1 Samuel 30 19

1 Samuel 30:19 kjv

And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

1 Samuel 30:19 nkjv

And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.

1 Samuel 30:19 niv

Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back.

1 Samuel 30:19 esv

Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all.

1 Samuel 30:19 nlt

Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back.

1 Samuel 30 verses

1 Samuel 30 19 Meaning

This verse triumphantly declares the absolute and comprehensive restoration experienced by David and his men following the Amalekite raid on Ziklag. It unequivocally states that not a single person—neither son nor daughter—nor any possession—whether spoil or any other belonging previously taken—remained lost. David, empowered by divine intervention, successfully recovered everything, showcasing God's meticulous faithfulness and complete reversal of a desperate situation.

1 Samuel 30 19 Context

The historical backdrop to 1 Samuel 30:19 is a moment of deep distress for David and his loyal men, who were dwelling in Ziklag while allied with the Philistine king Achish. While David and his men were away fighting with the Philistines, the Amalekites—a nomadic, predatory tribe and long-standing enemy of Israel—raided Ziklag. They burned the city and took captive all the women, children, and possessions. Returning to a devastated home, David and his men wept until they had no strength left. The men, in their despair, spoke of stoning David.

At this critical juncture, instead of succumbing to despair or self-pity, David "strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Sam 30:6). He then sought divine guidance through the high priest Abiathar and the ephod, inquiring if he should pursue the raiders. The Lord unequivocally commanded him to pursue, promising full success: "You shall surely overtake them and shall surely recover all" (1 Sam 30:8). David and his small army then set out, guided by a providentially found Egyptian slave who had been abandoned by the Amalekites. This guidance led them directly to the Amalekite encampment, resulting in a swift, decisive victory and the rescue of all their families and possessions. Verse 19 summarizes the profound outcome of David's faith, God's faithfulness, and the complete restoration.

1 Samuel 30 19 Word analysis

• Nothing (וְלֹא, vĕloʾ): A strong negative particle in Hebrew, emphasizing the absolute totality of the recovery. It asserts the complete absence of any remaining loss, underscoring the comprehensive nature of God's restoration.

• was missing (נֶעְדַּר, neʿdar): From the Hebrew root ʿādar (עָדַר), which means "to lack," "to fail," or "to be absent." In the Niphal (passive) stem as here, it signifies "nothing had failed to be returned." This stands in direct contrast to the situation described in 1 Sam 30:2-3 where "no one was missing, small or great, for they had taken them captive," but that refers to no one being killed; here it signifies no one remaining absent from the full return. It conveys perfect and comprehensive recovery.

• small or great (לְמִקְטֹן וְעַד גָּדוֹל, lēmiqṭon wəʿad gāḏol): A merism, a literary device where two contrasting parts represent the whole. It signifies "everything, without exception," from the least significant item or youngest child to the most valuable possession or adult. This stresses the meticulous and all-encompassing nature of the recovery.

• sons or daughters (בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת, bānîm ūvānôt): This specific mention highlights the most precious and deeply felt aspect of the loss—human lives, particularly the innocent and vulnerable family members. Their full recovery would have been the most profound relief and joy, emphasizing the restoration of life and family, not just material goods.

• spoil (שָׁלָל, šālāl): Refers to the plunder or booty taken in war. This was a significant aspect of ancient warfare. Its recovery was not merely reclaiming their own, but also included any new items the Amalekites had taken from other raids, adding to their material gain. It indicates material wealth was fully restored.

• or anything else (וְעַד כֹּל אֲשֶׁר לָקְחוּ לָהֶם, wəʿad kōl ʾăšer lāqĕḥû lāhem): This is a final encompassing phrase to ensure no aspect of the theft is omitted from the declaration of recovery. It acts as a blanket term, confirming that every single item the Amalekites had seized for themselves was brought back.

• David brought back (דָּוִיד הֵשִׁיב אֶת־הַכֹּל, dāwid hēšîḇ ʾeṯ-hakkōl):

  • David (דָּוִיד, dāwid): The central figure through whom God acted. This attributes the successful physical act of recovery to David's leadership and military prowess, but always implicitly understood to be enabled by divine power.
  • brought back (הֵשִׁיב, hēšîḇ): The Hiphil (causative) form of the verb shūv (שׁוּב), meaning "to return," "restore," or "bring back." This verb choice emphasizes an active, successful reversal of what was taken. While David is the agent, the prior promise of God (1 Sam 30:8) reveals God as the true enabler and restorer behind the act.
  • everything (אֶת־הַכֹּל, ʾeṯ-hakkōl): Reinforces the totality, echoing "nothing was missing." This concludes the statement by confirming the complete scope of the successful recovery.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Nothing was missing, small or great": This phrase powerfully establishes the completeness of the restoration. It highlights God's thoroughness and comprehensive provision, leaving no detail overlooked. What was considered a total loss has been totally reversed.
  • "sons or daughters, spoil or anything else that they had taken for themselves": This enumeration specifically details the extent of the loss and, consequently, the scope of the recovery. It moves from the most priceless (human lives) to valuable possessions (spoil) and then to all remaining assets, addressing every type of loss suffered—personal, emotional, and material.
  • "David brought back everything": This emphasizes David's direct agency and the tangible fulfillment of God's promise. It portrays David as God's chosen instrument through whom this magnificent and total restoration was accomplished, a foreshadowing of his role as king.

1 Samuel 30 19 Bonus section

• The event at Ziklag, culminating in this verse, is a crucial turning point in David's life. It shows his deepening reliance on the Lord during crisis, preparing him for the complexities of kingship. This "crisis management" under divine guidance reveals his fitness to lead.
• The completeness of the recovery highlights a theological principle: when God restores, He often restores beyond the original state or expectation. It is a divine hallmark to not just recover but to establish plenitude.
• The Amalekites' consistent enmity towards Israel throughout Scripture (Ex 17:8-16, Deut 25:17-19) underscores that David's victory was not merely a personal one but an act of divine judgment against an adversary of God's people, reinforcing God's justice.
• The phrase "David brought back everything" serves as an affirmation of his leadership, demonstrating his ability to care for and provide for his people even in dire circumstances, solidifying their trust in him.

1 Samuel 30 19 Commentary

1 Samuel 30:19 is a profound declaration of God's perfect restorative power when His people faithfully seek Him in distress. It highlights that God's restoration is not partial but complete. After David and his men faced the ultimate desolation, including personal loss and the potential for internal revolt, David's decision to "strengthen himself in the Lord" (1 Sam 30:6) and diligently seek God's guidance led directly to this magnificent outcome. The repeated emphasis on "nothing" being missing and "everything" being brought back underscores that what seems irreparably lost to human eyes can be entirely recovered through divine intervention. This event teaches us that God honors faith, rewards obedience, and is capable of reversing even the most desperate situations, proving His sovereignty over calamity and the enemy. It sets a precedent that when God promises restoration, it is thorough, comprehensive, and leaves no loss unaddressed.

• Practical usage example 1: For someone experiencing deep grief over a perceived irreversible loss (e.g., fractured family relationships or personal setback), this verse offers hope that God can fully restore what seems broken or taken.
• Practical usage example 2: In facing significant financial or material loss, this verse encourages believers to trust God for complete provision and recovery, rather than despairing over limited human solutions.