1 Chronicles 14:13 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּסִ֤יפוּ עוֹד֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֖וּ בָּעֵֽמֶק׃
BSAOnce againyâçaph▸ [still, yet again] the PhilistinesPᵉlishtîy [inhabitants of Philistia, a non-Israelite people] raidedpâshaṭ▸ [made a raid, spread themselves abroad] the valleyʻêmeq [lowland area, region of conflict]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּסִ֤יפוּ | and they repeated | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| עוֹד֙ | again | |
| פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים | [the] Philistines | Noun gentilic, masculine plural absolute |
| וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֖וּ | and they made a raid | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בָּעֵֽמֶק׃ | in the valley | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Once again the Philistines raided the valley. |
| KJV | And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. |
| ASV | And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. |
| YLT | And the Philistines add again, and rush into the valley, |
| WEB | The Philistines made another raid in the valley. |
| BBE | Then the Philistines again went out in every direction in the valley. |
Where they part company is in the interpretation of יָסַף — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is straightforward, with additional phrases providing context and detail about the subject and action.
4 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
subjectפְּלִשְׁתִּי
verbיָסַף
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Chronicles 14:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Ongoing Conflict with the Philistinesgenerated
1 Chronicles 14:13 describes a military situation where the Philistines, having previously abandoned their gods, return to raid the valley once more. This highlights the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines, with David seeking divine guidance in the face of their repeated assaults, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 14:9 | Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 5:22–25 | Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 20:22 | Afterward, the prophet approached the king of Israel and said, “Go and strengthen your position, and take note what you must do, for in the spring the king of Aram will come up against you.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָסַף, vai.yo.Si.fugenerated
The verb יָסַף (yasaf) is a Hiphil form meaning to add or increase, indicating a repetition of action. It suggests that the Philistines are not only returning but are doing so with intent to escalate their conflict.
This word captures the sense of continuation or recurrence, emphasizing that the Philistines are persistent in their military efforts against Israel. The parsing as a sequential imperfect indicates that this action is part of an ongoing narrative.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses raided for the action of the Philistines.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The sentence is structured around two finite verbs: יָסַף (they repeated) and יִּפְשְׁטוּ (they made a raid), with the subject פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines) performing both actions. The prepositional phrase בָּעֵֽמֶק (in the valley) provides the location of the raid.
This structure emphasizes the actions of the Philistines in a straightforward manner, with the valley serving as a critical backdrop for their military endeavors.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָסַף as προσέθεντο (they added), which indicates a similar sense of repetition, but with a slight nuance of joining or increasing their efforts.
This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the Philistines' actions, suggesting they are not just returning, but intensifying their campaign against Israel.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 14:13 tells us that the Philistines raided the valley again, indicating their persistent attacks against Israel. David, aware of their actions, seeks guidance from God in the surrounding verses.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the Philistines were persistent in their military actions against Israel, indicating ongoing conflict.
It highlights their determination and the continuous threat they posed to Israel, necessitating David's reliance on divine guidance.
David inquired of God for strategy on how to confront the Philistines, showing his dependence on divine wisdom.
It illustrates the challenges David faced from external enemies and his reliance on God for victory, a recurring theme in his kingship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see persistence in challenges in my own life, similar to the Philistines' repeated raids?
- How can I seek guidance in difficult situations as David did when facing the Philistines?
- What does this passage teach about the nature of conflict and the need for divine assistance?
- How can I apply the lessons of perseverance and reliance on God from this verse to my own struggles?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 14:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. The Philistines yet again spread themselves. They renewed the campaign the next season, taking the same route.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 14 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Chronicles 14:13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.Ver. 13. And the Philistine yet again.] Ne accepta quidem clade resipiscunt: they were obdurate and obstinate.
Read John Trapp on 1 Chronicles 14 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13-16) A second Philistine invasion and defeat (2 Samuel 5:22-25).
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 14 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. yet again] This invasion of “all the Philistines” (1 Chronicles 14:8) was too serious to be repelled by a single defeat. spread themselves abroad] R.V. made a raid (as 1 Chronicles 14:9). in the valley] in 2 Samuel 5:22, in the valley of Rephaim.
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 14 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Once again the Philistines raided the valley.
The Philistines made another raid in the valley.
Once again the Philistines raided the valley.
The Philistines again raided the valley.
Tyndale line
And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.
And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.
And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.
And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.
Againe the Philistims came and spread them selues in the valley.
Strictly literal
And the Philistines yet again spread themselves in the valley.
And the Philistines add again, and rush into the valley,
And the Philistines add again, and rush into the valley,
And the Philistines [came] once again, and spread themselves out in the valley.
Then the Philistines raided the valley yet again.
From the Latin
Another time also the Philistines made an irruption, and spread themselves abroad in the valley.
Simplified
However, the Philistines returned and made another raid on the valley.
Then the Philistines again went out in every direction in the valley.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all five words matched in the Hebrew and Greek versions. This consistency supports the reliability of the text across these traditions.
וַיֹּסִ֤יפוּ עוֹד֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֖וּ בָּעֵֽמֶק׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Chronicles 14:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָסַף (yacaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to add or increase. It can denote actions like joining oneself to something or continuing to do a task. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, with nuances of doing something again or augmenting an amount.
