1 Samuel 17:33

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

And Saul {H7586} said {H559} to David {H1732}, Thou art not able {H3201} to go {H3212} against this Philistine {H6430} to fight {H3898} with him: for thou art but a youth {H5288}, and he a man {H376} of war {H4421} from his youth {H5271}.

Sha'ul said to David, "You can't go to fight this P'lishti -you're just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth!"

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

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

Commentary

1 Samuel 17:33 (KJV) captures a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative of David and Goliath, highlighting King Saul's human assessment of David's capabilities against the formidable Philistine giant.

Context

This verse is set in the valley of Elah, where the armies of Israel and the Philistines were arrayed for battle. For forty days, the Philistine champion, Goliath, had defied Israel, challenging them to send a single champion to decide the conflict. King Saul and the entire Israelite army were paralyzed by fear. David, a young shepherd boy, arrives at the camp and, hearing Goliath's taunts, expresses his willingness to fight. Verse 33 records Saul's immediate, logical, and human response, rooted in his own fear and military experience.

Key Themes

  • Human Logic vs. Divine Power: Saul's assessment is purely based on physical appearance and military experience. He sees David's youth and lack of training ("thou art but a youth") against Goliath's seasoned warrior status ("a man of war from his youth"). This contrasts sharply with David's reliance on God's power, as he later articulates in 1 Samuel 17:37, where he recounts God's deliverance from lions and bears.
  • Underestimation of the Seemingly Weak: Saul dismisses David based on outward appearances, failing to see the anointing of God upon him or his deep faith. This theme resonates throughout scripture, where God often chooses the weak or unlikely to accomplish His purposes, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:27.
  • The Nature of True Strength: The verse highlights the world's definition of strength (military prowess, experience) versus God's definition (faith, divine enablement). Saul's fear stemmed from his trust in conventional warfare, while David's courage sprang from his trust in the living God.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the term "youth" for David, translating the Hebrew word na'ar (ื ึทืขึทืจ), which denotes a young man, often implying a lack of full maturity or military training. This emphasizes David's perceived inadequacy in Saul's eyes. Conversely, Goliath is described as a "man of war," from the Hebrew ish milchamah (ืึดื™ืฉื ืžึดืœึฐื—ึธืžึธื”), signifying a battle-hardened veteran, underscoring his formidable reputation and experience on the battlefield.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder not to judge by outward appearances or human limitations. Often, what appears as weakness from a worldly perspective can be precisely what God uses to display His mighty power. It encourages believers to look beyond their own perceived inadequacies or the overwhelming nature of their challenges and instead place their confidence in God, who enables them to overcome what seems impossible. Saul's words reflect a common human tendency to doubt divine intervention when facing overwhelming odds, urging us to cultivate a faith that sees God's ability beyond our natural sight.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 13:31

    But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we.

  • Deuteronomy 9:2

    A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and [of whom] thou hast heard [say], Who can stand before the children of Anak!

  • Revelation 13:4

    And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

  • Psalms 11:1

    ยถ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee [as] a bird to your mountain?

  • 1 Samuel 17:42

    And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

  • 1 Samuel 17:56

    And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling [is].
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