1 Samuel 17:44

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then the P'lishti said to David, "Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds in the air and the wild animals."

Berean Standard Bible:

“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

American Standard Version:

And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the field.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the Philistine^{H6430} said^{H559} to David^{H1732}, Come^{H3212} to me, and I will give^{H5414} thy flesh^{H1320} unto the fowls^{H5775} of the air^{H8064}, and to the beasts^{H929} of the field^{H7704}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for 1 Samuel 17:44

1 Samuel 17:44 is a part of the famous narrative of David and Goliath, which takes place during a period of conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. The verse captures a moment of direct confrontation between the young David, who has come to the battlefield as a shepherd delivering provisions to his brothers, and the Philistine champion, Goliath.

In this verse, Goliath, the Philistine giant, issues a taunt to David, promising to kill him and feed his body to the birds and wild animals. This statement reflects the themes of hubris versus humility, as Goliath, armored and confident in his size and strength, underestimates the unarmored and seemingly inexperienced David. It also highlights the stark contrast between the two combatants: Goliath relies on his physical prowess and military might, while David trusts in his faith and the power of God, regardless of his physical stature.

The historical context of this verse is set during the early period of the United Monarchy, when Israel's first king, Saul, was struggling to establish his reign and facing external threats, particularly from the Philistines. The Israelites' reliance on individual champions like Goliath was a common practice in ancient warfare, and the outcome of such encounters could determine the fate of entire armies.

David's response to Goliath's challenge and his subsequent victory over the giant with just a sling and a stone serve as a powerful narrative of the triumph of the underdog through faith and divine intervention. This story has resonated through the ages as a metaphor for overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds and has become a cultural symbol of courage and faith in the face of adversity.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6430
   There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
   Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
   Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
   Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3212
   There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַךְ
   Transliteration: yâlak
   Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1320
   There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּשָׂר
   Transliteration: bâsâr
   Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
   Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5775
   There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוֹף
   Transliteration: ʻôwph
   Pronunciation: ofe
   Description: from עוּף; a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively; bird, that flieth, flying, fowl.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8064
   There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
   Transliteration: shâmayim
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
   Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).
   
9. Strong's Number: H929
   There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
   Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
   Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
   Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7704
    There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׂדֶה
    Transliteration: sâdeh
    Pronunciation: saw-deh'
    Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.