יָסַף 214 vb. add
Qal add
Niph.
join (intr.), join oneself to
be joined, added to
Hiph.
add
sq. inf. add to do = do again or more
sq. Impf.
sq. Impf. asynd.
base
H3254 יָסַף add . add
. . join (intr.), join oneself to
. be joined, added to
. . add
. . sq. inf. add to do = do again or more
. sq. Impf.
. sq. Impf. asynd.
3254 yacaph yaw-saf'
a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to
continue to do a thing):--add, X again, X any more, X cease, X
come more, + conceive again, continue, exceed, X further, X
gather together, get more, give more-over, X henceforth,
increase (more and more), join, X longer (bring, do, make,
much, put), X (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed
(further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, X yet, yield.
יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add: again.
: again/continue/more[instances]
1) to add, increase, do again
1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to join, join oneself to
1b2) to be joined, be added to
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to add, increase
1c2) to do more, do again
יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add.
: add/more[amount]
1) to add, increase, do again
1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to join, join oneself to
1b2) to be joined, be added to
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to add, increase
1c2) to do more, do again
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vhw3mp
עוֹד (owd) primarily denotes a sense of iteration or continuance, functioning mostly as an adverb meaning 'still,' 'yet,' or 'again.' It can also imply addition or repetition, as in 'more' or 'besides.' The word appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing persistence or continuation.
עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides
base
H5750 עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides
5750 `owd ode
or rod {ode}; from 5749; properly, iteration or continuance;
used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again,
repeatedly, still, more:--again, X all life long, at all,
besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer,
(any) more(-over), X once, since, (be) still, when, (good,
the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet
(within).
see HEBREW for 05749
עוֹד (od) — still.
subst
1) a going round, continuance
adv
2) still, yet, again, besides
2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence)
2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition)
2c) again
2d) still, moreover, besides
Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751)
HAcmsa — HAcmsa
a-gen': Advb. denoting repetition; in New Testament, generally for palin, "back," "once more." Occasionally, it has the force of a connective, synonymous with "moreover," as in Ro 15:10 ff; 1Co 3:20, etc. The expression "born again" of the King James Version, Joh 3:3,7; 1Pe 1:23, translating the Greek "anothen" and "ana" in composition, becomes in the Revised Version (British and American) "anew," i.e. "over again." As these particles mean "from above" and "up," their use as indicating repetition is sometimes disputed, but without further foundation than that "again" does not exhaust the meaning.
The Hebrew word פְּלִשְׁתִּי (*pelishtiy*) means 'Philistine' and refers to an inhabitant of Philistia, with roots indicating they are descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor. It is derived from the lemma for Philistia, פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת (*peleshet*), and is first mentioned in Genesis 10:14.
פְּלִשְׁתִּי 288 adj.gent. Philistine
base
H6430 פְּלִשְׁתִּי Philistine
6430 Plishtiy pel-ish-tee'
patrial from 6429; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of
Pelesheth:--Philistine.
see HEBREW for 06429
פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — Philistine.
Philistine = "immigrants"
an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan
Another spelling of pe.le.shet (פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת "Philistia" H6429)
פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — Philistine.
A Philistine living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.14;
son of: Casluhim (H3695)
§ Philistine = "immigrants"
an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan
פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — (Sea of the) Philistines.
Philistine = "immigrants"
an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan
Another name of ga.dol (גָּדוֹל "Great( Sea)" H1419J)
Ngmpa — Noun gentilic · masculine plural absoluteHNgmpa
fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi):
