1 Samuel 17:41-51

41 Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer * in front of him.

42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, ¹he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ²ruddy, with a handsome appearance.

43 The Philistine said to David, "³Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And ⁴the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 The Philistine also said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh ⁵to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field."

45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, ⁶but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.

46 "This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the ⁷dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, ⁸that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

47 and that all this assembly may know that ⁹the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; ¹⁰for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."

48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that ¹¹David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David's hand.

51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and ¹²took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. ¹³When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

1 Samuel 17:41-51 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 17

This chapter relates how the armies of Israel, and of the Philistines, prepared for battle, and where, 1Sa 17:1-3, describes a champion of the Philistines, who defied the armies of Israel, 1Sa 17:4-11, and while he was so doing, it informs us that David came into the camp, and he heard his words, and signified to one and another his inclination to fight with him, 1Sa 17:12-30, which being reported to Saul, David was sent for by him, and much discourse passed between them about it, 1Sa 17:31-37 when we are told the manner in which he engaged with the Philistine, and the victory he obtained over him, 1Sa 17:38-51 upon which the Philistines fled, and Israel pursued them; and on account of this action David was taken notice of by Saul, and brought to court again, as the following chapter shows, 1Sa 17:52-58.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 123:4; Proverbs 16:18
• 2. 1 Samuel 16:12
• 3. 1 Samuel 24:14; 2 Samuel 3:8; 2 Kings 8:13
• 4. 1 Kings 20:10
• 5. 1 Samuel 17:46
• 6. 2 Samuel 22:35; 2 Chronicles 32:8; Psalms 124:8; Hebrews 11:32-34
• 7. Deuteronomy 28:26
• 8. Joshua 4:24; 1 Kings 8:43; 1 Kings 18:36; 2 Kings 19:19; Isaiah 37:20
• 9. 1 Samuel 14:6; 2 Chronicles 14:11; 2 Chronicles 20:15; Psalms 44:6; Hosea 1:7; Zechariah 4:6
• 10. 2 Chronicles 20:15
• 11. Psalms 27:3
• 12. 1 Samuel 21:9; 2 Samuel 23:21
• 13. Hebrews 11:34