1 Samuel 17 28

1 Samuel 17:28 kjv

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

1 Samuel 17:28 nkjv

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

1 Samuel 17:28 niv

When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

1 Samuel 17:28 esv

Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

1 Samuel 17:28 nlt

But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway?" he demanded. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!"

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 28 Meaning

Eliab, David's eldest brother, was filled with anger and contempt towards David, accusing him of leaving the sheep entrusted to his care and coming to the battle out of pride and a desire to see the conflict. This verse reveals Eliab's judgmental spirit and a misunderstanding of David's true intentions and calling from God.

1 Samuel 17 28 Context

1 Samuel 17 describes the epic confrontation between David and Goliath. David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, had been tending sheep when he was sent by his father to deliver food to his older brothers serving in Saul's army. The Israelite army, along with Saul, was paralyzed with fear by the Philistine champion Goliath. Upon hearing Goliath's defiant challenges and the promise of reward for his defeat, David, filled with faith, questioned why no one would answer Goliath. It is at this point that Eliab, David's eldest brother, confronts him with the scathing words of verse 28. Eliab's harshness stems from jealousy and perhaps his own past experience of being overlooked by Samuel for anointing, coupled with David's sudden presence and questions concerning the battle situation, which might have felt like a usurpation of Eliab's authority or status as the older brother. Historically, an eldest son held a position of greater authority and inheritance, and Eliab's frustration reflects a perception of his status being challenged or diminished. There's no direct polemic, but the narrative contrasts human pride and superficial judgment (Eliab, Saul) with God's divine wisdom and choice based on heart (David).

1 Samuel 17 28 Word analysis

• When (וַיִּחַר): Implies immediacy and intensity. The Hebrew vayyiḥar, means "and he burned" or "and he was kindled" (with anger). This denotes a sudden, strong surge of wrath.

• Eliab's (אֱלִיאָב): The eldest of Jesse's sons (1 Sam 16:6), rejected by God for kingship. His name means "God is my Father," yet his actions here contradict a godly disposition. His reaction reveals human resentment and pride.

• anger (אַף): Hebrew 'af, literally "nostril" or "face," by metonymy for anger, as the nose typically flares in rage. This indicates intense, visceral displeasure.

• was kindled (בֹּו): Lit. "in him." Emphasizes that the anger originated and festered within Eliab.

• against David (בְּדָוִד): Directed specifically at David, showing a personal animosity.

• and he said (וַיֹּאמֶר): Indicates speech, articulating his internal anger into a verbal attack.

• Why camest thou down (לָמָּה יָרַדְתָּ הֵנָּה): An accusatory question, implying disapproval and questioning David's legitimacy or reason for being there. It suggests he should not have come.

• hither? (הֵנָּה): "To here," the battlefront. Eliab assumes David is out of place.

• And with whom hast thou left (וְאֶת־מִי נָטַשְׁתָּ): Another accusatory question, highlighting David's supposed dereliction of duty. Eliab sees David's current position as a failure of his past responsibility.

• those few sheep (הַצֹּאן הָאֶת־נְמַט): Implies insignificance of the sheep. "Few" (Hebrew: měʿaṭ) diminishes David's charge, thereby belittling David himself. It dismisses the important work David was previously doing for his family.

• in the wilderness? (בַּמִּדְבָּר): A remote, vulnerable place, suggesting irresponsibility in leaving them unwatched.

• I know thy pride (אֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת־זְדוֹנְךָ): "I know" suggests an intimate, long-held conviction. Zadon (זָדוֹן) signifies presumption, arrogance, willful sin, insolent pride, a strong accusation against David's character. Eliab believes he fully understands David's internal motivations.

• and the naughtiness (וְאֶת רֹעַ): Hebrew roʿ, meaning wickedness, evil, depravity, malevolence. An even more severe accusation, implying evil intent behind David's presence.

