1 Samuel 30:19

KJV

And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any [thing] that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there was nothing lacking {H5737} to them, neither {H4480} small {H6996} nor great {H1419}, neither sons {H1121} nor daughters {H1323}, neither spoil {H7998}, nor any thing that they had taken {H3947} to them: David {H1732} recovered {H7725} all.

Complete Jewish Bible

They found nothing missing, big or little - not sons, not daughters, not plundered goods or anything else they had taken - David brought it all back.

Berean Standard Bible

Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, or any of the plunder the Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back.

American Standard Version

And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David brought back all.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 30:19 powerfully declares the complete and comprehensive victory of David and his men over the Amalekites, who had raided Ziklag and taken their families and possessions captive. Following a devastating loss that brought David and his men to despair, this verse stands as the triumphant culmination of David's pursuit, confirming that absolutely nothing was lost—every person and every item was recovered, fulfilling God's explicit promise to David.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks a pivotal turning point in David's life, immediately following a period of profound distress. Having been dismissed by the Philistine lords and returning to Ziklag to find it utterly destroyed and its inhabitants taken captive, David and his men were plunged into deep grief, with his own men even contemplating stoning him ([1 Samuel 30:1-6](/1_samuel/30-1 "1 Samuel 30:1-6 - David's Distress at Ziklag")). In this moment of utter despair, David "strengthened himself in the Lord his God" ([1 Samuel 30:6](/1_samuel/30-6 "1 Samuel 30:6 - David Strengthens Himself in the Lord")). He then sought divine counsel through the ephod, and the Lord unequivocally promised him success: "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all" ([1 Samuel 30:8](/1_samuel/30-8 "1 Samuel 30:8 - God's Promise of Recovery")). Verse 19 is the glorious fulfillment of that divine assurance, demonstrating God's faithfulness and David's obedience in action. The narrative then shifts to David's just distribution of the spoil, further highlighting his leadership and reliance on God ([1 Samuel 30:20-31](/1_samuel/30-20 "1 Samuel 30:20-31 - David's Distribution of Spoil")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Amalekites were a nomadic, predatory people, long-standing enemies of Israel, first encountered in the wilderness after the Exodus ([Exodus 17:8-16](/exodus/17-8 "Exodus 17:8-16 - Amalek Attacks Israel")). God had even commanded Saul to utterly destroy them ([1 Samuel 15:2-3](/1_samuel/15-2 "1 Samuel 15:2-3 - God's Command to Destroy Amalek")), a command Saul failed to fully obey, leading to his rejection as king. Their raid on Ziklag, a city granted to David by the Philistine king Achish, was typical of the tribal warfare and opportunistic plunder common in the ancient Near East. The practice of taking women and children captive was a common strategy, often for enslavement or ransom, rather than immediate slaughter. David's recovery of "all" was therefore a remarkable and divinely orchestrated reversal of a devastating defeat, affirming God's protection over His chosen one and His people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes prevalent throughout the book of 1 Samuel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Restoration**, showcasing God's sovereign power to restore what was lost, even in seemingly irreversible circumstances. Secondly, it underscores **God's Unwavering Faithfulness** to His promises; the explicit assurance given in [1 Samuel 30:8](/1_samuel/30-8 "1 Samuel 30:8 - God's Promise to David") is perfectly fulfilled in [1 Samuel 30:19](/1_samuel/30-19 "1 Samuel 30:19 - David Recovers All"). Thirdly, David's example emphasizes the critical importance of **Seeking God's Guidance** in times of crisis, demonstrating that divine direction is foundational to true success. Finally, the repeated emphasis on "nothing lacking" and "recovered all" stresses the **Completeness of God's Deliverance**, illustrating that when God acts, His restoration is total and exhaustive, leaving no stone unturned.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lacking (Hebrew, _'atar'_):** The KJV translates "lacking" from a Hebrew root that primarily means "to be rich," "to be abundant," or "to be complete." In the negative construction "nothing lacking," it conveys the idea of an absence of anything missing or incomplete. This emphasizes the absolute fullness of the recovery—nothing was left behind or unrecovered. It speaks to a state of perfect wholeness and restoration.
* **Recovered (Hebrew, _shuv'_):** This verb means "to return," "to bring back," or "to restore." Its use here is crucial, indicating not just a retrieval but a full restoration to the original state. It implies a reversal of fortunes, where what was taken away is brought back to its rightful owners. The active voice highlights David's agency in the recovery, but the context attributes the success to God's enabling power.
* **All (Hebrew, _kol'_):** This word, appearing twice in the verse ("nor any [thing] that they had taken to them: David recovered all"), is an emphatic term meaning "the whole," "every," or "total." Its repetition and comprehensive scope ("neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil") remove any ambiguity about the extent of the recovery. It underscores the absolute and exhaustive nature of the restoration, leaving no room for partial success or remaining loss.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there was nothing lacking to them":** This opening clause sets the tone for the entire verse, immediately declaring the perfect outcome. It signifies a state of complete restoration, where no item or person that was lost remained unrecovered. The negative construction emphasizes the absolute nature of the recovery.
* **"neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any [thing] that they had taken to them":** This exhaustive enumeration provides a detailed and comprehensive list of what was recovered. "Small nor great" covers all possessions, from the most insignificant to the most valuable. "Sons nor daughters" explicitly includes the human captives, the most precious loss. "Spoil" refers to the material goods and plunder taken by the Amalekites. This detailed listing reinforces the preceding statement, leaving no doubt that the recovery was total and without exception.
* **"David recovered all":** This concluding phrase acts as a powerful summary and affirmation. It attributes the successful recovery directly to David, yet within the broader narrative, it is understood as God's promise fulfilled through David's obedience and leadership. It reiterates the completeness of the restoration, serving as a triumphant declaration of victory.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of complete restoration. **Exhaustive Enumeration** is prominent, as the text meticulously lists "neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any [thing] that they had taken to them." This detailed cataloging serves to emphasize the utter completeness of the recovery, leaving no category of loss unaddressed. This technique builds a sense of overwhelming triumph. Furthermore, **Repetition** of the concept of "all" and "nothing lacking" acts as a powerful rhetorical device, reinforcing the absolute nature of the restoration. The phrase "David recovered all" functions as a **Summary Statement** that encapsulates the entire preceding list, providing a concise and emphatic declaration of the outcome. The overall effect is one of profound **Affirmation of Fulfillment**, as the verse directly and triumphantly declares the realization of God's promise to David in [1 Samuel 30:8](/1_samuel/30-8 "1 Samuel 30:8 - God's Promise to David").

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 30:19 is a profound theological statement on God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and restorative power. It demonstrates that even when circumstances appear utterly hopeless and the enemy has seemingly gained a complete victory, God is able to intervene and bring about a total reversal. This narrative serves as a powerful testament to the truth that God is not limited by human despair or the extent of loss. David's experience foreshadows a broader biblical theme of divine restoration, where God pledges to return what was stolen or lost, often in even greater measure. It teaches that our ultimate hope in times of devastation lies not in our own strength or strategies, but in strengthening ourselves in the Lord and seeking His direction, trusting in His unfailing promises.

* [Joel 2:25](/joel/2-25 "Joel 2:25 - God Restores the Years the Locusts Have Eaten")
* [Deuteronomy 30:3](/deuteronomy/30-3 "Deuteronomy 30:3 - God Will Restore Israel from Captivity")
* [Psalm 23:1](/psalms/23-1 "Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of David's recovery in 1 Samuel 30:19 offers profound encouragement and practical lessons for believers today. In a world fraught with loss—whether of health, relationships, finances, or even hope—this verse reminds us that our God is a God of restoration. Like David, we are called to strengthen ourselves in the Lord when despair threatens to overwhelm us, turning to Him in prayer and seeking His guidance through His Word. This passage challenges us to believe in God's power to bring about a complete turnaround, even when the enemy seems to have taken everything. It invites us to trust that God's faithfulness extends to every detail of our lives, promising that nothing is truly lost forever if it is in His sovereign will to restore. Our faith is not in the absence of trials, but in the presence of a God who can redeem and restore all things.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel something is "lacking" or has been "taken away"?**
* **How can you, like David, "strengthen yourself in the Lord your God" when facing seemingly insurmountable loss or despair?**
* **What specific steps can you take to seek God's guidance and direction when you are in a crisis?**
* **How does the completeness of David's recovery in this verse encourage your faith in God's restorative power today?**

### FAQ
**What does "recovered all" truly mean in this context?**

Answer: "Recovered all" means a complete and total restoration of everything that was taken by the Amalekites. The verse explicitly lists "neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any [thing] that they had taken." This exhaustive list emphasizes that absolutely nothing was left behind or lost. It was a comprehensive recovery, fulfilling God's promise to David in [1 Samuel 30:8](/1_samuel/30-8 "1 Samuel 30:8 - God's Promise to David") that he would "without fail recover all."

**How did David strengthen himself in the Lord?**

Answer: [1 Samuel 30:6](/1_samuel/30-6 "1 Samuel 30:6 - David Strengthens Himself in the Lord") states that "David was greatly distressed... but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." While the text doesn't detail the exact method, it implies an act of faith and reliance on God amidst overwhelming despair. This likely involved prayer, recalling God's past faithfulness, meditating on His character and promises, and perhaps seeking counsel from the Lord through the ephod, as he did immediately afterward in [1 Samuel 30:7-8](/1_samuel/30-7 "1 Samuel 30:7-8 - David Inquires of the Lord"). It signifies a conscious choice to lean into God's presence and power rather than succumbing to grief or the anger of his men.

**What is the significance of the Amalekites in this passage?**

Answer: The Amalekites were a long-standing, persistent enemy of Israel, first attacking them in the wilderness ([Exodus 17:8](/exodus/17-8 "Exodus 17:8 - Amalek Attacks Israel")). God had even commanded King Saul to utterly destroy them, a command Saul failed to fully obey ([1 Samuel 15:2-3](/1_samuel/15-2 "1 Samuel 15:2-3 - God's Command to Destroy Amalek")). David's decisive victory and complete recovery from the Amalekites in this chapter therefore carry significant theological weight. It represents a partial fulfillment of God's judgment against this persistent enemy of His people and highlights David's role as God's chosen leader who would eventually succeed where Saul failed, bringing justice and deliverance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The complete recovery experienced by David in 1 Samuel 30:19 serves as a powerful earthly shadow of the ultimate and perfect restoration accomplished by Jesus Christ. Just as David, empowered by God, recovered "all" that was lost to the enemy, so too does Christ, the greater David, ensure that none of those given to Him by the Father will be lost. Jesus declares, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" ([John 10:28](/john/10-28 "John 10:28 - Jesus Gives Eternal Life")). He also states, "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day" ([John 6:39](/john/6-39 "John 6:39 - Jesus Will Lose Nothing")). Christ's victory on the cross disarmed the spiritual enemies—Satan, sin, and death—who had held humanity captive, recovering what was truly lost: our relationship with God and the promise of eternal life ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). He is the true Shepherd who seeks out the lost and brings them back, ensuring a complete and eternal restoration for all who are His, even promising a day when God will "wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Sorrow")). David's triumph at Ziklag points forward to the comprehensive and eternal triumph of Christ, who recovers all that truly matters for His people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 91:9

¶ Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation;

Psalms 91:10

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

1 Samuel 30:8

And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and without fail recover [all].

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Psalms 34:9

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.

Psalms 34:10

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].

Genesis 14:14

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained [servants], born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued [them] unto Dan.