1 Samuel 17:15 nasb — but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.

NASB

"but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem."

— 1 Samuel 17:15, NASB

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1 Samuel 17:15 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 17 — Context

12

Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.

13

The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14

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

15

but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.

16

The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.

17

Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves and run to the camp to your brothers.

18

"Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of their thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them.

1 Samuel 17:15 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 17:15 say?
1 Samuel 17:15 in the NASB reads: “but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.”
Where is 1 Samuel 17:15 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 17:15 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17, verse 15.
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 17:15.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 17:15 in?
1 Samuel 17:15 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 17:15?
1 Samuel 17:15 reads (NASB): “but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem.” 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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