• of thine heart (לְבָבְךָ): Direct accusation targeting David's inner being, implying corrupted motivations. Eliab presumes to know David's heart, a divine prerogative (1 Sam 16:7).

• for thou art come down (כִּי לְמַעַן רְאוֹת): Connects his coming with the alleged ill motives.

• that thou mightest see the battle (אֶת־הַמִּלְחָמָה): Accusing David of being there merely for spectacle or morbid curiosity, a thrill-seeker, rather than for a noble purpose. This reveals Eliab's blindness to God's hand on David.

• "When Eliab's anger was kindled against David": This phrase highlights Eliab's internal emotional state. It suggests a smoldering resentment that flared up immediately upon David's questioning of the Philistine challenge, possibly rooted in Eliab's own thwarted ambition or envy of David's recent anointing and position in Saul's court.

• "Why camest thou down hither? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?": These combined questions are designed to undermine David's authority and question his sense of responsibility. Eliab is asserting his perceived elder brother's authority, questioning David's presence as an illegitimate intrusion into serious matters, while also accusing him of abandoning his simple, but crucial, pastoral duty.

• "I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.": This phrase encapsulates Eliab's severe misjudgment of David's character and motives. He presumes to understand David's "heart" (levav), a capability usually reserved for God, and projects his own potential human weaknesses (pride, evil) onto David. Eliab's words dismiss David's faith and prophetic sensitivity, reducing his arrival to mere idle curiosity or selfish ambition for spectacle. This shows a deep-seated suspicion and an inability to see beyond outward appearances or personal bias.

1 Samuel 17 28 Bonus section

Eliab's accusation, particularly concerning David's neglect of the "few sheep in the wilderness," serves as a stark ironic parallel. Unknown to Eliab, David had faced significant dangers while shepherding, demonstrating a protective, sacrificial spirit towards his flock (1 Sam 17:34-36). This background of faithfulness in small things prepared him for the larger battle and eventually for shepherding Israel. Eliab, perhaps focused on military prowess or his own elder brother status, failed to see the shepherd-king qualities God was cultivating in David through these seemingly mundane tasks. The intensity of Eliab's anger also hints at an underlying bitterness from being overlooked for the anointing of a king, making him prone to resent any rising prominence in his younger brother. His condemnation effectively acted as a test of David's spirit, which David passed by calmly ignoring the slander and focusing on the greater issue at hand.

1 Samuel 17 28 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:28 is a poignant display of human jealousy and spiritual blindness. Eliab's wrath is fueled by a mix of factors: possibly envy for David's recent anointing (though its extent was likely unknown to Eliab, he would recognize David's ascent in Saul's court), the shame of their army's inaction against Goliath, and David's perceived "intrusion" and questions. Eliab, having been physically impressive but spiritually rejected for kingship (1 Sam 16:6-7), projected his own flaws onto David. He accused David of "pride" (Heb. zadon), suggesting a presumptuous arrogance, and "naughtiness" (roʿ), implying moral wickedness—severe charges for merely observing the scene and asking questions.

This intense reaction stands in stark contrast to David's quiet faith and obedience that led him to the battlefield (1 Sam 17:17-20). Eliab's anger prevented him from discerning God's true work in David, embodying the proverb that "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (Jas 1:20). His words sought to belittle David, sending him back to "those few sheep" and suggesting that David had abandoned his responsibility for selfish entertainment. Yet, this very act of shepherding had prepared David for his destiny (Ps 78:70-71). Eliab's outburst reveals the destructive nature of sibling rivalry and human judgment that fails to recognize God's hand on the chosen vessel. It also sets up David's character in distinction from those around him—persecuted by his own family, misunderstood by leadership, but vindicated by God.For practical usage, this verse illustrates:

• The tendency of others to misjudge motives, especially those moved by divine purpose.
• How familial jealousy can be as intense as external opposition.
• The importance of remaining steadfast in one's calling despite criticism and belittling remarks from those closest to you.