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Commentary on 1 Samuel 17 verses 40–47
We are now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the preparations and remonstrances made on both sides.
I. The preparations made on both sides for the encounter. The Philistine was already fixed, as he had been daily for the last forty days. Well might he go with his armour, for he had sufficiently proved it. Only we are told (Sa1 17:41) that he came on and drew near, a signal, it is likely, being given that his challenge was accepted, and, as if he distrusted his helmet and coat of mail, a man went before him, carrying his shield, for his own hands were full with his sword and spear, Sa1 17:45. But what arms and ammunition is David furnished with? Truly none but what he brought with him as a shepherd; no breastplate, nor corselet, but his plain shepherd's coat; no spear, but his staff; no sword nor bow, but his sling; no quiver, but his scrip; nor any arrows, but, instead of them, five smooth stones picked up out of the brook, Sa1 17:40. By this it appeared that his confidence was purely in the power of God, and not in any sufficiency of his own, and that now at length he who put it into his heart to fight the Philistine put it into his head with what weapons to do it.
II. The conference which precedes the encounter, in which observe,
1.How very proud Goliath was, (1.) With what scorn he looked upon his adversary, Sa1 17:42. He looked about, expecting to meet some tall strong man, but, when he saw what a mean figure he made with whom he was to engage, he disdained him, thought it below him to enter the lists with him, fearing that the contemptibleness of the champion he contended with would lessen the glory of his victory. He took notice of his person, that he was but a youth, not come to his strength, ruddy and of a fair countenance, fitter to accompany the virgins of Israel in their dances (if mixed dancing was then in use) than to lead on the men of Israel in their battles. He took notice of his array with great indignation (Sa1 17:43): "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? Dost thou think to beat me as easily as thou dost thy shepherd's dog?" (2.) With what confidence he presumed upon his success. He cursed David by his gods, imprecating the impotent vengeance of his idols against him, thinking these fire-balls thrown about him would secure his success: and therefore, in confidence of that, he darts his grimaces, as if threatening words would kill (Sa1 17:44): "Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air, it will be a tender and delicate feast for them." Thus the security and presumption of fools destroy them.
2.How very pious David was. His speech savours nothing of ostentation, but God is all in all in it, Sa1 17:45-47. (1.) He derives his authority from God: "I come to thee by warrant and commission from heaven, in the name of the Lord, who has called me to and anointed me for this undertaking, who, by his universal providence, is the Lord of hosts, of all hosts, and therefore has power to do what he pleases, and, by the special grace of his covenant, is the God of the armies of Israel, and therefore has engaged and will employ his power for their protection, and against thee who hast impiously defied them." The name of God David relied on, as Goliath did on his sword and spear. See Psa 20:7; Psa 118:10, Psa 118:11. (2.) He depends for success upon God, Sa1 17:46. David speaks with as much assurance as Goliath had done, but upon better ground; it is his faith that says, "This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand, and not only thy carcase, but the carcases of the host of the Philistines, shall be given to the birds and beasts of prey." (3.) He devotes the praise and glory of all to God. He did not, like Goliath, seek his own honour, but the honour of God, not doubting but by the success of this action, [1.] All the world should be made to know that there is a God, and that the God of Israel is the one only living and true God, and all other pretended deities are vanity and a lie. [2.] All Israel (whom he calls not this army, but this assembly, or church, because they were now religiously attending the goings of their God and King, as they used to do in the sanctuary) shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear (Sa1 17:47), but can, when he pleases, save without either and against both, Psa 46:9. David addresses himself to this combat rather as a priest that was going to offer a sacrifice to the justice of God than as a soldier that was going to engage an enemy of his country.
And the Lord will deliver you into my hands, etc. And by the power of my divinity, he says, you will be overcome, you who, beholding the vileness of my flesh, are proud and exalt yourself, and I will remove you, who are the head of all evils, from the unjustly attached mortal members; and I will give your falling members and those of your followers, that is, men separated from you and humbled by my power or grace, who, deceived by your godless cults, had stuck with you: I will, I say, give them to be instructed by my own, and joined to my own ministers, who are partly heavenly beings of angelic nature and partly mortal in earthly flesh, so that with the Gospel preached throughout the entire world, every man may know that there is one true God who is now known in Judea, and in Israel his name is great (Psalm 75). Then by the universal praise of the catholic, that is, universal, from the ends of the earth those who cry out to God will say: Lord our God, how admirable is your name in all the earth (Psalm 8)! Nor should anyone find it absurd that we have said the depths of the flesh, the birds of the air, and the beasts of the earth signify the teachers who eagerly capture and draw in through faith the souls that were formerly carnal. For even the Lord himself is most openly called the lion from the tribe of Judah, and the Church is typically called a lioness: not only on account of its strength, but also to signify the diligent pursuit of holy rapaciousness. For the patriarch Jacob says of the Lord, "Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up" (Gen. 49). And the Lord himself says of the Church to Job: "Will you take the prey for the lioness, and fill the soul of her young ones?" (Job 39). But the Savior is also symbolized by the four living creatures. Just as he wanted to indicate the humility of incarnation and offering through the man and the ox, so through the lion and the eagle he wanted to indicate the power and sublimity of his resurrection and ascension into heaven. He also speaks to blessed Job about the Church, saying: "Does the eagle mount up at your command and make its nest on high?" (Job 39). So that you would not think it typifies only the height of nesting or flying, or even the sharp vision of gazing at the sun, but also the unity of devouring, he added at the end: "And where the carcass is, there immediately it is present." Wherever he sees someone having fallen from a fitting state of life, he promptly takes care to restore such a one, as if raised from death, to catholic life through the biting corrections of his words. We thought it should be given as an example concerning two of them, so that through these whoever reads may also know what he may think without the scruple of faith about the other birds and beasts.
