1 Samuel 17:17
New International Version
Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.

New Living Translation
One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers.

English Standard Version
And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.

Berean Standard Bible
One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.

King James Bible
And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

New King James Version
Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.

New American Standard Bible
Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers.

NASB 1995
Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

NASB 1977
Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

Amplified Bible
Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread and run quickly to the camp to your brothers.

Christian Standard Bible
One day Jesse had told his son David, “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
One day Jesse had told his son David: “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these 10 loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.

American Standard Version
And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to thy brethren;

Contemporary English Version
One day, Jesse told David, "Hurry and take this sack of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers at the army camp.

English Revised Version
And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to thy brethren;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesse told his son David, "Take this half-bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Take them to your brothers in the camp right away.

Good News Translation
One day Jesse said to David, "Take a half-bushel of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and hurry with them to your brothers in the camp.

International Standard Version
Jesse told his son David, "Take this ephah of roasted grain to your brothers, along with these ten loaves of bread, and quickly take them to your brothers in the camp.

Majority Standard Bible
One day Jesse said to his son David, ?Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.

NET Bible
Jesse said to his son David, "Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; go quickly to the camp to your brothers.

New Heart English Bible
Then Jesse said to David, "Now take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp and give them to your brothers;

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jesse said to David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

World English Bible
Jesse said to David his son, “Now take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesse says to his son David, “Now take an ephah of this roasted [grain] and these ten loaves for your brothers, and run to the camp to your brothers;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesse saith to David his son, 'Take, I pray thee, to thy brethren, an ephah of this roasted corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesse will say to David his son, Take now to thy brethren an ephah of this parched grain, and this ten of bread, and run to the camp to thy brethren.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Isai said to David his son: Take for thy brethren an ephi of frumenty, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now Jesse said to his son David: “Take, for your brothers, an ephah of cooked grain, and these ten loaves, and hurry to the camp, to your brothers.

New American Bible
Now Jesse said to his son David: “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves for your brothers, and bring them quickly to your brothers in the camp.

New Revised Standard Version
Jesse said to his son David, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jesse said to David his son, Take now for your brothers an ephah of parched wheat and ten loaves of bread, and run to the camp to your brothers;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Iyshay said to David his son: “Take to your brothers a seah of parched corn and ten loaves of bread and run to the encampment to your brothers
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jesse said unto David his son: 'Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to thy brethren.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Accepts the Challenge
16For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand. 17One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them.…

Cross References
Genesis 37:13-14
Israel said to him, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flocks at Shechem? Get ready; I am sending you to them.” “I am ready,” Joseph replied. / Then Israel told him, “Go now and see how your brothers and the flocks are faring, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. And when Joseph arrived in Shechem,

Genesis 45:23
And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.

Genesis 18:6-8
So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.” / Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. / Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

Exodus 18:7
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

Numbers 16:15
Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”

2 Samuel 17:28-29
They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, / honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

1 Kings 17:10-11
So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” / And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.”

2 Kings 4:42
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.

Proverbs 27:10
Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

Isaiah 58:7
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Jeremiah 37:21
So King Zedekiah gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Luke 10:34-35
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. / The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

John 4:8
(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)


Treasury of Scripture

And Jesse said to David his son, Take now for your brothers an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of your brothers;

Take now

Matthew 7:11
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Luke 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

parched corn

1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

Ruth 2:14
And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

2 Samuel 17:28
Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

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Bread Cakes Camp Carry Corn David Dry Ephah Hurry Jesse Loaves Parched Quickly Roasted Run Ten Tents
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Bread Cakes Camp Carry Corn David Dry Ephah Hurry Jesse Loaves Parched Quickly Roasted Run Ten Tents
1 Samuel 17
1. The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle
4. Goliath challenges a combat
12. David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge
28. Eliab chides him
30. He is brought to Saul
32. shows the reason of his confidence
38. and slays the giant
55. Saul takes notice of David














One day Jesse said to his son David
Jesse, a Bethlehemite, is the father of David, who would later become the king of Israel. This phrase sets the scene in the pastoral life of David before his rise to prominence. David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, is often seen as a type of Christ, who also came from humble beginnings. The familial relationship highlights the importance of obedience and respect within the family structure, a value deeply rooted in the culture of ancient Israel.

