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1 Samuel 17:8
ESV He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
NIV Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.
NASB He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, 'Why do you come out to draw up in battle formation? Am I not the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man as your representative and have him come down to me.
CSB He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations: "Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?" He asked them, "Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me.
NLT Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. 'Why are you all coming out to fight?' he called. 'I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me!
KJV And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
NKJV Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

What does 1 Samuel 17:8 mean?

The Israelites and Philistines are massed for war; they face off across a valley (1 Samuel 17:1–3). Their champion wants to engage in single man combat with a warrior from the opponent's camp to decide the battle. The Philistine fighter is Goliath of Gath. He is nearly ten feet—or three meters—tall, covered in the best defensive armor, and equipped with the latest weapons. He is massive, obviously strong, protected by a man carrying a shield, and clearly ready to fight (1 Samuel 17:4–7).

In addition to being their best warrior, a champion could intimidate enemies. Goliath's size certainly did that. Some speculate that Goliath was meant only to intimidate, since most people of such extreme height are relatively frail. Yet Goliath will move forward to fight later (1 Samuel 17:41), so it's not likely his presence was just for show.

Taunts are also a key part of Philistine tactics. Goliath calls out to the Israelite army, asking why they have gone to the trouble to form battle lines. This implies that he will suggest an easier way to solve this conflict. Goliath represents his Philistine people. The Israelites are all servants of Saul, their king. Any Israelite can serve as Saul's representative. Goliath tells the Israelites to choose a man and send him into the valley for combat. Such a fight between individual soldiers could decide the battle if both sides agree (1 Samuel 17:9). This amounts to mockery because both sides assume that no one soldier could possibly defeat Goliath.
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