1 Samuel 30 · Verse 2

1 Samuel 30:2

And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
1 Samuel 30:2, King James Version

1 Samuel 30:2 in other translations

BSBThey had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.
WEBand had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They didn’t kill any, but carried them off and went their way.
ASVand had taken captive the women and all that were therein, both small and great: they slew not any, but carried them off, and went their way.
YLTand they take captive the women who are in it; from small unto great they have not put any one to death, and they lead away, and go on their way.
DARBYand had taken the women captives that were in it; both great and small: they had put none to death, but had carried them off, and went on their way.
BBEAnd had made the women and all who were there, small and great, prisoners: they had not put any of them to death, but had taken them all away.
WebsterAnd had taken the women captives that were in it, they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

What does 1 Samuel 30:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away--Their conduct seems to stand in favorable contrast to that of David (1Sa 27:11). But their apparent clemency did not arise from humane considerations. It is traceable to the ancient war usages of the East, where the men of war, on the capture of a city, were unsparingly put to death, but there were no warriors in Ziklag at the time. The women and boys were reserved for slaves, and the old people were spared out of respect to age.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 30:1-6

When we go abroad in the way of our duty, we may comfortably hope that God will take care of our families in our absence, but not otherwise. If, when we come off a journey, we find our abode in peace, and not laid waste, as David here found his, let the Lord be praised for it. David's men murmured against him. Great faith must expect such severe trials. But, observe, that David was brought thus low, only just before…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 30:1-6 →

1 Samuel 30:2 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.

וַיִּשְׁבּ֨וּvai.yish.Buand they had taken captiveH7617
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַנָּשִׁ֤יםha.na.Shimthe womenH802
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whoH834
בָּהּ֙bah[were] in <the> it
מִקָּטֹ֣ןmi.ka.Tonfrom smallH6996
וְעַד\־ve.'ad-and untoH5704
גָּד֔וֹלga.DolgreatH1419
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
הֵמִ֖יתוּhe.Mi.tuthey had killedH4191
אִ֑ישׁ'IshanyoneH376
וַיִּֽנְהֲג֔וּvai.yin.ha.Guand they had driven them awayH5090
וַיֵּלְכ֖וּvai.ye.le.Khuand they had goneH1980
לְדַרְכָּֽם\׃le.dar.Kamto way theirH1870

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 30:2

  • 1 Samuel 27:11

    And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

  • Isaiah 27:8-9

    In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

  • 1 Samuel 30:19

    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.

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • Job 38:11

    And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
slew not.
19; 27:11; Job 38:11; Ps 76:10; Isa 27:8,9

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

Context

  • 1 Samuel 30:1

    And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

  • 1 Samuel 30:2

    And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

  • 1 Samuel 30:3

    So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

Read all of 1 Samuel 30

1 Samuel 30:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y habíanse llevado cautivas á las mujeres que estaban en ella, desde el menor hasta el mayor; mas á nadie habían muerto, sino llevado, é ídose su camino.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et ils avaient emmené captives les femmes qui y étaient; depuis le petit jusqu’au grand, ils n’avaient fait mourir personne, mais ils les avaient emmenés et s’en étaient allés leur chemin.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie hatten die Weiber und alle, die darin waren, gefangen weggeführt, vom Kleinsten bis zum Größten; sie hatten niemand getötet, sondern sie hatten sie weggetrieben und waren ihres Weges gezogen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et captivas duxerant mulieres ex ea, a minimo usque ad magnum: et non interfecerant quemquam, sed secum duxerant, et pergebant itinere suo.