Take this ephah of roasted grain
An ephah is a unit of dry measure used in ancient Israel, roughly equivalent to 22 liters or about half a bushel. Roasted grain was a common food staple, indicating the simplicity and sustenance of the provisions. This act of sending food reflects the care and provision of Jesse for his sons, who were serving in Saul's army. It also foreshadows the provision of God through David, who would later provide spiritual sustenance to Israel.

and these ten loaves of bread
Bread is a fundamental element of sustenance in the biblical narrative, often symbolizing life and provision. The number ten can signify completeness or divine order in biblical numerology. This provision of bread not only meets the physical needs of Jesse's sons but also prefigures the spiritual nourishment that Christ, the Bread of Life, would offer to humanity.

for your brothers
David's brothers were part of Saul's army, engaged in the conflict with the Philistines. This familial duty underscores the theme of brotherly care and responsibility. It also sets the stage for David's encounter with Goliath, where he would step into his role as Israel's deliverer, much like Christ, who is described as our elder brother in the faith.

and hurry to their camp
The urgency in Jesse's command reflects the pressing nature of the situation at the battlefront. The camp of Israel was located in the Valley of Elah, a significant geographical location for the impending confrontation with the Philistines. This urgency can be seen as a parallel to the urgency of the gospel message, which calls for immediate response and action.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesse
The father of David, a man from Bethlehem in the tribe of Judah. He is known for his role in sending David to the battlefield, which sets the stage for David's encounter with Goliath.

2. David
The youngest son of Jesse, who would later become the king of Israel. At this point in the account, he is a shepherd and is being sent by his father to deliver provisions to his brothers.

3. David's Brothers
They are part of Saul's army, encamped and preparing for battle against the Philistines. David is sent to them with food supplies.

4. The Camp
The location where the Israelite army is stationed, facing the Philistine forces. This setting is crucial as it leads to David's eventual confrontation with Goliath.

5. Ephah of Roasted Grain and Ten Loaves of Bread
These are the provisions Jesse sends with David, symbolizing care and support for his sons in the army.
Teaching Points
Obedience in Small Tasks
David's willingness to obey his father's request, even in a seemingly minor task, sets the stage for his greater role in God's plan. We should be faithful in small responsibilities, trusting that God can use them for His purposes.

Provision and Care
Jesse's act of sending food to his sons reflects God's provision and care for His people. We are reminded to care for others, especially those in challenging situations.

Divine Orchestration
This verse is a reminder that God orchestrates events in our lives, often through ordinary circumstances, to fulfill His greater purposes. We should remain attentive to how God might be working through our daily activities.

Family Dynamics and God's Plan
The interaction between Jesse and David highlights the role of family in God's plan. Families can be a means through which God prepares and positions us for His work.

Preparation for Greater Tasks
David's journey to the battlefield, initiated by a simple task, prepares him for his future role as a leader. We should view our current tasks as preparation for what God has in store for us.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
One day Jesse
יִשַׁ֜י (yi·šay)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3448: Jesse -- father of David

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to his son
בְּנ֗וֹ (bə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

David,
לְדָוִ֣ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

“Take
קַח־ (qaḥ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

this
הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

ephah
אֵיפַ֤ת (’ê·p̄aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 374: Ephah -- an ephah (a measure of grain)

of roasted grain
הַקָּלִיא֙ (haq·qā·lî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7039: Roasted ears of grain

and these
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

ten [loaves]
וַעֲשָׂרָ֥ה (wa·‘ă·śā·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 6235: Ten

of bread
לֶ֖חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

for your brothers
לְאַחֶ֙יךָ֙ (lə·’a·ḥe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and hurry
וְהָרֵ֥ץ (wə·hā·rêṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7323: To run

to their
לְאַחֶֽיךָ׃ (lə·’a·ḥe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

camp.
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (ham·ma·ḥă·neh)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army


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OT History: 1 Samuel 17:17 Jesse said to David his son Take (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:16
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