1 Samuel 17:47

47 et noverit universa ecclesia haec quia non in gladio nec in hasta salvat Dominus ipsius est enim bellum et tradet vos in manus nostras

1 Samuel 17:47 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 17:47

And all this assembly shall know
The congregation of Israel, and church of the living God, great part of which were now gathered together, and were spectators of this wonderful event:

that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear;
that is, by outward means and instruments, by arms and armed men; he does not save by them only, or by them always; he can save as well without them as with them:

for the battle [is] the Lord's;
it is under his direction; the issue and event of it depend on his will, and are owing to him; or, as the Targum,

``from the Lord is the victory of wars,''

it is he that gives it to whom he pleases:

and he will give you into our hands;
not only this Philistine into the hands of David, but the army of them into the hands of the Israelites; David knew, and was assured of this by the Lord, and it was on this he relied, and was what animated him to engage with this champion in the manner he did.

1 Samuel 17:47 In-Context

45 dixit autem David ad Philistheum tu venis ad me cum gladio et hasta et clypeo ego autem venio ad te in nomine Domini exercituum Dei agminum Israhel quibus exprobrasti

46 hodie et dabit te Dominus in manu mea et percutiam te et auferam caput tuum a te et dabo cadaver castrorum Philisthim hodie volatilibus caeli et bestiis terrae ut sciat omnis terra quia est Deus in Israhel

47 et noverit universa ecclesia haec quia non in gladio nec in hasta salvat Dominus ipsius est enim bellum et tradet vos in manus nostras

48 cum ergo surrexisset Philistheus et veniret et adpropinquaret contra David festinavit David et cucurrit ad pugnam ex adverso Philisthei

49 et misit manum suam in peram tulitque unum lapidem et funda iecit et percussit Philistheum in fronte et infixus est lapis in fronte eius et cecidit in faciem suam super terram