I Chronicles 20

¹And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.

²And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.

³And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

⁴And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.

⁵And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.

⁶And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.

⁷But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.

⁸These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

I Chronicles 20

¹And it cometh to pass, at the time of the turn of the yearat the time of the going out of the messengersthat Joab leadeth out the force of the host, and destroyeth the land of the sons of Ammon, and cometh in and beseigeth RabbahDavid is abiding in Jerusalemand Joab smiteth Rabbah, and breaketh it down.

²And David taketh the crown of their king from off his head, and findeth it in weight a talent of gold, and in it a precious stone, and it is on the head of David: and spoil of the city he hath brought out very much,

³and the people who are in it he hath brought out, and setteth to the saw, and to cutting instruments of iron, and to axes; and thus doth David to all cities of the sons of Ammon, and David turneth back, and all the people, to Jerusalem.

⁴And it cometh to pass, after this, that there remaineth war in Gezer with the Philistines, then hath Sibbechai the Hushathite smitten Sippai, of the children of the giant, and they are humbled.

⁵And there is again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair smiteth Lahmi, brother of Goliath the Gittite, the wood of whose spear is like a beam of weavers.

⁶And there is again war in Gath, and there is a man of measure, and his fingers and his toes are six and six, twenty and four, and also, he hath been born to the giant.

⁷And he reproacheth Israel, and smite him doth Jonathan son of Shimea, brother of David.

⁸These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fall by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

I Chronicles 20

⁵And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.

⁶And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.

⁷But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.

⁸These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

I Chronicles 20:1

KJV

And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.

YLT

And it cometh to pass, at the time of the turn of the yearat the time of the going out of the messengersthat Joab leadeth out the force of the host, and destroyeth the land of the sons of Ammon, and cometh in and beseigeth RabbahDavid is abiding in Jerusalemand Joab smiteth Rabbah, and breaketh it down.

KJV

And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.

YLT

And David taketh the crown of their king from off his head, and findeth it in weight a talent of gold, and in it a precious stone, and it is on the head of David: and spoil of the city he hath brought out very much,

KJV

And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

YLT

and the people who are in it he hath brought out, and setteth to the saw, and to cutting instruments of iron, and to axes; and thus doth David to all cities of the sons of Ammon, and David turneth back, and all the people, to Jerusalem.

KJV

And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.

YLT

And it cometh to pass, after this, that there remaineth war in Gezer with the Philistines, then hath Sibbechai the Hushathite smitten Sippai, of the children of the giant, and they are humbled.

KJV

And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.

YLT

And there is again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair smiteth Lahmi, brother of Goliath the Gittite, the wood of whose spear is like a beam of weavers.

KJV

And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.

YLT

And there is again war in Gath, and there is a man of measure, and his fingers and his toes are six and six, twenty and four, and also, he hath been born to the giant.

KJV

But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him.

YLT

And he reproacheth Israel, and smite him doth Jonathan son of Shimea, brother of David.

KJV

These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

YLT

These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fall by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Understanding King James Version vs Young's Literal Translation in I Chronicles 20

King James Version (KJV)

The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

An extremely literal, word-for-word translation that preserves original verb tenses and phrasing. Best for close study and comparing structures from the source languages. The English can feel rigid, but it’s very useful for detailed analysis.

You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of I Chronicles 20 in the King James Version and Young's Literal Translation. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.

Key Comparison: I Chronicles 20:1

KJV

"And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it."

YLT

"And it cometh to pass, at the time of the turn of the yearat the time of the going out of the messengersthat Joab leadeth out the force of the host, and destroyeth the land of the sons of Ammon, and cometh in and beseigeth RabbahDavid is abiding in Jerusalemand Joab smiteth Rabbah, and breaketh it down."