1 Chronicles 11:9
in 1 Chronicles 11And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah of hosts was with him.
KJV
So David waxed greater and greater: for the Lord of hosts was with him.
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This verse in 1 Chronicles 11
Commentary
4 notes on this verseDavid waxed greater and greater, and these were his mighty men. Much of the strength and honour of great men is borrowed from their servants and depends upon them, which cannot but somewhat diminish pomp and power in the opinion of those that are wise. David is great because he has great men about him; take these away, and he is where he was.
This site's exposition
they called it the city of David
on 1 Chronicles 11:7-9
David's move into the captured stronghold gives it its lasting name, and Joab's building work on Millo and the rest of the city follows in the same two verses. Verse 9 states the reason for all of it plainly, David waxed greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him. The mighty men whose roll begins next verse are named as the visible means the Chronicler credits alongside that unseen cause.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
There is no doubt that human wills cannot resist the will of God, "who has done whatsoever he pleased in heaven and on earth" and who has even "done the things that are to come." Nor can the human will prevent him from doing what he wills, seeing that even with human wills he does what he wills, when he wills to do it.… There is the case of David, whom God with happier outcome set up over the kingdom. We read of him: "And David went on growing and increasing, and the Lord of hosts was with him." Then, shortly thereafter, it is said, "But the spirit came on Amasai, the chief among thirty, and he said, We are yours, O David, and for you, O son of Isay; peace, peace be to you, and peace to your helpers; for your God helped you." Could Amasai have opposed the will of God, instead of doing his will, since God, through his spirit, with which Amasai was clothed, wrought in his heart that he should so will and speak and act? In like fashion, a little later on, Scripture says, "And all these men of war, well appointed to fight, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel." Obviously, it was of their own will that these men made David king; the fact is clear and undeniable. Nevertheless, it was God, who effects in human hearts whatsoever he wills, who wrought this will in them. This is why Scripture first says, "And David went on growing and increasing, and the Lord of hosts was with him." The Lord God, therefore, who was with David, brought these men to make him king. And how did he bring them to this? Surely it was not by binding them with any material chains. Rather, he worked within them; he seized their hearts; he drew them on by means of their own wills, which he had himself created within them. […]
A commentator
Augustine of HippoPREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS 20.42 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
In vain also do they object that what we have established from Scripture in the books of Kings and Chronicles—that when God wills the accomplishment of something which ought not to be done except by people who will it, their hearts will be inclined to will this, with God producing this inclination, who in a marvelous and ineffable way works also in us that we will—is not pertinent to the subject with which we are dealing.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ | vaiyelekh | and he went | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| דָּוִ֖יד | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| הָל֣וֹךְ | halokh | continuously <to go> | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| וְגָד֑וֹל | vegadol | and becoming great | H1431 → | 117 times |
| וַיהוָ֥ה | vayahweh | and Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| צְבָא֖וֹת | tzevaot | of hosts | H6635 → | 485 times |
| עִמּֽוֹ׃ פ | imo | [was] with him | H5973 → | 1050 times |
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְand he went
vaiyelekhH1980 →1546 times
דָּוִ֖ידDavid
davidH1732 →999 times
הָל֣וֹךְcontinuously <to go>
halokhH1980 →1546 times
וְגָד֑וֹלand becoming great
vegadolH1431 →117 times
וַיהוָ֥הand Yahweh
vayahwehH3068 →6520 times
צְבָא֖וֹתof hosts
tzevaotH6635 →485 times
עִמּֽוֹ׃ פ[was] with him
imoH5973 →1050 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Isaiah 43:1–2
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Joshua 1:9
Through
Romans 8:31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
it leads to
- Psalms 118:6
The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Jeremiah 1:19
They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Psalms 56:11
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Psalms 118:6
About 1 Chronicles

Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Augustine of Hippo, ADMONITION AND GRACE 14.45; Augustine of Hippo, PREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS 20.42; Keil, The Books of the Chronicles and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
