1 Samuel 17 38

1 Samuel 17:38 kjv

And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

1 Samuel 17:38 nkjv

So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.

1 Samuel 17:38 niv

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.

1 Samuel 17:38 esv

Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,

1 Samuel 17:38 nlt

Then Saul gave David his own armor ? a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 38 Meaning

King Saul attempted to equip David with his personal military gear – his tunic, a bronze helmet, and a heavy coat of mail – as preparation for confronting Goliath. This act highlights Saul's conventional understanding of warfare, believing victory lies in physical protection and armed might. It demonstrates his well-intentioned but misguided effort to prepare the young shepherd in a manner typical of an experienced warrior.

1 Samuel 17 38 Context

1 Samuel chapter 17 sets the stage for David's renowned confrontation with Goliath. For forty days, Goliath, the Philistine champion, taunted Israel's army, yet none dared to face him, including King Saul. Saul's army was paralyzed by fear. David, a young shepherd, arrives at the battle lines to bring supplies to his brothers. Outraged by Goliath's defiance of the living God, David volunteers to fight him. This verse details Saul's immediate response: impressed by David's courage, but still operating within conventional military understanding, Saul attempts to fit David with his own formidable, albeit oversized, personal armor. Historically, during this period, single combat between champions was a common way to decide large-scale battles, yet no Israelite was brave enough, exposing the nation's spiritual and physical weakness compared to the Philistine giant. This scenario sets a theological contrast between human reliance on impressive might and God's power made perfect in weakness, highlighted by Saul's grand armor versus David's simple faith and sling.

1 Samuel 17 38 Word analysis

• And Saul clothed David: (וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ - vay-yal-besh from the root לָבַשׁ, "to put on/clothe") This act shows Saul's intention to provide protection and a uniform to David. It signifies Saul's immediate, conventional reaction to David's volunteering. It also implies a transference of a warrior's identity or role, which David will ultimately reject.
• with his armor: (מַדָּיו - mad-daiv from מַד, "garment, vesture, uniform, military dress") This refers specifically to Saul's personal, likely royal and large, battle attire. The term indicates Saul’s established uniform and method of warfare, which contrasts sharply with David's humble and unequipped background. Its unsuitability for David foreshadows the outcome where human tools fail.
• and he put a helmet: (וַיָּשֶׂם - vay-ya-sem from שׂוּם, "to put, place"; קוֹבַע - ko-va, "helmet") Placing a helmet was crucial for head protection in ancient warfare. It illustrates Saul’s effort to outfit David completely, adhering to standard military protocols.
• of brass: (נְחֹשֶׁת - ne-kho-shet, "brass, bronze") Denotes the material of the helmet. Bronze was heavy and durable, a common choice for ancient armor, signifying formidable protection but also considerable weight, particularly for a young, unaccustomed fighter.
• upon his head: Emphasizes the specific placement of the heavy, uncomfortable headgear.
• also he clothed him: (וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ - vay-yal-besh, repeated) The repetition signifies a distinct piece of clothing or an added emphasis on the complete process of dressing David in warrior gear, signifying thoroughness from Saul's perspective.
• with a coat of mail: (שִׁרְיוֹן - shir-yon, "coat of mail, breastplate") This refers to body armor, often made of overlapping scales or links, providing robust defense but being exceptionally heavy and restrictive. Its inclusion underlines Saul's belief in traditional, physical protection.

• "And Saul clothed David with his armor; and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he clothed him with a coat of mail.": This entire phrase intricately details Saul’s systematic effort to equip David with every piece of traditional heavy armor. It signifies Saul’s worldview where victory is achieved through superior physical protection and conventional weaponry. This preparation, despite being well-intentioned, is physically overwhelming and spiritually misaligned with David’s faith-driven approach. The visual impact of Saul, a king chosen for his stature, attempting to fit his large armor onto a youth like David powerfully illustrates the stark difference between reliance on human strength and God-given power, setting the stage for the crucial rejection of this armor in the next verse. It implicitly foreshadows the inadequacy of Saul's human wisdom in God's divine plan.

1 Samuel 17 38 Bonus section

The act of Saul clothing David in his own armor highlights a subtle but profound theme of kingship in Israel. Saul, representing human kingship founded on appearance and military might, attempts to impress his own image and methods onto David, God's chosen king. However, David’s rejection of the armor (in the next verse, 1 Sam 17:39) serves as a prophetic moment, signaling that David's rule and his victories would not be modeled after Saul's, nor reliant on human strength or conventional military prowess, but solely on God. This scene also symbolizes the burden of leadership under the old covenant (represented by Saul's reliance on human strength) versus the light and effective yoke of relying on the Spirit under divine empowerment.

1 Samuel 17 38 Commentary

This verse describes Saul’s logical yet spiritually short-sighted attempt to equip David according to conventional military standards. Saul, operating from a place of fear and human experience, sought to protect David with the very things that Israel's warriors relied upon: heavy armor. His generosity in offering his own armor was also an acknowledgment of David’s courage but masked a lack of faith in God’s unconventional ways. This preparation underscores a foundational contrast: human efforts and formidable armaments against the subtle, divinely empowered strategy. The armor, though offering physical protection, proved unfitting and burdensome for David, foreshadowing its inadequacy as a means to victory against Goliath and signifying that reliance on worldly strength would not secure God's deliverance.