1 Samuel 17:24 kjv
And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
1 Samuel 17:24 nkjv
And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.
1 Samuel 17:24 niv
Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.
1 Samuel 17:24 esv
All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.
1 Samuel 17:24 nlt
As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.
1 Samuel 17 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 20:8 | The officers shall proclaim... "What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted?... lest his brother's heart faint as well as his heart." | Fear causes spiritual contagion within the ranks. |
| Josh 1:9 | "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." | God's repeated command to Israel to overcome fear by His presence. |
| Judg 7:2 | The Lord said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast..." | God chooses weak instruments to manifest His power and receive all glory. |
| 1 Sam 14:15 | ...a panic from the Lord fell upon the army... | In other instances, God directly instilled fear; here, it is human fear. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "...the Lord sees not as man sees: for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." | Israel's fear stemmed from seeing Goliath's physical appearance rather than through faith. |
| 2 Ki 6:16 | "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." | Elisha's counsel contrasting physical sight with the unseen reality of God's host. |
| Ps 27:1 | "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" | Affirmation of divine protection removing any human source of fear. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | "No king is saved by the size of his army... A horse is a false hope for deliverance..." | Human reliance on military might is futile compared to God's salvation. |
| Ps 118:6 | "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" | Confident declaration of courage based on God's unwavering support. |
| Prov 29:25 | "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." | Direct explanation of the outcome of Israel's fear: it trapped them in inaction. |
| Isa 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God..." | God's tender assurance to His people when facing daunting situations. |
| Isa 51:12-13 | "who are you that you are afraid of man who dies... and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker...?" | Rebuke for fearing mortals and forgetting the sovereign Creator. |
| Mt 10:28 | "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul..." | Jesus' teaching to prioritize the fear of God over the fear of human threats. |
| Lk 12:4 | "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body..." | Further reiteration of discerning proper fear, placing God first. |
| Jn 12:43 | ...for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. | Implied motivation for Israel's inaction: concern for human reputation over God's honor. |
| 2 Cor 5:7 | "for we walk by faith, not by sight." | Israel's action here is a classic example of walking by sight (Goliath's size), not faith in God's power. |
| 2 Cor 10:3-5 | For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. | Principles of spiritual conflict are not always physical strength, but spiritual power. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Israel's lack of faith meant they could not please God in this moment. |
| Heb 13:6 | So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" | Confidence in divine help removes the power of human threats. |
| Jas 4:7 | "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." | Calls for standing firm against evil, contrasting Israel's flight from Goliath. |
| Gen 12:13 | (Abram fearing Pharaoh) "Please say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you..." | Historical pattern: fear leading to human strategizing and lack of faith. |
| Num 13:33 | "And there we saw the Nephilim... and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers..." | Israel's historical fear and sense of insignificance before giants, a recurring spiritual weakness. |
| Num 14:1-4 | ...all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried... and murmured... | National fear and unbelief led to lamenting and desires to turn back. |
1 Samuel 17 verses
1 Samuel 17 24 Meaning
This verse concisely describes the Israelite army's complete paralysis and overwhelming terror when they confronted Goliath. Upon seeing him, they immediately retreated, experiencing profound and debilitating fear. It highlights their spiritual failure to trust in God's power in the face of a human, albeit formidable, enemy.
1 Samuel 17 24 Context
1 Samuel 17 details the prolonged confrontation between the Philistines and the Israelites in the Valley of Elah. For forty days, Goliath, the formidable Philistine champion, has stepped forward daily to challenge the armies of Israel to single combat, taunting them and their God. The Philistine and Israelite forces are positioned on opposing hillsides, locked in a stalemate. Saul, the king of Israel, despite his physical stature, has proven to be as terrified as his army, offering rich rewards for anyone willing to fight Goliath but unable to act himself. This particular verse succinctly captures the widespread and overwhelming fear that gripped every Israelite soldier upon the mere sight of Goliath, causing them to immediately retreat from the battlefield and from the Philistine's defy. It lays the groundwork for David's arrival and his contrasting, faith-driven response.
1 Samuel 17 24 Word analysis
- And (וַיְהִי, vayhi): This conjunction introduces a narrative continuation, indicating that this fear was the direct and immediate outcome of Goliath's persistent appearances and taunts. It signals an unfolding dramatic situation.
- all the men of Israel (כָּל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol-ish Yisrael): "Kol" meaning "all" emphasizes that this was not just a segment, but the collective body of Israel's military—from the common soldier to the generals and the king himself. This signifies a national crisis of courage and faith, affecting every single combatant.
- when they saw (בִּרְאֹתָם, bir'otam): "Upon their seeing." This denotes an immediate, visceral reaction to Goliath's physical presence. It was their sensory perception, rather than a spiritual understanding of God's power, that dictated their response. They evaluated the threat purely from a human, external perspective.
- the man (אִישׁ, ish): Refers to Goliath. Calling him "the man" in this context highlights the profound irony and tragedy: God's chosen people were utterly paralyzed by fear of a mere mortal, albeit a giant, failing to recognize the infinite power of the Lord their God whom this "man" defied.
- fled from him (וַיָּנֻסוּ מִפָּנָיו, vayyanusu mippanaw): "They fled from his presence/face." The verb nas means "to flee," signifying a retreat driven by intense fear and a lack of will to engage. This was a direct, panicked flight, demonstrating complete military breakdown and a public acknowledgment of their terror.
- and were sore afraid (וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד, vayyir'u me'od): "And they feared greatly/exceedingly." Yara implies dread or terror, and the intensifying adverb me'od leaves no doubt about the absolute depth and incapacitating nature of their fear. It rendered them completely ineffective, paralyzing their will to fight and contrasting sharply with the divine command to "fear not."
- all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him: This phrase profoundly undermines the national identity of Israel as God's warrior people. Their collective retreat brought immense shame not only upon themselves but, more significantly, upon the name of Yahweh, whom Goliath publicly blasphemed.
- fled from him, and were sore afraid: This pairing links their physical action (fleeing) directly to their internal emotional state (extreme fear). It highlights how overwhelming fear can paralyze and compel a reaction contrary to one's purpose or calling. They prioritized self-preservation over divine glory.
1 Samuel 17 24 Bonus section
The state of "sore afraid" illustrates how fear, unchecked by faith in God, can become a spiritual epidemic that cripples individuals and an entire community, leading to inaction and dishonor. This fear was likely exacerbated by Saul's own towering presence but spiritual impotence; as the king and army's physical "head," his failure to respond provided no model for courage. The collective flight also indicates a lapse in remembering God's previous mighty acts of deliverance, where overwhelming odds were consistently overcome by His power. This verse sets the stage for David's unparalleled courage, rooted not in his own strength, but in his absolute faith and zealous defense of God's honor against the same intimidating foe.
1 Samuel 17 24 Commentary
1 Samuel 17:24 lays bare the dire spiritual condition of the Israelite army, and implicitly their king Saul. Despite being God's covenant people, when confronted with Goliath's imposing presence and taunts, they reacted with universal, incapacitating terror. Their flight was a clear demonstration of fear overcoming faith; they perceived the Philistine giant solely through the lens of human might, rather than through the lens of their all-powerful God. This intense fear and subsequent retreat not only showcased their military weakness but also brought great dishonor upon the name of the Lord. The scene underscores the severe consequences when a nation trusts in its own strength or succumbs to fear of human adversaries, rather than relying on the Lord for deliverance.