1 Chronicles 11:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The three break through enemy lines to fetch the water David longed for, but he refuses to drink it and pours it out to the LORD.
What Does 1 Chronicles 11:18 Mean?
Hearing David's wish, the three warriors do the unthinkable. They cut through the entire Philistine host, draw the water from Bethlehem's well, and carry it back. Yet David will not drink it. Instead he pours it out before the LORD as an offering.
This is one of the most moving moments in David's story. What was won at the risk of life is too costly to consume; it can only be given to God. By pouring it out, David turns their devotion into worship. The gesture teaches that the most precious gifts, purchased with sacrifice, belong on the altar. It points toward the costliness of love poured out, and toward One whose own life was poured out for us.
1 Chronicles 11:18 in the Original Language
nasak (נָסַךְ), 'poured out' -- to make a drink offering, lifting something costly to God in worship.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Chronicles 11:18
What does 1 Chronicles 11:18 mean?
The three break through enemy lines to fetch the water David longed for, but he refuses to drink it and pours it out to the LORD.