1 Samuel 17:38

38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a helmet of bronze on his head, and clothed him with a coat of mail.

1 Samuel 17:38 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:38

And Saul armed David with his armour
Not with what he wore himself; for it cannot be thought he would strip himself of his armour in the field of battle, and when just going to it; and besides what suited the one would not be fit for the other, their bulk and stature being different i but this was some armour Saul had brought with him, besides what he himself wore, to furnish any with that might want it:

and he put an helmet of brass upon his head;
such an one, though not so large as Goliath had, these being usually made of brass; (See Gill on 1 Samuel 17:5);

also he armed him with a coat of mail;
which probably was of brass also, and like that of Goliath's too, only lesser, ( 1 Samuel 17:5 ) .

1 Samuel 17:38 In-Context

36 Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
37 And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a helmet of bronze on his head, and clothed him with a coat of mail.
39 And David girded his sword over his armor, and he tried in vain to go, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I am not used to them." And David put them off.
40 Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in his shepherd's bag or wallet; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.