1 Samuel 17 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Goliath’s Challenge

1 Now the Philistines ^H6430 gathered ^H622 their armies ^H4264 for battle ^H4421; and they were gathered ^H622 at Socoh ^H7755 which ^H834 belongs to Judah ^H3063, and they camped ^H2583 between ^H996 Socoh ^H7755 and Azekah ^H5825, in Ephes-dammim ^H658.

2 Saul ^H7586 and the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 were assembled ^H622 and camped ^H2583 in the Valley ^H6010 of Elah ^H424, and they drew ^H6186 up ^H6186 in battle ^H4421 formation ^H4421 to confront ^H7122 the Philistines ^H6430. 3 The Philistines ^H6430 were standing ^H5975 on the mountain ^H2022 on one ^H2088 side ^H2088, while Israel ^H3478 was standing ^H5975 on the mountain ^H2022 on the other ^H2088 side ^H2088, with the valley ^H1516 between ^H996 them. 4 Then a champion ^H376 H996 came ^H3318 forward ^H3318 from the army ^H4264 encampment ^H4264 of the Philistines ^H6430, named ^H8034 Goliath ^H1555, from Gath ^H1661. His height ^H1363 was [fn]six ^H8337 cubits ^H520 and a [fn]span ^H2239. 5 And he had a bronze ^H5178 helmet ^H3553 on his head ^H7218, and he wore ^H3847 scale-armor ^H7193 [fn]which weighed ^H4948 [fn]five ^H2568 thousand ^H505 shekels ^H8255 of bronze ^H5178. 6 He also had bronze ^H5178 [fn]greaves ^H4697 on his legs ^H7272 and a bronze ^H5178 [fn]saber ^H3591 slung between ^H996 his shoulders ^H3802. 7 The shaft ^H2671 of his spear ^H2595 was like a weaver’s ^H707 beam ^H4500, and the head ^H3852 of his spear ^H2595 weighed [fn]six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 shekels ^H8255 of iron ^H1270; and his shield-carrier ^H6793 H5375 walked ^H1980 in front ^H6440 of him. 8 He stood ^H5975 and shouted ^H7121 to the ranks ^H4634 of Israel ^H3478 and said ^H559 to them, “Why ^H4100 do you come ^H3318 out ^H3318 to draw ^H6186 up ^H6186 in battle ^H4421 formation ^H4421? Am I not the Philistine ^H6430, and you the servants ^H5650 of Saul ^H7586? Choose ^H1262 a man ^H376 as ^H1262 your representative ^H1262 and have him come ^H3381 down ^H3381 to me. 9 If ^H518 he is ^H3201 able ^H3201 to fight ^H3898 me and [fn]kill ^H5221 me, then we will become ^H1961 your servants ^H5650; but if ^H518 I prevail ^H3201 against him and [fn]kill ^H5221 him, then you shall become ^H1961 our servants ^H5650 and serve ^H5647 us.” 10 Then the Philistine ^H6430 said ^H559, “I have defied ^H2778 the ranks ^H4634 of Israel ^H3478 this ^H2088 day ^H3117! Give ^H5414 me a man ^H376, so that we may fight ^H3898 together ^H3162.” 11 When Saul ^H7586 and all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 heard ^H8085 these ^H428 words ^H1697 of the Philistine ^H6430, they were dismayed ^H2865 and very ^H3966 fearful ^H3372.

12 Now David ^H1732 was the son ^H1121 of [fn]the Ephrathite ^H673 of Bethlehem ^H1035 in Judah ^H3063, the man whose name ^H8034 was Jesse ^H3448, and he had eight ^H8083 sons ^H1121. And [fn]Jesse was ^H2204 old ^H2204 in the days ^H3117 of Saul ^H7586, advanced ^H935 in years among men ^H376. 13 The three ^H7969 older ^H1419 sons ^H1121 of Jesse ^H3448 had [fn]followed ^H1980 H310 Saul ^H7586 to the battle ^H4421. And the names ^H8034 of his three ^H7969 sons ^H1121 who ^H834 had gone ^H1980 into the battle ^H4421 were Eliab ^H446 the firstborn ^H1060, and second ^H4932 to him, Abinadab ^H41, and the third ^H7992, Shammah ^H8048. 14 So David ^H1732 was the youngest ^H6996. Now the three ^H7969 oldest ^H1419 followed ^H1980 H310 Saul ^H7586, 15 but David ^H1732 went ^H1980 back ^H7725 and forth ^H1980 from Saul ^H7586 to tend ^H7462 his father’s ^H1 flock ^H6629 at Bethlehem ^H1035. 16 And the Philistine ^H6430 came ^H5066 forward ^H5066 morning ^H7925 and evening ^H6150, and took ^H3320 his stand ^H3320 for forty ^H705 days ^H3117.

