1 Samuel 17 10

1 Samuel 17:10 kjv

And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

1 Samuel 17:10 nkjv

And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together."

1 Samuel 17:10 niv

Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other."

1 Samuel 17:10 esv

And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together."

1 Samuel 17:10 nlt

I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!"

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 10 Meaning

1 Samuel 17:10 conveys Goliath the Philistine's scornful and direct challenge to the armies of Israel. He publicly defies them, demanding that they send forth a single champion to engage him in one-on-one combat. This challenge, repeated daily for forty days, aimed to provoke fear, humiliation, and spiritual paralysis within Israel's ranks, intending to settle the entire conflict based on the outcome of a single duel.

1 Samuel 17 10 Context

1 Samuel chapter 17 is set in the valley of Elah, where the Philistine and Israelite armies are encamped opposite each other for battle. The Philistines, a perennial and formidable enemy of Israel, have brought forth their massive champion, Goliath of Gath. For forty mornings and evenings, Goliath presented himself between the two armies, shouting challenges. Verse 10 captures the essence of his daily defiance: a taunt designed to humiliate Israel and their God, challenging them to send an equivalent champion for single combat to determine the outcome of the entire conflict. This ancient warfare tactic aimed to minimize Philistine casualties while asserting dominance and highlighting Israel's apparent weakness and fear, particularly of God's inability to provide a deliverer.

1 Samuel 17 10 Word analysis

• Then the Philistine: Refers to Goliath (גָּלְיָת – Golyaṯ), a giant warrior from Gath, a major Philistine city. His identification as "the Philistine" immediately establishes him as a representative of Israel's long-standing enemy, symbolizing foreign opposition to God's chosen people.
• said: ʾāmar (אָמַר). This common Hebrew verb indicates a formal, public, and deliberate declaration, amplified by Goliath's imposing stature and position between the two armies.
• 'I defy: ḥāraph (חָרָף). This powerful Hebrew verb means to taunt, reproach, revile, or shame. It is more than just a challenge; it's a verbal assault intended to strip honor, demoralize, and instill fear. This defiance is directly aimed at Israel, and by extension, their covenant God.
• the armies: maʿarakôṯ (מַעֲרָכוֹת). Literally "the arrays" or "battle lines." Goliath's challenge is not to a single individual initially, but to the entire organized military force of Israel, encompassing every warrior, leader, and military strategy.
• of Israel: Yiśrāʾēl (יִשְׂרָאֵל). Refers to the nation of Israel, God's chosen people. By defying Israel's armies, Goliath's challenge ultimately extends to the living God who defends them.
• this day;: Emphasizes the immediate, insistent, and daily nature of Goliath's challenge. It creates a sense of urgency and pressure, highlighting the sustained psychological warfare and the humiliation inflicted upon Israel each passing day without a response.
• give me a man,: Tĕnû lî ʾîš (תְּנוּ־לִי אִישׁ). "Give me a man." ʾîš (אִישׁ) here refers not just to any man, but to a champion, a worthy and equally formidable combatant. This phrase sets forth Goliath's explicit demand for a duel.
• that we may fight together.': Wĕnilḥāmāh (וְנִלָּחֲמָה). "And let us fight." This clarifies the specific nature of the proposed encounter: a one-on-one combat or duel. This ancient practice allowed a single contest to decide the outcome of a larger military conflict, minimizing casualties.

Words-group analysis:

• "I defy the armies of Israel": This phrase encapsulates Goliath's arrogant contempt and spiritual blasphemy. He elevates himself above the entire collective might of God's chosen people, intending to undermine their morale and trust in their God. This directly pits the Philistine god's supposed strength against the power of the living God.
• "give me a man, that we may fight together": This demand lays out the specific terms of Goliath's challenge for single combat. It reveals his confidence in his own physical superiority and the cultural expectation that the battle could be settled by champions. It exposes the crisis among the Israelites, who, relying on human might, found no one willing or able to answer such a call.

1 Samuel 17 10 Bonus section

The ancient practice of champion combat, though appearing less frequently in explicit biblical accounts compared to full-scale battles, demonstrates a strategic effort to avoid mass casualties. Goliath's insistence on this specific type of confrontation highlights his overwhelming self-confidence in his physical prowess and armor, contrasting sharply with David's later reliance on the Lord (1 Sam 17:45-47). The forty days (1 Sam 17:16) of Goliath's daily taunts are symbolically significant. In biblical narrative, forty often denotes a period of testing, purification, or judgment (e.g., the Flood, Israel's wilderness wanderings, Jesus' temptation). This prolonged period of fear and taunting exposed the spiritual weakness and paralysis within Israel's leadership, particularly King Saul's fear, demonstrating how external pressure can erode faith if God's sovereignty is not recognized. This narrative stands as a powerful example of spiritual warfare, where the enemy's loud pronouncements and intimidating presence aim to instill fear and deter faith, much like the spiritual enemy of believers today who "prowls around like a roaring lion" (1 Pet 5:8).

1 Samuel 17 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:10 presents Goliath's arrogant challenge, embodying contempt not just for Israel's military but for the very God they served. His use of ḥāraph ("defy" or "shame") indicates his intention to publicly humiliate the entire nation, not merely provoke a fight. The repeated "this day" amplified the psychological pressure, making Israel's inaction a source of continuous shame. By demanding "a man" for single combat, Goliath called for a champion to mirror his own stature and might, intending to decide the outcome of the war by proxy. This challenge paralyzed the Israelite army and King Saul, highlighting their lack of faith in God's ability to deliver, and ultimately set the stage for David's courageous and faith-filled response, which revealed that the true battle was God's, and the ultimate victory comes "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit."