1 Samuel 17:13 net — Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstbo…

NET Bible

"Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest."

— 1 Samuel 17:13, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 17:13 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 17 — Context

10

Then the Philistine said,“I defy Israel’s troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight each other!”

11

When Saul and all the Israelites heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.

12

Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saul’s days he was old and well advanced in years.

13

Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest.

14

Now David was the youngest. While the three oldest sons followed Saul,

15

David was going back and forth from Saul in order to care for his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

16

Meanwhile for forty days the Philistine approached every morning and evening and took his position.

1 Samuel 17:13 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 17:13 say?
1 Samuel 17:13 in the NET Bible reads: “Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest.”
Where is 1 Samuel 17:13 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 17:13 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17, verse 13.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 17:13.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 17:13 in?
1 Samuel 17:13 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 17:13?
1 Samuel 17:13 reads (NET): “Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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