1 Samuel 22 · Verse 2

1 Samuel 22:2

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
1 Samuel 22:2, King James Version

1 Samuel 22:2 in other translations

BSBAnd all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
WEBEveryone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them. There were with him about four hundred men.
ASVAnd every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
YLTand gather themselves unto him do every man in distress, and every man who hath an exactor, and every man bitter in soul, and he is over them for head, and there are with him about four hundred men.
DARBYAnd every one in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one of embittered spirit collected round him; and he became a captain over them; and there were with him about four hundred men.
BBEAnd everyone who was in trouble, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, came together to him, and he became captain over them: about four hundred men were joined to him.
WebsterAnd every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, resorted to him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

What does 1 Samuel 22:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. every one that was in distress--(See on Jud 11:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 And every one that was in distress - debt - discontented - It is very possible that these several disaffected and exceptionable characters might at first have supposed that David, unjustly persecuted, would be glad to avail himself of their assistance that he might revenge himself upon Saul, and so they in the mean time might profit by plunder, etc. But if this were their design they were greatly disappointed, for David never made any improper use of them. They are never found plundering or murdering; on the contrary, they always appear under good discipline, and are only employed in services of a beneficent nature, and in defense of their country. Whatever they were before they came to David, we find that he succeeded in civilizing them, and making profitable to the state those who were before unprofitable. It is not necessary to strain the words of the original in order to prove that these were oppressed people, and not exceptionable characters, as some have done.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 22:1-5

See what weak instruments God sometimes uses, to bring about his own purposes. The Son of David is ready to receive distressed souls, who will be commanded by him. He receives all who come unto Him, however vile and miserable; he changes them into a holy people, and employs them in his service: those who would reign with him must be contented first to suffer with and for him. Observe with what tender concern David…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 22:1-5 →

1 Samuel 22:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּvai.yit.ka.be.Tzuand they gathered togetherH6908
אֵ֠לָיו'E.lavto himH413
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
אִ֨ישׁ'ishman ofH376
מָצ֜וֹקma.TzokdistressH4689
וְכָל\־ve.kholand everyH3605
אִ֨ישׁ'ishmanH376
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whomH834
ל֤וֹlo[belonged] to <the> him
נֹשֶׁא֙no.She'a creditorH5378
וְכָל\־ve.kholand everyH3605
אִ֣ישׁ'ishmanH376
מַר\־mar-bitter ofH4751
נֶ֔פֶשׁNe.feshsoulH5315
וַיְהִ֥יvay.Hiand he becameH1961
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei.Hemover themH5921
לְשָׂ֑רle.Sar<into> a commanderH8269
וַיִּהְי֣וּvai.yih.Yuand they wereH1961
עִמּ֔וֹi.Mowith himH5973
כְּאַרְבַּ֥עke.'ar.Ba'about fourH702
מֵא֖וֹתme.'othundred<s>H3967
אִֽישׁ\׃'IshmanH376

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 22:2

  • Matthew 11:28

    Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  • Psalms 72:12-14

    For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

  • 1 Samuel 25:13

    And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

  • 1 Samuel 30:22-24

    Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart. Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

  • 1 Samuel 1:10

    And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

  • 1 Samuel 30:6

    And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

  • 1 Samuel 25:15-16

    But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

  • 1 Samuel 9:16

    To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

  • 1 Samuel 23:13

    Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

  • Matthew 18:25-34

    But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. …

  • Judges 11:3

    Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.

  • Matthew 11:12

    And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
distress.
Jud 11:3; Mt 11:12,28
was in debt. Heb. had a creditor.
Mt 18:25-34
discontented. Heb. bitter of soul.
1:10; 30:6; Jud 18:25; 2Sa 17:8; Pr 31:6; *margins
a captain.
9:16; 25:15,16; 30:22-24; 2Sa 5:2; 2Ki 20:5; 1Ch 11:15-19
Ps 72:12-14; Mt 9:12,13; Heb 2:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 22:1

    David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.

  • 1 Samuel 22:2

    And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

  • 1 Samuel 22:3

    And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

Read all of 1 Samuel 22

1 Samuel 22:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y juntáronse con él todos los afligidos, y todo el que estaba adeudado, y todos los que se hallaban en amargura de espíritu, y fué hecho capitán de ellos: y tuvo consigo como cuatrocientos hombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et tout homme qui était dans la détresse, et tout homme qui était dans les dettes, et tout homme qui avait de l’amertume dans l’âme, s’assembla vers lui, et il fut leur chef; et il y eut avec lui environ 400 hommes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es versammelten sich zu ihm jeder Bedrängte, und jeder, der einen Gläubiger hatte, und jeder, der erbitterten Gemütes war, und er wurde ihr Oberster, und es waren bei ihm an vierhundert Mann.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et convenerunt ad eum omnes qui erant in angustia constituti, et oppressi ære alieno, et amaro animo: et factus est eorum princeps, fueruntque cum eo quasi quadringenti viri.