1 Samuel 17 34

1 Samuel 17:34 kjv

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

1 Samuel 17:34 nkjv

But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

1 Samuel 17:34 niv

But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,

1 Samuel 17:34 esv

But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,

1 Samuel 17:34 nlt

But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 34 Meaning

David, seeking to persuade King Saul that he is capable of fighting Goliath, explains that his past experience as a shepherd protecting his father's flock involved facing and overcoming dangerous predators like lions and bears when they attacked the sheep. This demonstrates his established courage, practical skill, and reliance on divine assistance in facing overwhelming threats.

1 Samuel 17 34 Context

1 Samuel chapter 17 sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between David and Goliath. For forty days, Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior, had defied the armies of Israel, causing fear and paralysis among King Saul and his soldiers. Saul had even offered great wealth and his daughter in marriage to anyone who could defeat Goliath, yet no one dared. David, sent by his father Jesse to deliver supplies to his brothers at the front, witnesses Goliath's taunts and feels a fervent indignation at the Philistine's defiance of the living God. When David expresses his desire to fight Goliath, Saul, looking at David's youth and lack of military experience, dismisses his capability. It is in this moment of skepticism from the king that David offers his testimony, drawing on his practical, dangerous, and divinely aided past as a shepherd, starting with verse 34.

1 Samuel 17 34 Word analysis

• But David said to Saul,

  • But: Hebrew waiyo'mer (וַיֹּאמֶר) is often just 'and he said', but in this context, it functions adversatively, signaling David's direct and firm counter-argument to Saul's dismissive words in the previous verse.
  • David: Hebrew Dāwīḏ (דָּוִיד). His name itself can mean "beloved one." At this point, he is a young shepherd, recently anointed king by Samuel but not yet publicly recognized. His address to the fearful king marks his prophetic entrance into the national narrative.
  • Saul: Hebrew Shaʾūl (שָׁאוּל). The reigning king, physically imposing (1 Sam 9:2), yet spiritually failing and overcome by fear in the face of Goliath, standing in stark contrast to the courageous shepherd boy.

• Your servant

  • Your servant: Hebrew ʿaḇdəḵā (עַבְדְּךָ). A humble, respectful, and customary address to a king. It highlights David's recognition of Saul's authority while simultaneously asserting his readiness to serve the king and God. It implicitly acknowledges David’s position as Saul’s subject and Israelite.

• has been keeping his father's sheep.

  • has been keeping: Hebrew hāya ro'eh (הָיָה רֹעֶה), a perfect continuous tense, indicating a habitual and ongoing past action. It implies a long, dedicated, and personal experience rather than a singular event. David was a diligent, full-time shepherd.
  • his father's sheep: Hebrew tsōn 'āḇīw (צֹאן אָבִיו). Refers to the flock belonging to Jesse, David's father. This signifies his humble, everyday duty and his responsibility for family property and livelihood. It underscores his faithfulness in a simple but demanding role, which would prepare him for leadership of God's flock, Israel. The shepherd's bond with his flock foreshadows David's care for Israel and Jesus's love for His Church.

• When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,

  • When: Hebrew kī (כִּי), indicating a causal or temporal conjunction: "for when," or "because." It sets the condition under which David took action.
  • a lion: Hebrew ʾărī (אֲרִי), a powerful and dangerous predator native to ancient Israel. Lions represent overwhelming strength and ferocity. Confronting one single-handedly required extraordinary courage and divine aid.
  • or a bear: Hebrew dōḇ (דֹּב), a large, equally dangerous predator. Mentioning both signifies not an isolated incident but a consistent pattern of dangerous threats David faced, showcasing his habitual bravery and skill in protecting his vulnerable charges from diverse, formidable foes.
  • came and carried off: Hebrew yābōʾ wənāśaʾ (יָבֹא וְנָשָׂא). nāśaʾ means "to carry off," "to snatch away." This denotes the violent and immediate threat posed by the predators. The active snatching indicates a direct loss that demanded an immediate, life-threatening response from the shepherd.
  • a sheep from the flock: Hebrew šeʾ min-hammənuḥāh (שֶׂה מִמֶּנָּה), or specifically a lamb (כִּבְשָׂה kiśbāh in later verse 35). Emphasizes the vulnerability of the victim and the preciousness of each individual member of the flock. This loss directly impinged on David's responsibility. The parallel to Goliath, who sought to "carry off" Israel's honor and liberty, is implicit.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep.'": This complete statement establishes David's core argument. It counters Saul's initial assessment of him as "a boy" by presenting concrete, lived experience. David’s identity as a shepherd for his father's sheep signifies a faithfulness to a specific, humble, but crucial task, directly relevant to his argument for defending Israel as God's "flock." His sustained action as "keeping" (continuous tense) implies diligence and proficiency developed over time.
  • "When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,": This part introduces the grave reality and significant peril of David's pastoral duties. By specifying two distinct and equally fearsome predators, David underscores that his confrontations were not mere accidents but regular, life-threatening occurrences that he systematically overcame. The act of "carrying off a sheep" is not just an incident of loss but a violation, eliciting David's fierce, protective response detailed in the subsequent verses. This immediate and personal threat sets up the parallel with Goliath's threat to Israel.

1 Samuel 17 34 Bonus section

• David's shepherd experiences provide concrete evidence that he does not rely solely on human strength but has a track record of divine deliverance. The challenges he faced in the wilderness fostered a deep reliance on God that formal military training might not have.
• This verse underscores the ancient understanding of a shepherd as not merely a tender of sheep, but a protector. In Near Eastern culture, a good shepherd was brave, vigilant, and willing to risk his life for his flock, which directly mirrors David's eventual role as Israel's leader.
• The lion and bear are symbolic of the 'impossible' obstacles or forces of chaos that believers might face, illustrating that God’s presence can empower ordinary individuals to overcome such forces.
• The transition from shepherd of literal sheep to shepherd of God's people (Israel) is a common biblical motif (Ps 78:70-72; Jer 23:4), reinforcing the character qualities and protective spirit necessary for leadership.

1 Samuel 17 34 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:34 provides a profound insight into God's providential preparation of David for kingship. It is David's response to Saul's doubt, rooted not in military prowess or formal training, but in faithful diligence in a humble task. David recounts facing a lion and a bear—real and formidable dangers in the ancient world—demonstrating his established courage, physical capability, and the protective instincts of a shepherd. This narrative subtly portrays David as a "man after God's own heart" (1 Sam 13:14), willing to risk his life for the vulnerable. His defense of his father's sheep foreshadows his future role as shepherd-king of Israel, responsible for protecting God's people. This account emphasizes that God equips His chosen instruments in seemingly ordinary circumstances, developing their character and faith for extraordinary assignments, highlighting that God uses practical experience and demonstrated faithfulness, no matter how humble, as credentials for His divine calling. It serves as a reminder that God empowers His servants to overcome seemingly impossible odds when they act with faith and responsibility.