What Does 1 Samuel 17:29 Mean?
And David said, What have I done now? Is there not a word?
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?THE KEY
“Cause” is dabar, word and matter, so David points to something with substance to be spoken, not a vague excuse.
THE MEANING
When your motive is challenged, the accusation does not erase the matter you are answering. “Cause” is dabar: a word, a thing, a matter with substance. David’s question keeps that matter in view even as the conversation turns against him.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being challenged does not prove that your concern is empty; a real matter can remain beneath an accusation about your motives.
THE ROOT
דָּבָר
dāḇār
GROWS FROM
דבר
To speak; by extension, a word, thing, affair, or matter.
The Hebrew noun can mean both a spoken word and the matter or event itself. English “cause” preserves the sense of a reason, while dabar also lets the reason be something that can be spoken and examined.
ALSO GROWS
devarim: Words, things, or matters.
דְּבָרִים
The plural keeps speech and substance together: the “things” at issue can also be the words used to name them.
dibber: He spoke; to speak.
דִּבֶּר
This verb from the same root makes the connection explicit: the matter in David’s question belongs to the same word-family as speaking.
דָּוִד
Dāwîḏ
GROWS FROM
דוד
Beloved; loved one.
David’s name carries the sense of belovedness, but the verse does not shield him from accusation. He answers the challenge by bringing the matter itself into view.
ALSO GROWS
dod: Beloved or loved one; also a kinsman.
דּוֹד
This related word carries the beloved sense associated with David’s name.
dodim: Love or endearments.
דּוֹדִים
This form in the same word-family makes the name’s association with love audible in the language.
THE PATTERN
A word in Scripture can carry a matter into view or bear the substance of what is spoken.
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield, and your very great wages.By the word of the LORD the heavens are made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.In the beginning was the word, and the word was turned toward God, and the word was God.THE THREAD
By the word of the LORD the heavens are made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.The Hebrew behind “cause” is dabar, the same word in “By the word of the LORD.” That shared root lets David’s question hold more than an excuse: a matter can have the substance of something spoken and consequential.
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