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I Samuel 17:33

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But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 33

David is the man whom God now delights to honour, for he is a man after his own heart. We read in the foregoing chapter how, after he was anointed, Providence made him famous in the court; we read in this chapter how Providence made him much more famous in the camp, and, by both, not only marked him for a great man, but fitted him for the throne for which he was designed. In the court he was only Saul's physician; but in the camp Israel's champion; there he fairly fought, and beat Goliath of Gath. In the story observe, I. What a noble figure Goliath made, and how daringly he challenged the armies of Israel (Sa1 17:1-11). II. What a mean figure David made, when Providence brought him to the army (v. 12-30). III. The unparalleled bravery wherewith David undertook to encounter this Philistine (Sa1 17:31-39). IV. The pious resolution with which he attacked him (Sa1 17:40-47). V. The glorious victory he obtained over him with a sling and a stone, and the advantage which the Israelites thereby gained against the Philistines (Sa1 17:48-54). VI. The great notice which was hereupon taken of David at court (Sa1 17:55-58).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 33

שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might) יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth לָחַם (lâcham, H3898) — to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) נָעוּר (nâʻûwr, H5271) — (only in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Numbers 13:31rank 5

But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”

Revelation of John 13:4rank 3

They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”

Deuteronomy 9:2rank 3

The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?”

I Samuel 17:56rank 2

“Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king.

I Samuel 17:42rank 2

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome.

Psalms 11:1rank 2

In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!

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