1 Samuel 17:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."

NIV: Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

NASB: Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.'

CSB: Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."

NLT: I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!

KJV: Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

NKJV: Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

David is at the Israelite army camp speaking to King Saul. The young man has come from Bethlehem to deliver food to his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17–18). He has discovered that Israel's army is being challenged to champion warfare and no one is willing to fight (1 Samuel 17:8–11, 24). David views this as a reproach on Israel; a Philistine has no standing to defy the armies of the living God (1 Samuel 17:26). David has also volunteered (1 Samuel 17:32).

Now David is answering the king's objection that he is too young and inexperienced in battle to take on a battle-hardened warrior as big and imposing as Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4–7) in one-on-one combat (1 Samuel 17:33). David has described to Saul the lions and bears that would sometimes attack as he was watching his father's sheep. He did not back down when they grabbed one of the lambs. He chased the animal down and struck it until it released the sheep, and he killed the predator if it fought back (1 Samuel 17:34–35).

Now David sums it up for the king. He is not inexperienced. Goliath will not be any different than the lions and bears he has killed. The concern should not be that Goliath is a killing machine. It's that the "uncircumcised Philistine" has defied the armies of the living God. David's point is that the battle with Goliath is more spiritual than physical. The living God will defend His own name and bring judgment on Goliath for so brashly defying and shaming His army.

David may be brave, but it is his faith in God that is truly impressive. It's not that he thinks himself a better fighter than the giant, it's that he is confident the Lord will use any willing man to carry out His plan and purpose. This is the key lesson of this story: not that God provided a supernatural miracle, but that He wanted someone to act in simple faith.

First Samuel 17:31–40 sets the stage for a famous battle. The enormous Philistine champion, Goliath, has been taunting the Israelite army. David, though likely only in his early teenaged years, insists that the Philistine can be defeated. As a shepherd, David has killed bears and lions who attacked the flock. More importantly, David believes that God will punish the Philistine's defiance. King Saul agrees to let David try; he declines to use Saul's armor (1 Samuel 16:21) because he has no experience with it. Instead, he carefully selects stones for his sling and heads out to fight.

David, delivering food to his brothers at the Israelite army camp, hears the Philistine Goliath's defiant challenge. Single man combat could decide the battle, but no Israelite wanted to face the massive warrior. David is appalled that a Philistine would defy the armies of the living God. He volunteers to fight, and King Saul agrees. Before the battle, David declares that the Lord will give victory and thereby show the world that there is a God in Israel. David quickly kills and beheads Goliath. The Israelites chase the Philistines back to their own territory and plunder their camp. David brings Goliath's head to Saul.

Saul was made king of Israel (1 Samuel 9—10) and had many early successes (1 Samuel 11—14). However, his disobedience resulted in God's plan for a different king (1 Samuel 15). The prophet Samuel anointed David as this future monarch (1 Samuel 16:11–13). David has been serving as a musician for Saul (1 Samuel 16:18–21) and comes visit his brothers during a standoff between Israelite and Philistine forces. This leads to the famous story of David and Goliath. David's victory publicly triggers his rise to power, paralleled by Saul's collapse. In the end, Saul will die in disgrace (1 Samuel 31:4–7) and David will be appointed the new king of Israel (1 Samuel 2:45:1–3).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.