The Meaning of 1 Samuel 17:18 Explained

1 Samuel 17:18

KJV: And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

YLT: and these ten cuttings of the cheese thou dost take in to the head of the thousand, and thy brethren thou dost inspect for welfare, and their pledge dost receive.'

Darby: and carry these ten cheeses to the captain of the thousand, and visit thy brethren to see how they are, and take a pledge of them.

ASV: and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And carry  these ten  cheeses  unto the captain  of [their] thousand,  and look  how thy brethren  fare,  and take  their pledge. 

What does 1 Samuel 17:18 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 17:17-30 - David Unawed By The Giant
At this juncture David arrived in the camp, sent by Jesse to inquire after the welfare of his three elder sons, who had followed Saul to the war. He also brought them provisions, and a present for the captain of their troop. On arriving at the trenches, he found the army in battle-array but not daring to advance. When the whole story was detailed to the young shepherd, he looked at the incident and challenge from the spiritual side. This event, therefore, marked a turning-point not only in his own history, but in that of his people. One, at least, was found in their ranks who looked at things from God's standpoint, counted on the God of the ancient Covenant, and was prepared to venture all on faith, 1 Samuel 17:26; 1 Samuel 17:36-37.
His brother imputed to him a restless ambition, an unworthy curiosity. Much in the same way the kinsfolk of our Savior misunderstood His motives and sought to interrupt His work. But David was undaunted and, answering his brother kindly and gently, he pressed on with his inquiries and protests, until the tidings of the young champion reached the king. The victory over himself when Eliab reproached him was part of his preparation for the coming conflict. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 17

1  The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle
4  Goliath challenges a combat
12  David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge
28  Eliab chides him
30  He is brought to Saul
32  shows the reason of his confidence
38  and slays the giant
55  Saul takes notice of David

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 17:18 mean?

and ten cuts cheeses these carry to the captain of [their] thousand and your brothers see how fare news of them bring back
וְ֠אֵת עֲשֶׂ֜רֶת חֲרִצֵ֤י הֶֽחָלָב֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה תָּבִ֖יא לְשַׂר־ הָאָ֑לֶף וְאֶת־ אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ תִּפְקֹ֣ד לְשָׁל֔וֹם עֲרֻבָּתָ֖ם תִּקָּֽח

עֲשֶׂ֜רֶת  ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
חֲרִצֵ֤י  cuts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: חָרִיץ 
Sense: a cut, thing cut, sharp instrument, sharp cutting instrument, harrow, hoe.
הֶֽחָלָב֙  cheeses 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָלָב  
Sense: milk, sour milk, cheese.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
תָּבִ֖יא  carry 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לְשַׂר־  to  the  captain 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הָאָ֑לֶף  of  [their]  thousand 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
אַחֶ֙יךָ֙  your  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
תִּפְקֹ֣ד  see  how 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
לְשָׁל֔וֹם  fare 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
עֲרֻבָּתָ֖ם  news  of  them 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֲרֻבָּה  
Sense: pledge, token, bond, surety, thing exchanged.
תִּקָּֽח  bring  back 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.