17 Then Jesse ^H3448 said ^H559 to his son ^H1121 David ^H1732, “Take ^H3947 now ^H4994 for your brothers ^H251 an ephah ^H374 of this ^H2088 roasted ^H7039 grain ^H7039 and these ^H2088 ten ^H6235 loaves ^H3899, and run ^H7323 to the camp ^H4264 to your brothers ^H251. 18 Bring ^H935 also these ^H428 ten ^H6235 slices ^H2757 of cheese ^H2461 to the commander ^H8269 of their thousand ^H505, and look ^H6485 into the well-being ^H7965 of your brothers ^H251 and bring ^H3947 back [fn]confirmation ^H6161 from them. 19 For Saul ^H7586 and they and all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 are in the Valley ^H6010 of Elah ^H424, fighting ^H3898 the Philistines ^H6430.”

David Accepts the Challenge

20 So David ^H1732 got ^H7925 up ^H7925 early ^H7925 in the morning ^H1242 and left ^H5203 the flock ^H6629 with a keeper ^H8104, and took ^H5375 the supplies and went ^H1980 as Jesse ^H3448 had commanded ^H6680 him. And he came ^H935 to the entrenchment ^H4570 encircling ^H4570 the camp ^H4570 while the army ^H2428 was going ^H3318 out ^H3318 in battle ^H4634 formation ^H4634, shouting ^H7321 the ^H7321 war ^H4421 cry ^H7321.

21 Israel ^H3478 and the Philistines ^H6430 drew ^H6186 up ^H6186 in ^H6186 battle ^H6186 formation ^H6186, army ^H4634 against ^H7122 army ^H4634. 22 Then David ^H1732 left ^H5203 the baggage ^H3627 in the [fn]care ^H3027 of the baggage ^H3627 keeper ^H8104 and ran ^H7323 to the battle ^H4634 line ^H4634. And he entered ^H935 and [fn]greeted ^H7592 H7965 his brothers ^H251. 23 As he was speaking ^H1696 with them, behold ^H2009, the champion ^H376 H996, the Philistine ^H6430 from Gath ^H1661 named ^H8034 Goliath ^H1555, was coming ^H5927 up ^H5927 from the army ^H4634 of the Philistines ^H6430, and he spoke ^H1696 these ^H428 same words ^H1697; and David ^H1732 heard ^H8085 him.

24 When all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 saw ^H7200 the man ^H376, they fled ^H5127 from him and were ^H3372 very ^H3966 fearful ^H3372. 25 And the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559, “Have you seen ^H7200 this ^H2088 man ^H376 who is coming ^H5927 up ^H5927? Surely ^H3588 he is coming ^H5927 up ^H5927 to defy ^H2778 Israel ^H3478. And it will be that the king ^H4428 will make ^H6238 the man ^H376 who ^H834 kills ^H5221 him wealthy ^H6238 with great ^H1419 riches ^H6239, and will give ^H5414 him his daughter ^H1323 and make ^H6213 his father’s ^H1 house ^H1004 [fn]free ^H2670 in Israel ^H3478.”

26 Then David ^H1732 said ^H559 to the men ^H376 who were standing ^H5975 by him, “What ^H4100 will be done ^H6213 for the man ^H376 who ^H834 kills ^H5221 this ^H1975 Philistine ^H6430 and rids ^H5493 Israel ^H3478 of the disgrace ^H2781? For who ^H4310 is this ^H2088 uncircumcised ^H6189 Philistine ^H6430, that he has dared to defy ^H2778 the armies ^H4634 of the living ^H2416 God ^H430?” 27 The people ^H5971 [fn]answered ^H559 him in agreement with this ^H2088 statement ^H1697, saying ^H559, “This ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 will be done ^H6213 for the man ^H376 who ^H834 kills ^H5221 him.”

28 Now Eliab ^H446 his oldest ^H1419 brother ^H251 heard ^H8085 him when he spoke ^H1696 to the men ^H376; and Eliab’s ^H446 anger ^H639 burned ^H2734 against David ^H1732 and he said ^H559, “Why ^H4100 is it that you have come ^H3381 down ^H3381? And with whom ^H4310 have you left ^H5203 those ^H2007 few ^H4592 sheep ^H6629 in the wilderness ^H4057? I myself ^H589 know ^H3045 your insolence ^H2087 and the wickedness ^H7455 of your heart ^H3824; for you have come ^H3381 down ^H3381 in ^H4616 order ^H4616 to ^H4616 see ^H7200 the battle ^H4421.” 29 But David ^H1732 said ^H559, “What ^H4100 have I done ^H6213 now ^H6258? Was it not just a [fn]question ^H1697?” 30 Then he turned ^H5437 [fn]away ^H5437 H681 from him to another ^H312 and said ^H559 the same ^H2088 thing ^H1697; and the people ^H5971 replied ^H7725 with the same words ^H1697 as [fn]before ^H7223.

