1 Samuel 17 32

1 Samuel 17:32 kjv

And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:32 nkjv

Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

1 Samuel 17:32 niv

David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."

1 Samuel 17:32 esv

And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

1 Samuel 17:32 nlt

"Don't worry about this Philistine," David told Saul. "I'll go fight him!"

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 32 Meaning

This verse captures David's audacious declaration to King Saul, amidst widespread fear and despair within the Israelite army. David emphatically reassures Saul, urging him not to let fear debilitate anyone's courage because of Goliath. He then bravely volunteers himself, a young and seemingly unqualified shepherd, to go and personally engage the formidable Philistine giant in battle. It is a profound expression of faith, courage, and reliance on God in the face of an impossible human challenge.

1 Samuel 17 32 Context

1 Samuel Chapter 17 opens with the Philistines gathered for war against Israel. The two armies are arrayed on opposing hillsides with a valley between them. For forty days, Goliath, a colossal Philistine champion, strides out each morning and evening to defy the armies of Israel, challenging them to send out a single champion for decisive combat. This taunt deeply terrifies King Saul and the entire Israelite army. During this period, David, a young shepherd from Bethlehem, is sent by his father Jesse to deliver supplies to his older brothers serving in Saul's army. Upon arriving at the camp, David witnesses Goliath's daily challenge and hears his blasphemous mockery against "the armies of the living God." Outraged by this affront and the paralyzed fear of the Israelites, David expresses his indignation. His inquiries attract attention, leading him eventually into the presence of King Saul. It is within this atmosphere of national crisis, military stagnation, and Saul’s evident leadership failure that David utters these powerful words. Culturally, "champion combat" was a recognized form of ancient warfare, where the fate of armies rested on two selected warriors. David's emergence reflects a deep-seated spiritual reality: Saul, chosen by man, had proven fearful and faithless, while David, chosen by God (1 Sam 16), exemplifies unwavering faith and courage.

1 Samuel 17 32 Word analysis

• And David said (וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד - vayyōmer dāwīd): The waw consecutive signifies an immediate and significant verbal response following David's observations. It highlights David's initiative and decisive nature. David's name (דָּוִד - dāwīd) means "beloved" or "darling," prophetically fitting for God's chosen king.
• to Saul (אֶל-שָׁאוּל - 'el-šā'ūl): David directly addresses the king, demonstrating respect for authority, despite Saul's display of fear. Saul's name (שָׁאוּל - šā'ūl) means "asked," referring to Israel's request for a king.
• "Let no man’s heart (אַל-יִפֹּל רוּחַ אִישׁ - 'al-yippōl rūaḥ 'īš): This phrase uses a negative imperative ("let it not fall").
  • ruach (רוּחַ) here, typically translated "spirit" or "wind," refers to inner resolve, courage, or morale.
  • ish (אִישׁ) means "man," indicating any person.
  • The idiom "let no man's heart/spirit fall" expresses a command to overcome fear and demoralization. David encourages fortitude among those disheartened by Goliath.
• fail (מִמֶּנּוּ - mimmmennû): The Hebrew verb is nāphal (נָפַל), meaning "to fall, collapse, faint, become disheartened." Here, it vividly portrays the psychological defeat inflicted by Goliath.
• because of him (מִמֶּנּוּ - mimmmennû): This direct demonstrative refers to Goliath as the cause of the widespread fear. David minimizes Goliath by merely referring to him as "him" or "that one," implicitly denying his claims of invincibility.
• your servant (עַבְדְּךָ - 'avdeḵā): David refers to himself with humility, acknowledging his subservience to Saul. This highlights his respectful demeanor and highlights a servanthood contrasting with Saul's ineffective leadership. However, this also implies his ultimate servanthood to God, which drives his courage.
• will go (אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ - 'anī 'ēlēḵ): The emphatic "I myself" (anī) before the verb "will go" ('ēlēḵ) highlights David's personal commitment and proactive willingness. He volunteers decisively, rather than passively suggesting an alternative.
• and fight (וְנִלְחַמְתִּי - wənilḥamtî): The waw consecutive connects David's going directly with the intention to fight, demonstrating resolve. This term (lāḥam, לָחַם) means "to fight" or "wage war," representing a direct military engagement. This contrasts with the Israelite army’s reluctance to engage in conflict.
• with this Philistine (עִם-הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַזֶּה - ‘im-happeliš̌tī hazzeh): David uses a somewhat dismissive tone towards Goliath, identifying him only by his ethnicity and a demonstrative pronoun, "this Philistine."
  • Pelištî (פְּלִשְׁתִּי): refers to the Philistine, an enduring enemy of Israel throughout this historical period, known for their distinct polytheistic worship (especially Dagon) and military strength, a clear polemical distinction from the monotheistic Israelites.
  • hazzeh (הַזֶּה): "this one," an almost contemptuous way of referring to Goliath, stripping him of his fear-inducing name and reputation, reducing him to just "this particular enemy."

• "Let no man’s heart fail because of him": This is an immediate command and reassurance, showing David's confidence and spiritual leadership. He aims to restore courage to a demoralized army, identifying fear as the true adversary. This is a call for the Israelites to look beyond Goliath's imposing presence and see him merely as a challenge God will overcome through His chosen one.
• "your servant will go and fight with this Philistine": This declarative statement demonstrates unwavering faith and self-sacrifice. David doesn't suggest someone should fight; he declares he will. It reveals his understanding that the battle is God's, and He can use even the weakest to defeat the strongest. David's choice of "this Philistine" rather than "Goliath" is an intentional rhetorical dismissal, downgrading Goliath's perceived status from a terrifying champion to merely another uncircumcised pagan enemy of the Lord.

1 Samuel 17 32 Bonus section

• David's willingness here functions as a prophetic type, foreshadowing a true King who would confront overwhelming evil on behalf of His people, overcoming it not through conventional strength but through divine power and a spirit of humble servitude.
• The psychological warfare Goliath employed by daily taunting the Israelites was highly effective due to Israel's lack of faith under Saul. David's words here begin to turn the tide, injecting faith back into the national consciousness, even if initially only in Saul.
• This verse represents David stepping into his divine calling. His experience as a shepherd defending his flock, dismissed as inconsequential by his brothers (1 Sam 17:28), had been God's specific training for this moment, demonstrating God’s purposeful preparation.

1 Samuel 17 32 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:32 encapsulates David's transformative impact amidst the fear and spiritual paralysis gripping Israel. His words are not merely a brave declaration but a divine challenge to the widespread despair. David confronts Saul with a direct command, "Let no man's heart fail," aiming to stem the tide of cowardice and refocus attention from the enemy's might to God's unfailing power. This contrasts sharply with Saul's kingship, which was characterized by human strength and fear, not divine reliance. David's humility in calling himself "your servant" coupled with his audacious claim to fight Goliath exemplifies a powerful spiritual dynamic: true courage arises not from physical prowess but from a steadfast faith in the Living God, empowering the humble. His refusal to name Goliath and his simple reference to him as "this Philistine" is a significant spiritual gesture; it diminishes Goliath's perceived authority and celebrates God's sovereignty over pagan might. David’s volunteering positions him as God’s appointed deliverer, illustrating that God often chooses the unassuming to achieve the extraordinary, revealing His glory through human weakness (1 Cor 1:27).