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SUMMARY
In 1 Samuel 17:46, David, standing before the intimidating Philistine champion Goliath, boldly proclaims his unwavering conviction that the LORD will sovereignly hand Goliath over to him. He prophesies not only Goliath's swift and decisive defeat, including his beheading, but also the ignominious destruction of the entire Philistine army, whose corpses will be left for scavengers. The ultimate and profound purpose of this impending victory, David declares, is to reveal to "all the earth" the unique, active, and supreme reality of the God of Israel, thereby demonstrating that true power and ultimate victory belong exclusively to the Sovereign God, not to human might, military prowess, or imposing stature.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
1 Samuel 17:46 is powerfully imbued with literary devices that amplify its meaning and impact. Prophetic Declaration is central, as David speaks with the authority of a divine messenger, foretelling the precise and gruesome outcome of the battle. His words are not merely boastful but are framed as a divinely inspired pronouncement of God's certain victory. Hyperbole, while the outcome itself is literal, is subtly employed in the sweeping prediction of "all the earth" knowing God, emphasizing the universal scope of God's intended revelation. Contrast is a pervasive theme throughout the chapter and culminates powerfully in this verse: the stark contrast between Goliath's overwhelming physical might and David's spiritual power rooted in God, between the paralyzing human fear of Israel and David's audacious divine courage, and most significantly, between the impotence of pagan gods and the living, active reality of the God of Israel. The verse also employs Repetition of the phrase "this day," reinforcing the immediacy, certainty, and divine orchestration of the prophesied events.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
David's declaration in 1 Samuel 17:46 profoundly articulates the foundational biblical principle that true victory and deliverance come from God alone, not from human strength, military might, or impressive stature. It underscores God's active, sovereign involvement in human history, His unwavering commitment to His covenant people, and His ultimate, overarching desire for His glory and unique identity to be known throughout the entire earth. This event serves as a powerful testament to the fact that God often chooses the weak, the overlooked, and the unlikely to accomplish His mighty purposes, thereby ensuring that all glory redounds to Him alone. It is a foundational narrative for understanding divine sovereignty, the call to audacious faith in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds, and the global scope of God's redemptive plan.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's bold declaration in 1 Samuel 17:46 offers a timeless and profound blueprint for confronting the "Goliaths" in our own lives—whether they are overwhelming personal challenges, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, societal injustices, or spiritual adversaries. It calls us to radically shift our gaze from the magnitude and apparent invincibility of the problem to the omnipotence and faithfulness of our God. Like David, our confidence should not be rooted in our own limited abilities, meager resources, or even past successes, but solely and completely in the LORD's power to deliver. This verse challenges us to live lives that are not just privately faithful but publicly demonstrative of God's living reality. Our responses to life's trials, our unwavering trust in God's promises, and our willingness to step out in audacious faith can serve as a powerful and undeniable testimony to a watching world, "that all the earth may know that there is a God." It encourages us to speak and act with prophetic certainty, believing that God will fulfill His word and powerfully use our obedience to reveal His glory to those who do not yet know Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was David being arrogant or boastful in his declaration?
Answer: No, David's declaration was not born of arrogance or personal boastfulness, but of profound, God-centered faith and an intense zeal for God's honor. His words were a prophetic utterance, confidently proclaiming what God would do through him, not what he would do in his own strength. Throughout the narrative, David consistently deflects glory from himself, attributing all power and victory to the LORD. His preceding statement in 1 Samuel 17:45 explicitly states he comes "in the name of the LORD of hosts." The ultimate purpose of his actions, as stated in verse 46, was "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel," clearly indicating a divine, not a personal, agenda. This distinguishes his confidence from human pride, rooting it firmly in divine power and purpose.
Why did David mention giving the Philistine carcasses to the birds and beasts?
Answer: David's mention of the Philistine carcasses being left for scavengers was a common and deeply humiliating consequence of defeat in ancient warfare. To be left unburied was a grave dishonor, denying the fallen warrior a proper burial and the dignity associated with it, ensuring their memory would be one of shame. This prophecy served multiple purposes: it underscored the totality and certainty of the Philistines' defeat, it was a direct insult and challenge to Goliath and his army, and it demonstrated David's understanding that God's judgment would be complete, leaving no doubt about the outcome of the battle and the absolute supremacy of Israel's God. It was a stark visual prophecy of utter destruction and humiliation for the enemies of God.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's audacious victory over Goliath, so powerfully declared in 1 Samuel 17:46, serves as a profound Old Testament type and foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate triumph over the forces of evil. Just as David, an unlikely and humble shepherd, confronted the seemingly invincible giant to deliver Israel from its formidable oppressor, so too did Jesus, the true "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29), confront the ultimate "Goliath" of sin, death, and the devil. David confidently declared, "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand," a declaration that echoes Christ's own confident pronouncements of victory over the powers of darkness. Through His sacrificial death on the cross and His glorious resurrection, Jesus "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him" (Colossians 2:15). He definitively defeated the one who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, thereby setting free those who were held in slavery by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). The ultimate purpose of David's victory was "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel"; similarly, Christ's victory on the cross and His resurrection ensure that God's glory and His unique identity as the Savior of the world are proclaimed to "every nation, tribe, people and language" (Revelation 7:9), demonstrating that indeed, there is one true God, and His name is Jesus Christ, the victorious Son of David and King of kings.