David Kills Goliath

31 When the words ^H1697 that David ^H1732 spoke ^H1696 were heard ^H8085, they informed ^H5046 [fn]Saul ^H7586, and he [fn]sent ^H3947 for him.

32 And David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Saul ^H7586, “May no ^H408 one’s ^H120 heart ^H3820 fail ^H5307 on ^H5921 account ^H5921 of ^H5921 him; your servant ^H5650 will go ^H1980 and fight ^H3898 this ^H2088 Philistine ^H6430!” 33 But Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to David ^H1732, “You are ^H3201 not able ^H3201 to go ^H1980 against ^H413 this ^H2088 Philistine ^H6430 to fight ^H3898 him; for you are only a youth ^H5271, while he has been a warrior ^H4421 since ^H4480 his youth ^H5271.” 34 But David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Saul ^H7586, “Your servant ^H5650 was tending ^H7462 his father’s ^H1 sheep ^H6629. When a lion ^H738 or a bear ^H1677 came ^H935 and took ^H5375 a sheep ^H7716 from the flock ^H5739, 35 I went ^H3318 out ^H3318 after ^H310 it and [fn]attacked ^H5221 it, and rescued ^H5337 the sheep from its mouth ^H6310; and when it rose ^H6965 up ^H6965 against ^H5921 me, I grabbed ^H2388 it by its mane ^H2206 and struck ^H5221 it and killed ^H4191 it. 36 Your servant ^H5650 has [fn]killed ^H5221 both ^H1571 the lion ^H738 and the bear ^H1677; and this ^H2088 uncircumcised ^H6189 Philistine ^H6430 will be like one ^H259 of them, since ^H3588 he has defied ^H2778 the armies ^H4634 of the living ^H2416 God ^H430.” 37 And David ^H1732 said ^H559, “The LORD ^H3068 who ^H834 saved ^H5337 me from the paw ^H3027 of the lion ^H738 and the paw ^H3027 of the bear ^H1677, He will save ^H5337 me from the hand ^H3027 of this ^H2088 Philistine ^H6430.” So Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to David ^H1732, “Go ^H1980, and may the LORD ^H3068 be with you.” 38 Then Saul ^H7586 clothed ^H3847 David ^H1732 with his military ^H4055 attire ^H4055 and put ^H5414 a bronze ^H5178 helmet ^H6959 on his head ^H7218, and outfitted ^H3847 him with armor ^H8302. 39 And David ^H1732 strapped ^H2296 on ^H2296 his sword ^H2719 over ^H4480 H5921 his military ^H4055 attire ^H4055 and struggled ^H2974 at walking ^H1980, for he had not trained ^H5254 with the armor. So David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Saul ^H7586, “I cannot ^H3201 H3808 go ^H1980 with these ^H428, because ^H3588 I have not trained ^H5254 with them.” And David ^H1732 took ^H5493 them [fn]off ^H4480 H5921. 40 Then he took ^H3947 his staff ^H4731 in his hand ^H3027 and chose ^H977 for himself five ^H2568 smooth ^H2512 stones ^H68 from the brook ^H5158, and put ^H7760 them in the shepherd’s ^H7462 bag ^H3627 which ^H834 he had, that is, in his shepherd’s ^H3219 pouch ^H3219, and his sling ^H7050 was in his hand ^H3027; and he approached ^H5066 the Philistine ^H6430.

