1 Samuel 17:29

Amplified Bible

But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a [harmless] question?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.”

Hebrew Names Version
David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

King James Version
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Lexham English Bible
David replied, "What have I done now? I merely asked a question!

English Standard Version
And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?"

New Century Version
David asked, "Now what have I done wrong? Can't I even talk?"

New English Translation
David replied, "What have I done now? Can't I say anything?"

New American Standard Bible
But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Dauid sayde, What haue I nowe done? Is there not a cause?

Legacy Standard Bible
But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a word?"

Contemporary English Version
"Now what have I done?" David answered. "Can't I even ask a question?"

Complete Jewish Bible
David said, "What have I done now? I only asked a question."

Darby Translation
And David said, What have I now done? Was it not laid upon me?

Easy-to-Read Version
David said, "What did I do now? I didn't do anything wrong! I was only talking."

George Lamsa Translation
And David said, What have I done now? Behold, I was just talking.

Good News Translation
"Now what have I done?" David asked. "Can't I even ask a question?"

Literal Translation
And David said, What have I done now? Was it not but a word?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Dauid answered: What haue I downe now? Is there not an occasion?

American Standard Version
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Bible in Basic English
And David said, What have I done now? was it not only a word?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Dauid sayde: And what haue I nowe done? is there not a cause?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And David said: 'What have I now done? Was it not but a word?'

King James Version (1611)
And Dauid saide, What haue I now done? Is there not a cause?

English Revised Version
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Berean Standard Bible
"What have I done now?" said David. "Was it not just a question?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Dauid seide, What haue Y do? Whether it is not a word?

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith, `What have I done now? is it not a word?'

Update Bible Version
And David said, What have I done now? Is there not a cause?

Webster's Bible Translation
And David said, What have I now done? [Is there] not a cause?

World English Bible
David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

New King James Version
And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"

New Living Translation
"What have I done now?" David replied. "I was only asking a question!"

New Life Bible
But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?"

New Revised Standard
David said, "What have I done now? It was only a question."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And David said, What have I done, now? Was there not, a cause?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said: What have I done? is there not cause to speak?

Revised Standard Version
And David said, "What have I done now? Was it not but a word?"

THE MESSAGE
"What is it with you?" replied David. "All I did was ask a question." Ignoring his brother, he turned to someone else, asked the same question, and got the same answer as before.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?"

Contextual Overview

¹²Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men. ¹³His three older sons had followed Saul into battle. The names of his three sons who went to battle were Eliab, the firstborn; next, Abinadab; and third, Shammah. ¹⁴David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, ¹⁵but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem. ¹⁶The Philistine [Goliath] came out morning and evening, and took his stand for forty days. ¹⁷Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread and run quickly to the camp to your brothers. ¹⁸"Also take these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of the unit. See how your brothers are doing and bring back news of them. ¹⁹"Now they are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines." ²⁰So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, picked up the provisions and went just as Jesse had directed him. And he came to the encampment as the army was going out in battle formation shouting the battle cry. ²¹Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle formation, army against army.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 15:1, Acts 11:2-4, 1 Corinthians 2:15, 1 Peter 3:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:26 - What 1 Samuel 26:18 - what have I 1 Samuel 29:8 - But what have 1 Chronicles 27:18 - Elihu Esther 4:14 - for such a time Psalms 131:1 - my heart Matthew 26:8 - they John 12:4 - one

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And David said, what have I now done?.... That is criminal and blameworthy; as if he should say, I have only expressed an indignation against this uncircumcised Philistine, and a concern for the glory of God, and the honour of the people of Israel:

[is there] not a cause? either for his coming to the camp, being sent by his father; or of his expressing himself with indignation at the Philistine's defiance of the armies of Israel. Some take the sense to be, that he had done nothing, he had not committed any fact; it was mere words what he had said, he had attempted nothing, and therefore there was no reason to bear so hard upon him; to this purpose is the Targum,

"what have I done as yet? is it not a word "only" which I have spoken?''

but the former sense seems best.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Is there not a cause? - i. e., is not Saul’s promise, and the insolence of Goliath, a sufficent cause for what I am about to do?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 17:29. Is there not a cause? — הלוא דבר הוא halo dabar hu. I believe the meaning is what several of the versions express: I have spoken but a word. And should a man be made an offender for a word?