Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 12:14
These Gadites were army commanders, the least of whom was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler lists Gadite warriors who joined David, identifying them as army commanders during a period of military consolidation.
The words — רָאשֵׁ֣י (ra.Shei) translates to "chiefs" or commanders, and הַ/קָּטָ֔ן (ha./ka.Tan) means "the little" or least, establishing a hierarchy within the unit.
The thread — The ratio of one combatant to hundreds or thousands recurs in Leviticus 26:8 as a covenant blessing and in Deuteronomy 32:30 as a covenant warning.
Why it lands — The verse records the documented combat effectiveness of Gadite commanders, requiring the reader to acknowledge their historical military role before noting how other texts attribute such disproportionate strength to divine intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 26:8 Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
- Deuteronomy 32:30 How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?