1 Samuel 30:3
New International Version
When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

New Living Translation
When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families,

English Standard Version
And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

Berean Standard Bible
When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

New American Standard Bible
When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

NASB 1995
When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

NASB 1977
And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

Amplified Bible
When David and his men came to the town, it was burned, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.

Christian Standard Bible
When David and his men arrived at the town, they found it burned. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been kidnapped.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When David and his men arrived at the town, they found it burned down. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been kidnapped.

American Standard Version
And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.

Contemporary English Version
When David and his men came to Ziklag, they saw the burned-out ruins and learned that their families had been taken captive.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
By the time David and his men came to the town, it had been burned down, and their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive.

Good News Translation
When David and his men arrived, they found that the town had been burned down and that their wives, sons, and daughters had been carried away.

International Standard Version
David and his men came to the town, and it had been burned down. Their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

Majority Standard Bible
When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

NET Bible
When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive.

New Heart English Bible
When David and his men came to the city, look, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters were taken captive.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David comes in—and his men—to the city, and behold, [it is] burned with fire, and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters have been taken captive.

Young's Literal Translation
And David cometh in -- and his men -- unto the city, and lo, burnt with fire, and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters have been taken captive!

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will come, and his men, to the city, and behold, it burnt with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters were taken captive.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So when David and his men came to the city, and found it burnt with fire, and that their wives and their sons, and their daughters were taken captives,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, when David and his men had arrived at the city, and had found it burned with fire, and that their wives and their sons and daughters had been led away as captives,

New American Bible
David and his men arrived at the city to find it burned to the ground and their wives, sons, and daughters taken captive.

New Revised Standard Version
When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And 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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burning in fire, and their wives and their children and their daughters were taken captive
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David and his men came into the city, and, behold, it was burnt with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters were carried captive.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Amalekites Raid Ziklag
2They 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. 3When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.…

Cross References
Genesis 14:11-16
The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way. / They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom. / Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram. ...

Judges 21:23
The Benjamites did as instructed and carried away the number of women they needed from the dancers they caught. They went back to their own inheritance, rebuilt their cities, and settled in them.

2 Kings 25:9-10
He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. / And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 1:3
And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

Job 1:13-19
One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, / a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, / the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” ...

Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Psalm 137:1-3
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. / There on the willows we hung our harps, / for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: “Sing us a song of Zion.”

Isaiah 42:22
But this is a people plundered and looted, all trapped in caves or imprisoned in dungeons. They have become plunder with no one to rescue them, and loot with no one to say, “Send them back!”

Jeremiah 30:16
Nevertheless, all who devour you will be devoured, and all your adversaries—every one of them—will go off into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered, and all who raided you will be raided.

Lamentations 1:1-3
How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave. / She weeps aloud in the night, with tears upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. / Judah has gone into exile under affliction and harsh slavery; she dwells among the nations but finds no place to rest. All her pursuers have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.

Matthew 2:16-18
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. / Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: / “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

John 16:20
Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Acts 8:3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

burned

Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

1 Peter 1:6,7
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: …

Jump to Previous
Burned Burnt Captive Captives City Daughters David Destroyed Prisoners Wives Ziklag
Jump to Next
Burned Burnt Captive Captives City Daughters David Destroyed Prisoners Wives Ziklag
1 Samuel 30
1. The Amalekites raid Ziklag
4. David asking counsel, is encouraged by God to pursue them
11. By the means of a received Egyptian he is brought to the enemies,
18. and recovers all the spoil
22. David's law to divide the spoil equally
26. He sends presents to his friends














When David and his men
This phrase sets the stage for the narrative, highlighting David as the central figure. David, anointed by God and future king of Israel, is often seen as a type of Christ, a shepherd and leader. His "men" refer to the loyal followers who accompanied him during his time of exile from King Saul. This group of men, often referred to as David's mighty men, were a band of warriors who shared in his trials and triumphs. Historically, these men were outcasts and distressed individuals who found purpose and leadership under David, reflecting the transformative power of godly leadership.

came to the city
The city in question is Ziklag, a Philistine town given to David by Achish, the king of Gath. Ziklag served as David's base of operations during his time of refuge from Saul. Archaeologically, Ziklag's location has been debated, but it is generally believed to be in the Negev region. The return to the city signifies a moment of expectation for rest and reunion, which is starkly contrasted by the devastation they encounter.

they found it burned down
The burning of Ziklag was a devastating act carried out by the Amalekites, a nomadic tribe and long-standing enemies of Israel. The Hebrew root for "burned" (שָׂרַף, saraph) conveys complete destruction by fire, symbolizing judgment and loss. This act of destruction serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of spiritual warfare. Historically, fire was a common method of destruction in ancient warfare, intended to demoralize and weaken the enemy.

and their wives and sons and daughters
The mention of "wives and sons and daughters" emphasizes the personal and communal loss experienced by David and his men. In ancient Israelite society, family was central to one's identity and social structure. The capture of their families represents not only a personal tragedy but also a threat to the continuity of their lineage and legacy. This loss underscores the vulnerability of human relationships and the importance of divine protection.

taken captive
The phrase "taken captive" (שָׁבָה, shabah) indicates that their families were not killed but taken as prisoners, likely to be sold into slavery or used as leverage. This act of captivity reflects the brutal realities of ancient warfare and the dehumanizing effects of sin. Scripturally, captivity often symbolizes spiritual bondage and the need for deliverance. Theologically, this sets the stage for God's redemptive intervention through David, prefiguring Christ's ultimate victory over sin and death.

(3) And behold, it was burned with fire.--A terrible reception for David and his free lances, on their return from their ill-omened expedition with the great Philistine army, to find only the charred and smoking ruins of their homes; not one of all their dear ones, whom they had left behind--as they thought in security--left to tell the story of the disaster. It was the Egyptian slave who had fallen sick, and, in consequence, had been deserted, and whom they came upon in the course of the pursuit, who gave them the details, and told them the story of the invasion, and described the route taken by the marauding force on their return to their country.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When David
דָוִ֤ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

and his men
וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ (wa·’ă·nā·šāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

came
וַיָּבֹ֨א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to the city,
הָעִ֔יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

they found
וְהִנֵּ֥ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

it burned down
שְׂרוּפָ֖ה (śə·rū·p̄āh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

and their wives
וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם (ū·nə·šê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and sons
וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם (ū·ḇə·nê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters
וּבְנֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (ū·ḇə·nō·ṯê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter

taken captive.
נִשְׁבּֽוּ׃ (niš·bū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity


Links
1 Samuel 30:3 NIV
1 Samuel 30:3 NLT
1 Samuel 30:3 ESV
1 Samuel 30:3 NASB
1 Samuel 30:3 KJV

1 Samuel 30:3 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 30:3 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 30:3 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 30:3 French Bible
1 Samuel 30:3 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 30:3 When David and his men came (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 30:2
Top of Page
Top of Page