christ empowers believers to overcome. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | "who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire... became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." | Faith leads to triumph over adversaries. |
| 1 Cor 15:25-26 | "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." | Ultimate defeat of all enemies. |
| Rom 8:37 | "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." | Triumph through Christ. |
| Judg 7:7 | "The Lord said to Gideon, 'With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand.'" | God gives victory through few and faithful. |
| Isa 41:10 | "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." | God's promise to strengthen and help His people. |
| Exod 15:6 | "Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy." | God's power in defeating enemies. |
| Deut 20:4 | "For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory." | God fights for His people. |
1 Chronicles 20 verses
1 Chronicles 20 8 Meaning
This verse concludes the account of several Philistine giants who were formidable adversaries, affirming that all four of them, originating from the giant lineage of Rapha in the city of Gath, were decisively defeated and slain by the forces loyal to King David—both by his own direct leadership and through the prowess of his trusted servants. It underscores God's victory given to Israel over the remnants of the giant races.
1 Chronicles 20 8 Context
This verse brings to a definitive close the detailed account of David's campaigns against the Philistine giants, immediately following the individual narratives of the defeat of Sippai, Lahmi, and the two unnamed giants in 1 Chronicles 20:4-7. These victories establish a pivotal moment in securing Israel's borders and eliminating remnants of the giant tribes, who had posed a perennial threat since the time of the conquest under Joshua.
The Chronicler's primary focus in this section, and indeed throughout 1 Chronicles, is to highlight God's faithfulness to King David and His covenant with him, emphasizing David's legitimate rule and the divine empowerment that led to Israel's prosperity and security. By detailing the elimination of these significant threats, the Chronicler reinforces the narrative of a divinely chosen kingdom, led by David, that is victorious over its formidable enemies. This establishes a period of peace and stability crucial for the future construction of the Temple, which is a major theme of the Chronicler's work. The persistent presence of giants (Rephaim, Anakim) was a test of faith for Israel (Num 13), and their eradication demonstrated YHWH's sovereign power over even the most physically imposing foes, contrasting with the Philistine's pagan reverence for their great warriors like Goliath.
1 Chronicles 20 8 Word analysis
- These: Refers directly back to the four specific Philistine giants enumerated in 1 Chronicles 20:4-7. This highlights the collective elimination of this group of formidable threats.
- were descendants of Rapha: The Hebrew phrase is yiledê hāRāphā’ (יִלְדֵי הָרָפָא), meaning "children of Rapha." "Rapha" here signifies the progenitor of a race of giants known as Rephaim. This lineage suggests an ancient, physically imposing people who pre-dated Israel in Canaan, often mentioned with other large groups like the Anakim (Deut 2:10-11). Their existence was a significant challenge to Israel's occupation of the Promised Land, as promised in Genesis. The Bible emphasizes their physical stature (Num 13:33, Deut 3:11), making their defeat a powerful testament to God's strength overcoming human might.
- in Gath: Gath was one of the five major Philistine cities, historically known as a stronghold of these giant descendants and home to Goliath himself (1 Sam 17:4). Its repeated mention underscores its significance as a central hub for these formidable enemies of Israel, signifying the Philistines' core strength. The repeated victories in Gath signify a decisive weakening of Philistine power.
- and they fell: A direct and conclusive statement of their demise, meaning they were slain in battle. It indicates not just defeat, but total eradication.
- by the hand of David: While David himself might not have personally fought all four of these specific giants (e.g., Elhanan fought Lahmi, Sibbecai fought Sippai), this phrase credits David as the supreme commander, the leader under whose authority, direction, and inspiration these victories were achieved. The king is seen as embodying the strength and success of his army. It signifies divine blessing on his kingship.
- and by the hand of his servants: This clarifies that the literal acts of killing were performed by specific loyal soldiers within David's army, who were identified in the preceding verses (Sibbecai, Elhanan, Jonathan son of Shimea). This demonstrates David's capable leadership and the effectiveness of his trained and dedicated military, who, empowered by God, were instrumental in securing his kingdom. It also points to the idea that God uses ordinary people, equipped by Him, to accomplish extraordinary feats.
1 Chronicles 20 8 Bonus section
The account in 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 has a near-identical parallel in 2 Samuel 21:15-22. One notable difference is in 1 Chronicles 20:5, where "Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite," while the corresponding verse in 2 Samuel 21:19 states, "Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite." This has been a point of textual discussion among scholars. The Chronicler's account, by specifically naming "Lahmi the brother of Goliath," offers a clarifying detail, likely harmonizing two existing traditions or textual variants, emphasizing that David's Goliath slaying remained unique, while Elhanan slew a brother, further illustrating the giant lineage of Goliath's family in Gath. The Chronicler's primary goal was theological rather than purely historical in a modern sense; he wanted to show the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the Temple, with God's blessings evidenced through victories like these. The complete eradication of these long-standing, seemingly invincible giant figures serves as a powerful symbol of God's complete victory over all opposition to His people and His kingdom, anticipating the final triumph of God's King over all His enemies.
1 Chronicles 20 8 Commentary
1 Chronicles 20:8 provides a succinct and triumphant summary of God's victory given to David's kingdom over the last prominent remnants of the formidable Philistine giants. The defeat of these "descendants of Rapha" from Gath highlights that no enemy, however physically imposing or historically menacing, could stand against YHWH and His chosen king and people. The Chronicler emphasizes that this victory was not merely by David's personal might, but a collective effort of David's leadership and the bravery of his men, all enabled by divine power. This eradication of key adversaries from a significant Philistine city secured David's kingdom, preparing the way for a period of peace and prosperity necessary for the Temple's eventual construction. It underscores that God is sovereign over all earthly powers and accomplishes His purposes through faithful obedience, even when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles.