1 Samuel 30:4

KJV

Then David and the people that [were] with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then David {H1732} and the people {H5971} that were with him lifted up {H5375} their voice {H6963} and wept {H1058}, until they had no more power {H3581} to weep {H1058}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then David and the people with him cried aloud until they had no more power to cry.

Berean Standard Bible

So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.

American Standard Version

Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 30:4 profoundly captures the utter devastation experienced by David and his men upon returning to Ziklag to find their city burned and their families abducted. This verse vividly portrays a moment of overwhelming, physically exhausting grief, as they collectively lamented their immense loss until their strength was completely depleted, highlighting the raw and relatable human response to catastrophic sorrow.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a harrowing discovery. David and his 600 men, having been dismissed from the Philistine army, returned to their home in Ziklag only to find it utterly destroyed by the Amalekites. The preceding verses detail the raid, the burning of the city, and the capture of their wives and children, leaving nothing behind for them to reclaim [1 Samuel 30:1-3](/1_samuel/30-1 "1 Samuel 30:1-3 - The Amalekite Raid on Ziklag"). The initial shock and disbelief quickly gave way to agonizing sorrow, as expressed in this verse. This incident marks an absolute low point for David, who had already faced numerous challenges, including being relentlessly pursued by King Saul and living as a fugitive [1 Samuel 27](/1_samuel/27 "1 Samuel 27 - David's Sojourn in Philistine Territory"). The depth of despair here sets the stage for David's remarkable turning point in the subsequent verses, where he seeks the Lord and finds strength to pursue and recover all that was lost [1 Samuel 30:6-8](/1_samuel/30-6 "1 Samuel 30:6-8 - David Encourages Himself in the Lord and Pursues").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of raiding and taking captives, particularly women and children, was a common and brutal aspect of warfare in the ancient Near East. Such actions aimed to decimate an enemy's future generations and resources, often leading to enslavement or assimilation. Ziklag itself was a Philistine city that Achish, king of Gath, had given to David as a dwelling place [1 Samuel 27:6](/1_samuel/27-6 "1 Samuel 27:6 - Achish Gives Ziklag to David"), making its destruction a direct assault on David's base and a significant blow to his standing. Public displays of intense grief, involving loud wailing, tearing clothes, and even prostrating oneself, were culturally normative expressions of lament in response to profound loss, death, or disaster. The collective nature of their weeping underscores the communal bond and shared suffering among David and his men, a band of warriors who had endured much together.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Samuel and David's narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **Profound Grief and Despair** that even the strongest leaders and warriors can experience, demonstrating the raw reality of human emotion in the face of devastating loss. The phrase "lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep" vividly portrays an extreme depth of sorrow, indicating a prolonged, physically exhausting outpouring of lamentation. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Shared Suffering and Solidarity**, as David, the future king, and his seasoned warriors were united in their grief, forging a deeper bond through collective adversity. This shared experience emphasizes the universal nature of loss and the comfort found in communal lament. Thirdly, it sets the stage for the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and David's Dependence on God**. While this verse captures a moment of utter despair, it immediately precedes David's pivotal decision to seek the Lord's guidance [1 Samuel 30:6](/1_samuel/30-6 "1 Samuel 30:6 - David Encourages Himself in the Lord"), illustrating that even in the lowest points, faith can emerge, and God's intervention can bring about restoration and renewed strength.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"lifted up their voice and wept" (Hebrew, _vayyis'u qolam vayyivku'_):** This is a powerful Hebrew idiom signifying a loud, communal wailing. The verb _nasa'_ (נָשָׂא, "to lift up") combined with _qol_ (קוֹל, "voice") describes an audible, unrestrained outcry, characteristic of intense lamentation in the ancient Near East. The verb _bakhah_ (בָּכָה, "to weep") implies deep, audible lamentation, often accompanied by tears and physical expressions of grief. Together, these terms convey not just tears, but a profound, vocal outpouring of sorrow that would have been heard by all.
* **"no more power to weep" (Hebrew, _ein bahem koach livkot'_):** This phrase literally translates to "there was no strength in them to weep." The word _koach_ (כֹּחַ) refers to physical strength, power, or ability. Its absence here emphasizes the physical and emotional exhaustion that resulted from their prolonged and intense outpouring of sorrow. Their grief had literally drained them of all energy, reaching a point of complete physical depletion, indicating the extreme and overwhelming nature of their despair.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then David and the people that [were] with him":** This clause establishes the subjects of the action: David, the leader and future king, and his 600 loyal men, a group of seasoned warriors and companions who had followed him through many trials. Their collective identity and shared experience are crucial to understanding the impact of the tragedy.
* **"lifted up their voice and wept,":** This describes the immediate and overwhelming response to their discovery. It was not a quiet, private sorrow, but a loud, communal wailing, an unrestrained outpouring of grief. The repetition of the action ("lifted up their voice" and "wept") emphasizes the intensity and audibility of their lamentation, a common and culturally expected expression of profound sorrow in that era.
* **"until they had no more power to weep.":** This final clause vividly portrays the extreme depth and duration of their grief. It signifies that their weeping was so prolonged and intense that it physically exhausted them, draining them of all strength and energy. This is a hyperbolic expression indicating the utter devastation and despair that consumed them, pushing them to the brink of physical and emotional collapse.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey the profound despair of David and his men. **Hyperbole** is evident in the phrase "until they had no more power to weep," which exaggerates the duration and intensity of their weeping to emphasize the overwhelming nature of their grief. This isn't literal physical inability to produce tears, but rather a depiction of complete emotional and physical exhaustion. **Pathos** is strongly evoked, drawing the reader into the raw, relatable human experience of devastating loss and sorrow. The vivid **Imagery** of a collective, loud wailing that continues to the point of utter depletion paints a powerful mental picture of shared suffering. The structure of the phrase "lifted up their voice and wept" also exhibits a form of **hendiadys**, where two nouns or verbs are used to express a single, complex idea—in this case, a single, intense act of audible lamentation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the biblical recognition of deep human suffering and the legitimacy of lament. It underscores that even righteous leaders and faithful individuals are not immune to overwhelming sorrow and despair. The shared grief of David and his men highlights the communal aspect of suffering and the importance of solidarity in times of crisis, demonstrating that lament is not merely an individual act but can be a collective outpouring of a broken heart. This profound moment of despair, however, is not the end of the story; it serves as a crucible that prepares David for a renewed turning to God, demonstrating how God can use even our lowest points to draw us closer to Him and reveal His sustaining power.