I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES
1. Race and Origin
2. Religion
3. Individual Philistines Mentioned
4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision
5. History in the Old Testament to Death of Saul
6. History Continued to Time of Ahaz
7. Later Notices
II. MONUMENTAL NOTICES
1. Palestinian Excavations
2. Egyptian Monuments
3. Assyrian Texts
III. THE CRETAN THEORY
1. Cherethim and Kretes
2. Caphtor and Keft
IV. DAVID'S GUARDS
1. The "Cherethi" and the "Pelethi" Not Mercenaries
2. Meaning of These Terms
3. Native Hebrews
4. Review
LITERATURE
I. Old Testament Notices.
1. Race and Origin:
The Philistines were an uncircumcised people inhabiting the shore plain between Gezer and Gaza in Southwestern Palestine (see PHILISTIA). The name Palestine itself (Hebrew pelesheth) refers to their country. The word means "migrants," and they came from another country. They…
Philistines
(Gen. 10:14, R.V.; but in A.V., “Philistim”), a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other Mediterranean islands. Some suppose them to have been a branch of the Rephaim (2 Sam. 21:16-22). In the time of Abraham they inhabited the south-west of Judea, Abimelech of Gerar being their king (Gen. 21:32, 34; 26:1). They are, however, not noticed among the Canaanitish tribes mentioned in the Pentateuch. They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, i.e., probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. In the whole record from Exodus to Samuel they are…
(immigrants), The origin of the Philistines is nowhere expressly stated in the Bible; but as the prophets describe them as "the Philistines-from Caphtor," (Amos 9:7) and "the remnant of the maritime district of Caphtor" (Jeremiah 47:4) it is prima facie probable that they were the Caphtorim which came out of Caphtor" who expelled the Avim from their territory and occupied it; in their place, (2:23) and that these again were the Caphtorim mentioned in the Mosaic genealogical table among the descendants of Mizraim. (Genesis 10:14) It has been generally assumed that Caphtor represents Crete, and that the Philistines migrated from that island, either directly or through Egypt, into Palestine. But the name Caphtor is more probably…
A celebrated people, who inhabited the southern seacoast of Canaan, which from them took the name of Philistia, Ps 60:8 108:9, or Palestine. They seem originally to have migrated form Egypt to Caphtor, by which some understand Crete, and others with the ancients Cappadocia, Ge 10:14, and thence to have passed over to Palestine under the name of Caphtorim, where they drove out the Avim, who dwelt from Hazerim to Azzah, that is, Gaza, and swelt in their stead, De 2:23. The country they inhabited lay between the higher land of Judea and the Mediterranean, and was in the main a level and fertile territory. It resembles our own western prairies; and bears splendid crops year after year, though miserably cultivated and never manured.
פָּשַׁט (pashat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strip off or to invade. It encompasses actions like unclothing, plundering, and making a dash, with various forms indicating different nuances such as flaying or putting off garments. The term appears in different contexts, including military actions and personal disrobing.
פָּשַׁט vb. strip off, make a dash, raid
Qal
strip off, put off, one’s garment
put off (one’s shelter), i.e. make a dash (from a sheltered place)
Pi. to strip the slain
Hiph.
strip one of garment
strip off
flay
Hithp. he stripped himself of his garment
base
H6584 פָּשַׁט strip off, make a dash, raid
6584 pashat paw-shat'
a primitive root; to spread out (i.e. deploy in hostile
array); by analogy, to strip (i.e. unclothe, plunder, flay,
etc.):--fall upon, flay, invade, make an invasion, pull off,
put off, make a road, run upon, rush, set, spoil, spread
selves (abroad), strip (off, self).
פָּשַׁט (pa.shat) — to strip.
1) to strip, invade, strip off, make a dash, raid, spread out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to strip off, put off
1a2) to put off (one's shelter), make a dash
1b) (Piel) to strip
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to strip of
1c2) to strip off
1c3) to flay
1d) (Hithpael) to strip oneself of
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
rad (1Sa 27:10).
See WAR, 3.
The Hebrew word עֵ֫מֶק (*'emeq*) means 'vale' or 'valley,' indicating a broad depression in the landscape. It is derived from the root meaning 'deepening' or 'depth.' This term is often used in proper names, such as the Valley of Achor and the Valley of Elah, and covers a range of valleys and lowlands mentioned in the Old Testament.
עֵ֫מֶק 70 n.m. vale (prop. deepening, depth)
base
H6010 עֵ֫מֶק vale (prop. deepening, depth)
6010 `emeq ay'-mek
from 6009; a vale (i.e. broad depression):--dale, vale,
valley (often used as a part of proper names). See also 1025.
see HEBREW for 06009
see HEBREW for 01025
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Achor).
Combined with a.khor (עָכוֹר " of Achor" H5911)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Beracah).
Combined with be.ra.khah (בְּרָכָה " of Beracah" H1294H)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Elah).
Combined with e.lah (אֵלָה "Elah" H0425L)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Emek.
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Hebron).
Combined with chev.ron (חֶבְרוֹן " of Hebron" H2275H)
§ valley, vale, lowland, open country
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Topheth).
valley, vale, lowland, open country
Another name of to.phet (תֹּ֫פֶת "Topheth" H8612)
עֵ֫מֶק (e.meq) — Valley (of Jezreel).
Combined with yiz.re.el (יִזְרְעֶאל " of Jezreel" H3157L)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
val'-i.
See VALE; VALLEY.
Valley
(1.) Heb. bik’ah, a “cleft” of the mountains (Deut. 8:7; 11:11; Ps. 104:8; Isa. 41:18); also a low plain bounded by mountains, as the plain of Lebanon at the foot of Hermon around the sources of the Jordan (Josh. 11:17; 12:7), and the valley of Megiddo (2 Chr. 35:22).
(2.) ‘Emek, “deep;” “a long, low plain” (Job 39:10, 21; Ps. 65:13; Cant. 2:1), such as the plain of Esdraelon; the “valley of giants” (
With respect to the general features of the Holy Land, see CANAAN; and for descriptions of some of its numerous valleys, see JERUSALEM, JEZREEL, JORDAN, REPHAIM, SHECHIEM, and SODOM. "The valley of the shadow of death," is an expression denoting an extremely perilous and cheerless condition of the soul, Ps 23:4, and may have been suggested by the psalmist’s experience with his flock in some of the deep, narrow, and dark ravines of Syria.
Thus the entrance to Petra is by long winding defile, between rugged precipices in some spots not more than twelve or fourteen feet apart and two or three hundred feet high, and almost excluding the light of day. See view in SELA. A similar pass south of mount Carmel is now known as the "Valley of Death-shade."