1 Samuel 17:42

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when the Philistine {H6430} looked about {H5027}, and saw {H7200} David {H1732}, he disdained {H959} him: for he was but a youth {H5288}, and ruddy {H132}, and of a fair {H3303} countenance {H4758}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The P'lishti looked David up and down and had nothing but scorn for what he saw - a boy with ruddy cheeks, red hair and good looks.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 17:42 captures the critical moment of initial encounter between the Philistine champion Goliath and the young Israelite shepherd David, revealing Goliath's immediate and profound disdain. The giant's scorn was rooted in David's youthful appearance, his healthy complexion, and pleasant looks, which Goliath perceived as utterly unbefitting a warrior and certainly no match for his own formidable stature and battle experience. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic reversal, highlighting the stark contrast between human judgment based on outward appearance and God's surprising choice of the seemingly weak to accomplish His mighty purposes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of the prolonged standoff between the Philistine and Israelite armies in the Valley of Elah, as detailed in [1 Samuel 17](/1_samuel/17 "1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath"). For forty days, Goliath, the Philistine champion, had issued a daily challenge for single combat, taunting Israel and paralyzing King Saul and his army with fear ([1 Samuel 17:10-11](/1_samuel/17-10 "1 Samuel 17:10-11 - Goliath's Challenge")). David, a young shepherd, arrives at the battlefield to deliver provisions to his brothers and is appalled by Goliath's blasphemous defiance of the living God ([1 Samuel 17:26](/1_samuel/17-26 "1 Samuel 17:26 - David's Indignation")). Despite his youth and lack of military training, David courageously volunteers to fight Goliath, fueled by his unwavering faith in God's deliverance, having previously protected his flock from lions and bears ([1 Samuel 17:34-37](/1_samuel/17-34 "1 Samuel 17:34-37 - David's Past Victories")). When Goliath finally sees David approaching, this verse describes his contemptuous reaction, underscoring the vast disparity in perceived strength and experience between the two combatants.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of single combat between champions was a recognized, albeit less common, method of warfare in the ancient Near East, intended to minimize casualties by deciding the outcome of a larger conflict through a proxy battle. Both the Philistines and Israelites were accustomed to warfare, but the Philistines, with their superior iron weaponry and formidable warriors like Goliath, often held a military advantage. Goliath's armor and weapons described in [1 Samuel 17:4-7](/1_samuel/17-4 "1 Samuel 17:4-7 - Goliath's Description") would have been culturally understood as the epitome of a fearsome warrior. In contrast, David's appearance as a shepherd, without traditional armor or weapons, would have been culturally perceived as an insult and a sign of utter disrespect for the gravity of the challenge. Goliath's disdain reflects the cultural expectation that a champion would be a seasoned, physically imposing warrior, not a mere youth. This cultural backdrop amplifies the dramatic tension and highlights the counter-cultural nature of God's intervention.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Samuel and the broader biblical narrative. The theme of **underestimation and disdain** is central, as Goliath's scorn for David's youthful and non-threatening appearance directly contrasts with God's view, setting the stage for a divine reversal. This ties into the theme of **appearance versus reality**, echoing the earlier divine pronouncement to Samuel: "For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" ([1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart")). David's perceived weakness highlights the theme of **God using the unqualified**, demonstrating that divine power is often most clearly displayed through human weakness, not strength. Furthermore, the narrative underscores the theme of **faith over fear**, as David's unwavering trust in God stands in stark contrast to the fear that gripped Saul and the entire Israelite army ([1 Samuel 17:24](/1_samuel/17-24 "1 Samuel 17:24 - Israel's Fear")). Goliath's disdain for David serves to magnify the miraculous nature of God's victory through His chosen instrument.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **disdained (Hebrew, _bazah'_):** This verb carries a strong connotation of despising, scorning, or holding in contempt. It signifies looking down on someone as worthless, insignificant, or beneath one's notice. Goliath's reaction was not merely surprise or annoyance, but a deep-seated contempt for David's lack of intimidating presence and military bearing. It implies a sense of insult that such an opponent would be sent against him.
* **youth (Hebrew, _na'ar'_):** This term refers to a young boy, a lad, or a servant, typically someone not yet of military age or experience. In this context, it emphasizes David's tender years and lack of warrior credentials, which would have made him seem utterly unqualified for single combat against a seasoned giant like Goliath.
* **ruddy (Hebrew, _admoni'_):** This adjective describes a reddish or healthy complexion, often associated with youth, vibrancy, and sometimes beauty. It's the same word used to describe Esau ([Genesis 25:25](/genesis/25-25 "Genesis 25:25 - Esau's Birth")) and suggests a fresh, unweathered appearance, further contrasting with the hardened, sun-beaten look of a veteran soldier.
* **fair countenance (Hebrew, _yepheh mar'eh'_):** This phrase translates to "beautiful in appearance" or "pleasant to look at." It reinforces David's youthful attractiveness and lack of any physically imposing or fearsome qualities. For Goliath, these attributes were antithetical to a warrior, solidifying his perception of David as a non-threat and an object of scorn.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David":** This clause marks the pivotal moment of direct visual confrontation. Goliath, having issued his challenge for forty days, finally turns his attention to the unexpected challenger. The act of "looking about" suggests a casual, perhaps dismissive, glance that quickly turns into a focused assessment.
* **"he disdained him":** This is the core reaction, expressing Goliath's immediate and profound contempt. His disdain is not just a passing emotion but a deep-seated conviction that David is utterly beneath him, unworthy of his time or effort. It underscores his pride and overconfidence.
* **"for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.":** This final clause provides the explicit reasons for Goliath's disdain. David's perceived lack of age, military experience, and imposing physical presence — his youthful, healthy, and pleasant appearance — were, in Goliath's eyes, clear indicators of his inadequacy as a warrior. The KJV's "[but]" emphasizes the contrast between Goliath's expectations and David's reality, highlighting the giant's misjudgment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs several **literary devices** to heighten the dramatic tension and underscore its theological message. **Irony** is paramount, as Goliath's profound disdain, based on David's seemingly insignificant appearance, directly foreshadows his own shocking defeat at the hands of this very youth. The giant's overconfidence, rooted in his physical prowess, becomes the very instrument of his downfall. **Contrast** is also a dominant feature, juxtaposing Goliath's immense stature, seasoned warrior status, and intimidating presence with David's youthful, "ruddy," and "fair" appearance. This visual and experiential contrast serves to magnify God's power, demonstrating that victory does not depend on human might or worldly credentials. Furthermore, the verse uses **foreshadowing**, as Goliath's dismissive assessment sets up the miraculous and unexpected victory that will follow, emphasizing that God's ways are not man's ways.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Goliath's disdain for David in 1 Samuel 17:42 serves as a profound theological statement on the contrast between human perception and divine wisdom. It highlights humanity's tendency to judge based on outward appearances, strength, and worldly qualifications, often overlooking God's chosen instruments. God, however, operates on a different principle, frequently selecting the humble, the weak, and the underestimated to accomplish His most significant purposes, thereby ensuring that the glory belongs to Him alone. This narrative powerfully illustrates that true strength and effectiveness in God's kingdom are not measured by human standards of might or beauty, but by faith and divine anointing. Goliath's scorn, therefore, inadvertently sets the stage for a dramatic display of God's sovereignty and power through an unlikely champion.

* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart")
* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Weak and Foolish")
* [Psalm 8:2](/psalms/8-2 "Psalm 8:2 - Strength from the Mouths of Infants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The moment Goliath disdained David offers a powerful mirror for our own lives and perceptions. We, too, often fall into the trap of judging by outward appearances—whether it's assessing others, evaluating our own capabilities, or sizing up the challenges before us. This verse challenges us to look beyond the superficial and to recognize that God's power is not limited by human limitations or worldly expectations. When we face "giants" in our lives—overwhelming obstacles, daunting tasks, or situations where we feel utterly unqualified—Goliath's scorn for David reminds us that our perceived weaknesses can become the very canvas upon which God's strength is most gloriously displayed. It encourages us to embrace humility, trust in divine enablement, and remember that God delights in using the unlikely to accomplish the impossible, ensuring that His glory, not ours, is magnified.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you tend to judge by outward appearances, either in yourself or in others?**
* **What "giants" are you currently facing where you might feel underestimated, unqualified, or overwhelmed by your own perceived weakness?**
* **How does David's story encourage you to trust God's strength and wisdom over your own limitations or the world's dismissive judgments?**

### FAQ
**Why was Goliath's disdain so significant to the narrative?**
Answer: Goliath's disdain was crucial because it dramatically underscored the vast disparity between human perception and divine reality. His scorn, rooted in David's youthful and non-threatening appearance, highlighted his own pride and overconfidence, setting up the most profound reversal. It ensured that when David, the seemingly insignificant youth, defeated the formidable giant, the victory would unequivocally be attributed to God's power and not to David's human strength or skill. This magnified God's glory and demonstrated that His ways are far above human understanding, fulfilling the theme that God chooses the weak to confound the strong ([1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Foolish")).

**What does "ruddy, and of a fair countenance" imply about David in this context?**
Answer: These descriptions emphasize David's youthful, healthy, and pleasant appearance. In the context of ancient warfare, these attributes were the antithesis of a fearsome, battle-hardened warrior. Goliath would have expected a scarred, rugged, and imposing figure. David's "ruddy" complexion (suggesting a vibrant, unweathered youth) and "fair countenance" (meaning good-looking or pleasant) would have made him appear utterly unsuited for combat in Goliath's eyes. This contrast serves to highlight Goliath's misjudgment and to set up the powerful theological point that God's chosen instruments often defy human expectations, as seen in [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The disdain Goliath showed David in 1 Samuel 17:42 powerfully foreshadows the world's rejection and underestimation of Jesus Christ. Just as David appeared as a "youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance"—seemingly unqualified by worldly standards to face a mighty warrior—so too did Jesus come "without form or comeliness" and with "no beauty that we should desire him" ([Isaiah 53:2](/isaiah/53-2 "Isaiah 53:2 - The Suffering Servant's Appearance")). The world, expecting a conquering king or a physically imposing deliverer, disdained Him, seeing Him as merely a carpenter's son from Nazareth, unworthy of their respect or allegiance ([John 1:46](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Can Anything Good Come from Nazareth?")). Yet, it was through this seemingly weak and unimpressive appearance, through His ultimate act of humility and sacrifice on the cross, that Christ conquered the ultimate "giant" of sin and death ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). His victory, like David's, was not achieved through worldly might but through divine power made perfect in apparent weakness, demonstrating that God's greatest triumphs are often accomplished through means that defy human logic and expectation, ultimately bringing glory to the Father ([Philippians 2:7-8](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 16:12

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.

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.

Psalms 123:3

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

Psalms 123:4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.

Proverbs 16:18

¶ Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

2 Corinthians 11:27

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2 Corinthians 11:29

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?