41 Then the Philistine ^H6430 came ^H1980 and approached ^H7126 David ^H1732, with the shield-bearer ^H6793 H5375 in front ^H6440 of him. 42 When the Philistine ^H6430 looked ^H5027 and saw ^H7200 David ^H1732, he was ^H959 contemptuous ^H959 of him; for he was only a youth ^H5288, and [fn]reddish ^H132, with a handsome ^H3303 appearance ^H4758. 43 So the Philistine ^H6430 said ^H559 to David ^H1732, “Am I a dog ^H3611, that you come ^H935 to me with sticks ^H4731?” And the Philistine ^H6430 cursed ^H7043 David ^H1732 by his gods ^H430. 44 The Philistine ^H6430 also said ^H559 to David ^H1732, “Come ^H1980 to me, and I will give ^H5414 your flesh ^H1320 to the birds ^H5775 of the sky ^H8064 and the [fn]wild ^H7704 animals ^H929.” 45 But David ^H1732 said ^H559 to the Philistine ^H6430, “You come ^H935 to me with a sword ^H2719, a spear ^H2595, and a [fn]saber ^H3591, but I come ^H935 to you in the name ^H8034 of the LORD ^H3068 of armies ^H6635, the God ^H430 of the armies ^H4634 of Israel ^H3478, whom ^H834 you have defied ^H2778. 46 This ^H2088 day ^H3117 the LORD ^H3068 will hand ^H5462 H3027 you over ^H5462 to me, and I will strike ^H5221 you and remove ^H5493 your head ^H7218 from you. Then I will give ^H5414 the dead ^H6297 bodies ^H6297 of the army ^H4264 of the Philistines ^H6430 this ^H2088 day ^H3117 to the birds ^H5775 of the sky ^H8064 and the wild ^H2416 animals ^H2416 of the earth ^H776, so that all ^H3605 the earth ^H776 may know ^H3045 that there ^H3426 is ^H3426 a God ^H430 in Israel ^H3478, 47 and that this ^H2088 entire ^H3605 assembly ^H6951 may know ^H3045 that the LORD ^H3068 does not save ^H3467 by sword ^H2719 or by spear ^H2595; for the battle ^H4421 is the LORD’S ^H3068, and He will hand ^H5414 H3027 you over ^H5414 to us!”

48 Then it happened ^H1961, when ^H3588 the Philistine ^H6430 [fn]came ^H1980 closer ^H7126 to meet ^H7122 David ^H1732, that David ^H1732 ran ^H7323 quickly ^H4116 toward the battle ^H4634 line ^H4634 to meet ^H7122 the Philistine ^H6430. 49 And David ^H1732 put ^H7971 his hand ^H3027 into his bag ^H3627 and took ^H3947 from it a stone ^H68 and slung ^H7049 it, and struck ^H5221 the Philistine ^H6430 on his forehead ^H4696. And the stone ^H68 penetrated ^H2883 his forehead ^H4696, and he fell ^H5307 on his face ^H6440 to the ground ^H776.

50 So David ^H1732 prevailed ^H2388 over ^H4480 the Philistine ^H6430 with the sling ^H7050 and the stone ^H68: he struck ^H5221 the Philistine ^H6430 and killed ^H4191 him, and there ^H369 was ^H369 no ^H369 sword ^H2719 in David’s ^H1732 hand ^H3027. 51 Then David ^H1732 ran ^H7323 and stood ^H5975 over ^H413 the Philistine ^H6430, and took ^H3947 his sword ^H2719 and drew ^H8025 it out ^H8025 of its sheath ^H8593 and finished ^H4191 him, and cut ^H3772 off ^H3772 his head ^H7218 with it. When the Philistines ^H6430 saw ^H7200 that their champion ^H1368 was dead ^H4191, they fled ^H5127. 52 Then the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 and Judah ^H3063 rose ^H6965 up ^H6965 and shouted ^H7321, and they pursued ^H7291 the Philistines ^H6430 [fn]as far ^H5704 as the valley ^H1516, and to the gates ^H8179 of Ekron ^H6138. And the Philistine ^H6430 dead ^H2491 [fn]lay ^H5307 along the way ^H1870 to Shaaraim ^H8189, even to Gath ^H1661 and Ekron ^H6138. 53 Then the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 returned ^H7725 from their close ^H1814 pursuit ^H310 H1814 of the Philistines ^H6430, and plundered ^H8155 their camps ^H4264. 54 And David ^H1732 took ^H3947 the Philistine’s ^H6430 head ^H7218 and brought ^H935 it to Jerusalem ^H3389, but he put ^H7760 his weapons ^H3627 in his tent ^H168.

55 Now when Saul ^H7586 had seen ^H7200 David ^H1732 going ^H3318 out ^H3318 against ^H7122 the Philistine ^H6430, he said ^H559 to Abner ^H74 the commander ^H8269 of the army ^H6635, “Abner ^H74, whose ^H4310 son ^H1121 is this ^H2088 young ^H5288 man ^H5288?” And Abner ^H74 said ^H559, “By your life ^H5315, O king ^H4428, I do not know ^H3045.” 56 And the king ^H4428 said ^H559, “You then, ask ^H7592 whose ^H4310 son ^H1121 the youth ^H5958 is.” 57 So when David ^H1732 returned ^H7725 from killing ^H5221 the Philistine ^H6430, Abner ^H74 took ^H3947 him and brought ^H935 him before ^H6440 Saul ^H7586 with the Philistine’s ^H6430 head ^H7218 in his hand ^H3027. 58 Then Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to him, “Whose ^H4310 son ^H1121 are you, young ^H5288 man ^H5288?” And David ^H1732 answered ^H559, “I am the son ^H1121 of your servant ^H5650 Jesse ^H3448 the Bethlehemite ^H1022.”