1 Samuel 17:18
New International Version
Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them.

New Living Translation
And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.”

English Standard Version
Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”

Berean Standard Bible
Take 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.

King James Bible
And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

New King James Version
And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.”

New American Standard Bible
Bring also these ten slices of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the well-being of your brothers and bring back confirmation from them.

NASB 1995
“Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them.

NASB 1977
“Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them.

Legacy Standard Bible
You shall also bring these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back a token from them.

Amplified Bible
Also take these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of the unit. See how your brothers are doing and bring back news of them.

Christian Standard Bible
Also take these ten portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the well-being of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Also take these 10 portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them.

American Standard Version
and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

Contemporary English Version
And here are ten large chunks of cheese to take to their commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are doing and bring back something that shows that they're all right.

English Revised Version
and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
And take these ten cheeses to the captain of the regiment. See how your brothers are doing, and bring back some news about them.

Good News Translation
And take these ten cheeses to the commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are getting along and bring back something to show that you saw them and that they are well.

International Standard Version
Take these ten pieces of cheese to the commander of the unit, check on the well-being of your brothers, and bring something back from them.

Majority Standard Bible
Take 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.

NET Bible
Also take these ten portions of cheese to their commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are doing and bring back their pledge that they received the goods.

New Heart English Bible
and bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers are doing, and bring back news."

Webster's Bible Translation
And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

World English Bible
and bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand; and see how your brothers are doing, and bring back news.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and take these ten cuttings of the cheese to the head of the one thousand, and inspect your brothers for welfare, and receive their pledge.”

Young's Literal Translation
and these ten cuttings of the cheese thou dost take in to the head of the thousand, and thy brethren thou dost inspect for welfare, and their pledge dost receive.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And these ten cuttings of milk thou shalt bring to the chief of a thousand; and thou shalt review thy brethren for peace, and take their pledge.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune: and go see thy brethren, if they are well: and learn with whom they are placed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune. And visit your brothers, to see if they are doing well. And learn with whom they have been stationed.”

New American Bible
Also take these ten cheeses for the field officer. Greet your brothers and bring home some token from them.

New Revised Standard Version
also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And carry these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand and inquire into the welfare of your brothers and bring the news of them to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And take to the Commander of a Thousand these ten cheeses of milk and visit your brothers in peace and bring their news to me”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and to thy brethren shalt thou bring greetings, and take their pledge;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Accepts the Challenge
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. 18 Take 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. 19They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”…

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,

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.”

1 Samuel 16:11
And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys

2 Samuel 17:29
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.”

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.

Nehemiah 13:10-13
I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. / So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts, / and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms. ...

Proverbs 18:16
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.

Isaiah 57:10
You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak.

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? ...

Mark 9:41
Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

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 carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and look how your brothers fare, and take their pledge.

carry

1 Samuel 16:20
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

cheeses [heb] cheeses of milk

2 Samuel 17:29
And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

Job 10:10
Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

their thousand [heb] a thousand

Genesis 37:14
And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

Acts 15:36
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

1 Thessalonians 3:5,6
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain…

Jump to Previous
Assurance Captain Carry Cheese Commander Cuts Cuttings Head Inspect News Pledge Receive Sign Ten Thousand Token Unit Visit Welfare
Jump to Next
Assurance Captain Carry Cheese Commander Cuts Cuttings Head Inspect News Pledge Receive Sign Ten Thousand Token Unit Visit Welfare
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














Also take these ten portions of cheese
In the ancient Near Eastern context, cheese was a valuable commodity, often made from goat's or sheep's milk. The Hebrew word for cheese here is "חֲרִיצֵי" (charitzei), which can refer to slices or portions. This offering of cheese signifies a gesture of goodwill and sustenance, reflecting the importance of hospitality and provision in biblical times. It underscores the practical care and concern for those in military service, highlighting the familial and communal support that was vital for the morale and sustenance of soldiers.

to the commander of their unit
The term "commander" in Hebrew is "שַׂר" (sar), meaning a leader or prince. This indicates a person of authority and responsibility within the military hierarchy. The act of giving cheese to the commander not only serves as a gesture of respect but also as a strategic move to ensure favor and protection for David's brothers. It reflects the structured nature of ancient armies and the importance of maintaining good relations with those in leadership positions.

Check on the welfare of your brothers
The phrase "welfare of your brothers" translates from the Hebrew "שָׁלוֹם" (shalom), which encompasses peace, well-being, and completeness. David's mission to check on his brothers' shalom highlights the deep familial bonds and the duty of care that family members had for one another. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of community and the interconnectedness of individuals within God's covenant people.

and bring back a token from them
The word "token" in Hebrew is "עֲרֻבָּה" (arubbah), which can mean a pledge or guarantee. This request for a token serves as a tangible proof of his brothers' well-being, providing assurance to their father, Jesse. It underscores the importance of communication and accountability within families, especially during times of conflict. This act of bringing back a token also symbolizes the trust and responsibility placed upon David, foreshadowing his future role as a leader who would bear the concerns of his people.

(18) Look how thy brethren fare.--The same learned commentator (Wordsworth), following out this curious line of Patristic interpretation, remarks on these words: "David is sent by his father to his brethren from Bethlehem. So the Divine David, Jesus Christ, who was born at Bethlehem, was sent to His brethren by his Heavenly Father." He completes the analogy between David and Christ by pointing out how David was ill-received by his brethren, though he came at his father's bidding to show them an act of kindness; so Christ, when sent by His Father from heaven on an embassy of love, was ill-received by His own brethren, the Jews. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:11).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Take also
תָּבִ֖יא (tā·ḇî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

these
הָאֵ֔לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

ten
עֲשֶׂ֜רֶת (‘ă·śe·reṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6235: Ten

portions
חֲרִצֵ֤י (ḥă·ri·ṣê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2757: Incisure, incised, a threshing-sledge, a slice

of cheese
הֶֽחָלָב֙ (he·ḥā·lāḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2461: Milk

to the commander
לְשַׂר־ (lə·śar-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of [their] unit.
הָאָ֑לֶף (hā·’ā·lep̄)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

Check
תִּפְקֹ֣ד (tip̄·qōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

on the welfare
לְשָׁל֔וֹם (lə·šā·lō·wm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

of your brothers
אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ (’a·ḥe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and bring back
תִּקָּֽח׃ (tiq·qāḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

an assurance from them.
עֲרֻבָּתָ֖ם (‘ă·rub·bā·ṯām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6161: Something given as security, a token, a bondsman


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OT History: 1 Samuel 17:18 And bring these ten cheeses to (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:17
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