1 Samuel 17 40

1 Samuel 17:40 kjv

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:40 nkjv

Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:40 niv

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:40 esv

Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:40 nlt

He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 40 Meaning

This verse describes David's final preparations before confronting Goliath, deliberately equipping himself not with military armor but with his familiar shepherd's tools: a staff, five smooth stones gathered from a brook, and his sling. It signifies David's reliance on divine provision and his God-given skills, rather than conventional human strength or weaponry, setting the stage for a victory predicated on faith.

1 Samuel 17 40 Context

1 Samuel chapter 17 details the epic confrontation between Israel and the Philistines. The Israelites, led by King Saul, are in stalemate, terrorized by the giant Philistine champion, Goliath. For forty days, Goliath has daily challenged Israel to send a champion to decide the battle, yet no Israelite warrior dares to face him due to his formidable size and armor. Into this crisis arrives young David, a shepherd sent by his father Jesse to bring provisions to his brothers in the army. Hearing Goliath's defiant blasphemies against the living God and seeing Israel's fear, David, stirred by divine zeal, volunteers to fight Goliath, dismissing Saul's armor and choosing to face the giant with his shepherd's simple, yet skillful, tools, embodying complete faith in the Lord. This verse specifically details his final practical preparations before stepping onto the battlefield, starkly contrasting with the heavily armored Goliath described earlier in the chapter.

1 Samuel 17 40 Word analysis

• Then: Indicates a sequential action, following David's refusal of Saul's armor. A decisive transition point.
• he took: David's active and intentional choice. He was preparing purposefully.
• his staff (מַקְלוֹ - maqlō): A shepherd's essential tool for guiding and protecting the flock. It symbolizes David's identity, his reliance on his everyday equipment, and perhaps the Lord's comfort and guidance (Psa 23:4).
• in his hand: Signifies immediate readiness, personal control, and accessibility of his chosen implements.
• and chose (וַיִּבְחַר - wayyivḥar): Implies deliberate selection, not random picking. David was discerning and thoughtful.
• five smooth (חֲמִשָּׁה חַלֻּקֵי - ḥămishāh ḥalluqê) stones (אֲבָנִים - ’ăḇānîm): "Smooth" indicates stones worn by water, making them ideal for precise and stable flight from a sling. "Five" is a specific, practical number – enough for Goliath, perhaps a backup, or considering Goliath's four brothers mentioned later (2 Sam 21:19-22).
• from the brook (מִנַּחַל - minnaḥal): A wadi or seasonal streambed. It implies an ordinary, natural, and easily accessible source. God can use the common things found in everyday life for extraordinary purposes.
• and put them in his shepherd's pouch (בִּכְלִי הָרֹעִים - bikelî hārō‘îm): This highlights that David equipped himself as a shepherd, not as a soldier. It confirms his chosen identity for this battle, contrasting sharply with Saul's military attire.
• his sling (וְקַלְעוֹ - wəqal‘ō) was in his hand: The sling was David's primary, skill-based weapon. It required incredible accuracy and power, honed by David in defending his flock from predators. This emphasizes David's practiced skill consecrated to God's purpose.
• and he approached (וַיִּגַּשׁ - wayyiggaš) the Philistine: A direct, confident movement towards the giant enemy. This demonstrates courage born of faith, contrasting with the Israelite army's fear.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then he took his staff in his hand": This action signals David's confident, practical preparation, leaning on the tools and skills from his established life as a shepherd. The staff symbolizes his protective role and dependence on what is familiar.
• "and chose five smooth stones from the brook": This highlights David's deliberate choice and the humble source of his "ammunition." The "smooth stones" indicate attention to detail and efficiency, suggesting preparation and strategic thinking rooted in his experience.
• "and put them in his shepherd's pouch": This act underscores his chosen identity as a shepherd-warrior, equipping himself with ordinary, non-military items that he mastered through everyday work. His reliance is on skill and God, not conventional armaments.
• "his sling was in his hand": This specifies his actual weapon for the fight, already held and ready for use. It reinforces David's active stance, his confidence in his well-honed skill with this seemingly rudimentary weapon.
• "and he approached the Philistine": This phrase captures David's unwavering courage and immediate advance toward the formidable enemy. It signals the imminent direct confrontation, demonstrating his proactive faith and readiness for God's battle.

1 Samuel 17 40 Bonus section

This verse marks a crucial point where David, often referred to as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Sam 13:14), demonstrates this heart not only in his spiritual conviction but also in his practical actions. It showcases his courage and discernment; he understands his strengths (sling) and his weaknesses (unfamiliar armor), making decisions that align with God's power flowing through his natural abilities. The emphasis on "smooth stones" reflects an understanding of physics, showing David wasn't just relying on blind faith but combining his skill with wise preparation. The number five stones could also symbolize an ample provision beyond immediate need, or a preparation for other challenges in God's will. It is a vivid portrayal of equipping oneself for God's purpose using the familiar tools and talents He has already provided.

1 Samuel 17 40 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:40 encapsulates David's profound faith, practical wisdom, and unique identity as God's chosen deliverer. Having rejected King Saul's cumbersome armor, David prepared for battle not by conforming to military convention, but by leaning on his divinely-honed skills as a shepherd. His deliberate selection of "five smooth stones" from an ordinary brook shows a combination of foresight, knowing he might need more than one, and a trust in the simple, yet potent, resources available through God's creation. The sling, a common pastoral tool for defense against wild animals, transformed in David's hand from a shepherd's implement into a powerful instrument of God's judgment. This act of preparation demonstrates a key theological truth: God empowers the ordinary, working through willing, skillful individuals who rely on Him. It contrasts starkly with human might and impressive weaponry, teaching that true victory comes not from superior human power but from divine intervention, often through seemingly weak or unconventional means. David's confident advance, fully equipped with his humble tools, is a testament to unwavering faith and practical reliance on God's promised presence.