1 Samuel 17:28
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע
heard
H8085
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע
heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 34
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אָחִ֣יו
brother
H251
אָחִ֣יו
brother
Strong's:
H251
Word #:
3 of 34
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
הַגָּד֔וֹל
his eldest
H1419
הַגָּד֔וֹל
his eldest
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
4 of 34
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ
when he spake
H1696
בְּדַבְּר֖וֹ
when he spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
5 of 34
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים
H376
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 34
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וַיִּֽחַר
was kindled
H2734
וַיִּֽחַר
was kindled
Strong's:
H2734
Word #:
8 of 34
to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
אַף֩
anger
H639
אַף֩
anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
9 of 34
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
לָמָּה
H4100
לָמָּה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
13 of 34
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
זֶּ֣ה
H2088
יָרָֽדְתָּ׃
Why camest thou down
H3381
יָרָֽדְתָּ׃
Why camest thou down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
15 of 34
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
16 of 34
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מִ֨י
H4310
מִ֨י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
17 of 34
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
נָטַ֜שְׁתָּ
hither and with whom hast thou left
H5203
נָטַ֜שְׁתָּ
hither and with whom hast thou left
Strong's:
H5203
Word #:
18 of 34
properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive
הַצֹּ֤אן
sheep
H6629
הַצֹּ֤אן
sheep
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
20 of 34
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
הָהֵ֙נָּה֙
those
H2007
הָהֵ֙נָּה֙
those
Strong's:
H2007
Word #:
21 of 34
themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
22 of 34
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
יָדַ֣עְתִּי
I know
H3045
יָדַ֣עְתִּי
I know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
24 of 34
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
25 of 34
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֵת֙
H853
וְאֵת֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
27 of 34
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
רֹ֣עַ
and the naughtiness
H7455
רֹ֣עַ
and the naughtiness
Strong's:
H7455
Word #:
28 of 34
badness (as marring), physically or morally
כִּ֗י
H3588
כִּ֗י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
30 of 34
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לְמַ֛עַן
H4616
לְמַ֛עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
31 of 34
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
רְא֥וֹת
that thou mightest see
H7200
רְא֥וֹת
that thou mightest see
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
32 of 34
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Cross References
Matthew 10:36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.Genesis 37:8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.Genesis 37:4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.Genesis 37:11And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.Proverbs 18:19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.Mark 3:21And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.Psalms 35:11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.Matthew 27:18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Historical Context
Elder brothers held authority in Israelite family structure. Eliab may have still smarted from rejection when Samuel had passed him by (16:6-7). His presence in the army without action against Goliath made David's bold faith an implicit rebuke.
Questions for Reflection
- How does family resistance sometimes test genuine calling?
- What does Eliab's accusation reveal about how defensive pride misreads godly zeal?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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.
Eliab's angry accusation against David reflects the older brother's wounded pride and perhaps guilt over his own inaction. The charges of pride and 'naughtiness of thine heart' ironically describe Eliab better than David. His dismissive reference to 'those few sheep' denigrates David's faithful service. Family members often struggle most to recognize God's calling on the unexpected one among them.