* [Psalm 6:6](/psalms/6-6 "Psalm 6:6 - Weeping all night")
* [Romans 12:15](/romans/12-15 "Romans 12:15 - Weep with those who weep")
* [2 Corinthians 1:3-4](/2_corinthians/1-3 "2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - God of all comfort")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 30:4 offers profound insights into the human experience of grief and God's presence within it. It grants us "permission to grieve," validating the natural and necessary process of lament in the face of loss. David, a man after God's own heart and a mighty warrior, along with his men, wept to the point of utter exhaustion, demonstrating that sorrow is not a sign of weakness but a deeply human response to pain. This communal outpouring of grief also highlights the importance of shared burden and solidarity in suffering; we are not meant to bear our deepest sorrows alone. In our own lives, when faced with overwhelming loss, this verse reminds us that it is acceptable, even biblical, to express profound sorrow. Furthermore, it sets the stage for the crucial truth found in the very next verse: that even from the depths of despair, hope can emerge as we turn to God. Our lowest points can become opportunities for divine intervention, renewed trust, and the experience of God's comforting presence that empowers us to move forward.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge or affirm your understanding of grief, especially for strong leaders or people of faith?**
* **In what ways can shared suffering and communal lament provide comfort and strength during times of loss?**
* **What does "weeping until you have no more power to weep" signify about the depth of their loss, and how might this relate to overwhelming experiences in your own life?**
* **How does the immediate context of this verse (leading to David encouraging himself in the Lord) offer a pathway from despair to hope?**

### FAQ
**What does "no more power to weep" mean literally and figuratively?**

Answer: Literally, it means they were physically and emotionally drained to the point of exhaustion, unable to continue the act of weeping. The Hebrew phrase implies a complete depletion of strength. Figuratively, it conveys the utter devastation and overwhelming nature of their grief. It's a hyperbolic expression indicating that their sorrow was so intense and prolonged that it pushed them to the absolute limit of their human endurance. It speaks to a level of despair that transcends mere sadness, reaching into the realm of physical collapse from emotional strain.

**Why is it significant that David, a future king and warrior, is shown weeping so profoundly?**

Answer: It is highly significant because it humanizes David and demonstrates that even the most formidable leaders and faithful individuals are susceptible to profound emotional pain. It counters any notion that strength or faith precludes intense sorrow. David's raw, unrestrained grief makes him relatable and authentic, showing that true leadership does not require stoicism in the face of catastrophe. Furthermore, it sets the stage for his subsequent act of encouraging himself in the Lord [1 Samuel 30:6](/1_samuel/30-6 "1 Samuel 30:6 - David Encourages Himself in the Lord"), highlighting that genuine faith is not the absence of pain, but the ability to turn to God even in the deepest valleys of despair.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound weeping of David and his men in 1 Samuel 30:4, a raw expression of human sorrow in the face of devastating loss, finds its ultimate echo and transformation in the person of Jesus Christ. While David and his men wept over a temporary loss that would eventually be restored, Jesus, the true King, experienced and perfectly embodied human suffering, weeping over the spiritual blindness of Jerusalem [Luke 19:41](/luke/19-41 "Luke 19:41 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem") and even shedding tears at the tomb of Lazarus, a profound display of empathy and grief over the effects of sin and death [John 11:35](/john/11-35 "John 11:35 - Jesus Wept"). He is the "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Isaiah's Prophecy of the Suffering Servant"), who bore the ultimate loss—separation from God on the cross—to redeem humanity from its greatest sorrow, the consequence of sin. Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Christ ensures that those who mourn are blessed, for they "shall be comforted" [Matthew 5:4](/matthew/5-4 "Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are those who mourn"). He promises a future where God Himself will "wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears"). Thus, the exhaustive weeping of David's men foreshadows the depth of human brokenness that only Christ's redemptive work can ultimately heal, transforming a world of tears into an eternity of joy.

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

1 Samuel 11:4

Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

Genesis 37:33

And he knew it, and said, [It is] my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

Genesis 37:35

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

Judges 2:4

And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

Numbers 14:39

And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.

Numbers 14:1

¶ And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

1 Samuel 4:13

And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told [it], all the city cried out.