1 Samuel 17:50

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but [there was] no sword in the hand of David.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Thus David defeated the P'lishti with a sling and a stone, striking the P'lishti and killing him; but David had no sword in his hand.

Berean Standard Bible:

Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

American Standard Version:

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

So David^{H1732} prevailed^{H2388} over^{H4480} the Philistine^{H6430} with a sling^{H7050} and with a stone^{H68}, and smote^{H5221} the Philistine^{H6430}, and slew^{H4191} him; but there was no sword^{H2719} in the hand^{H3027} of David^{H1732}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for 1 Samuel 17:50

1 Samuel 17:50 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of David and Goliath, a story rich with themes of faith, courage, and the power of the underdog. This verse specifically recounts the climax of the battle between the young shepherd David and the giant Philistine warrior Goliath. The historical context is set during a period of conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines, where Goliath, a champion of the Philistines, had been challenging the Israelites to single combat to decide the outcome of the battle, thus far without success as no one dared to face him.

David, who was not a soldier but a shepherd boy, accepted the challenge, armed only with his faith in God and his simple shepherd's tools—a sling and a stone. The verse emphasizes that David did not use a sword, the conventional weapon of a warrior, but relied on his trust in God and his own skill to defeat the heavily armed Goliath. This act of bravery and reliance on divine aid is a powerful illustration of the theme that with God's help, even what seems like a vastly outmatched individual can overcome great odds.

The verse underscores the theme of God empowering the weak and using the unexpected to accomplish His purposes. It also highlights the contrast between human appearances and spiritual realities, challenging the notion that might and size are the ultimate determinants of victory. David's victory with a sling and a stone becomes a symbol of God's strength working through human weakness, a recurring motif throughout the Bible. This event not only marked a significant military victory for the Israelites but also established David's reputation as a future leader anointed by God, foreshadowing his rise to kingship.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2388
   There are 266 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָזַק
   Transliteration: châzaq
   Pronunciation: khaw-zak'
   Description: a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer; aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4480
   There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִן
   Transliteration: min
   Pronunciation: min
   Description: or מִנִּי; or מִנֵּי; (constructive plural) (Isaiah 30:11); for מֵן; properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses; above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7050
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֶלַע
   Transliteration: qelaʻ
   Pronunciation: keh'-lah
   Description: from קָלַע; a sling; also a (door) screen (as if slung across), or the valve (of the door) itself; hanging, leaf, sling.
   
6. Strong's Number: H68
   There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶבֶן
   Transliteration: ʼeben
   Pronunciation: eh'-ben
   Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5221
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָכָה
   Transliteration: nâkâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4191
   There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוּת
   Transliteration: mûwth
   Pronunciation: mooth
   Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2719
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶרֶב
   Transliteration: chereb
   Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
   Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.