1 Samuel 17 46

1 Samuel 17:46 kjv

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:46 nkjv

This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:46 niv

This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

1 Samuel 17:46 esv

This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

1 Samuel 17:46 nlt

Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 46 Meaning

David boldly declares his conviction that the Lord will grant him victory over Goliath, not merely for personal triumph, but to powerfully demonstrate God's sovereignty. This victory will result in Goliath's swift and graphic defeat, followed by the utter disgrace of the entire Philistine army, whose unburied corpses will become carrion. The ultimate purpose of this divine intervention is for all the world to acknowledge and know that the God of Israel is the true and living God who acts decisively on behalf of His people.

1 Samuel 17 46 Context

Chapter 17 details the epic confrontation between Israel and the Philistines in the Valley of Elah. For forty days, Goliath, the Philistine champion, taunted Israel, daring any man to face him in single combat, which would decide the fate of both nations. King Saul and the Israelite army were paralyzed by fear. Young David, visiting his brothers at the front, was incensed by Goliath's blasphemy against the armies of the living God. Volunteering to fight, he rejected Saul's armor, choosing instead simple shepherd's tools. Verse 46 is part of David’s bold and prophetic response to Goliath’s contemptuous remarks in verse 43, outlining not just a personal victory, but God's public vindication. The Philistine religious context involved worship of gods like Dagon, and David's declaration is a direct challenge to the supremacy of such deities.

1 Samuel 17 46 Word analysis

• "This day" (Hebrew: הַיּוֹם - hayyôm): Emphasizes the immediacy and divine precision of the timing. It signals an immediate act of God, a divinely ordained present moment where the tide will turn. It asserts absolute confidence in God's current action.
• "the Lord" (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH, the tetragrammaton, the personal covenant name of God): This is not just any god, but the unique, covenant-keeping God of Israel. David deliberately invokes God's most sacred name, contrasting Him with the impotent Philistine gods. It signifies the true sovereign.
• "will deliver you" (Hebrew: סָגַר - sāgar): Meaning to "shut up," "close," or "deliver into someone's hand." This verb highlights that Goliath's fate is sealed by God's decree, not David’s skill alone. It implies God’s active surrender of the enemy into David's power.
• "into my hand": Signifies David as God’s chosen instrument for this divine act. The victory is achieved through him, but empowered by God.
• "and I will strike you down" (Hebrew: הִכִּיתִךָ - hikkîtīḵā): David confidently declares his specific intention, indicating an imminent and decisive blow. This is a personal commitment as God's agent.
• "and cut off your head" (Hebrew: וַהֲסִרֹתִי אֶת־רֹאשֶׁךָ - va-hasîrotî ʾet-roʾšekā): A vivid, gruesome, yet significant detail. Beheading symbolized absolute conquest, public humiliation, and assurance of death for a formidable enemy. It eliminates any doubt about Goliath’s demise and signifies a definitive end to his threat.
• "And I will give the dead bodies" (Hebrew: פִּגְרֵי - pigrê): Specifically refers to unburied corpses or carrion. This is an explicit threat of utter dishonor, as ancient cultures held deep reverence for proper burial. It means public shaming and a loss of all dignity.
• "of the host of the Philistines" (Hebrew: מַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים - maḥaneh pelishtîm): David prophesies the collective defeat of the entire Philistine army, not just Goliath. The defeat of the champion signals the collapse of their morale and the rout of their forces.
• "this day": Repeats hayyôm emphasizing that the larger Philistine army's disgrace will follow immediately after Goliath's fall, reinforcing the certainty and immediacy of God's action.
• "to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth": A direct curse and symbol of utmost degradation (echoing curses like Deut 28:26 and Jer 7:33). To be left unburied and scavenged was a profound humiliation and indicated divine judgment. This fate reinforces the public disgrace intended by God.
• "that all the earth may know" (Hebrew: לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ כָּל־הָאָרֶץ - ləmaʿan yēḏʿû kol-hāʾāreṣ): This states the ultimate, global purpose of God’s intervention. It transcends the personal battle, aiming for universal recognition of God’s power. God desires His reality to be known globally.
• "that there is a God in Israel" (Hebrew: כִּי יֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל - kî yēš ʾĕlōhîm ləyiśrāʾēl): This climactic declaration asserts the active, powerful, and unique presence of God among His people. It's a polemic against pagan deities and an affirmation of God's reality, proving He is not merely a tribal deity, but the only true God, evidenced by His actions in Israel. It confirms God's faithful presence with His covenant people.

Words-group Analysis

• "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand": This phrase captures David’s absolute confidence in God's immediate and decisive intervention. It frames the entire battle as a divinely orchestrated event where Goliath's defeat is predetermined by YHWH. It highlights faith over fear, and God's sovereignty over human might.
• "and I will strike you down and cut off your head": This bold, specific prediction demonstrates David’s prophetic anointing and unwavering resolve. It serves as both a psychological weapon against Goliath and a public declaration of God's judgment through David’s actions, removing all doubt about the victor and the method of victory.
• "And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth": This horrific imagery depicts total victory and profound disgrace. It predicts the comprehensive defeat and humiliation of the entire Philistine military, indicating God’s judgment not just on Goliath but on the nation that defied Him. This cultural ignominy further underscores God’s supremacy.
• "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel": This is the theological climax of David’s declaration. The battle's primary purpose is God's self-revelation to all nations. It is a polemic against paganism, showing that YHWH is the active, powerful, and singular true God, proven through His action for His chosen people. The earthly conflict serves a divine, global objective of proclaiming God's renown.

1 Samuel 17 46 Bonus section

This verse embodies the essence of the "David and Goliath" narrative as a testament to faith and God's power. It illustrates that victory in God's battles is "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit" (Zech 4:6). David, representing the underdog, relies solely on God's Name, highlighting the theme that God delights in using the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27). The promise of leaving dead bodies for carrion was not merely a threat, but a fulfillment of divine curses against those who rebelled against God, emphasizing His comprehensive judgment. This battle's outcome becomes a sign for Israel to trust God, and for the nations to fear Him.

1 Samuel 17 46 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:46 reveals the profound faith of David and the ultimate purpose behind the battle with Goliath. It is not merely a duel of champions, but a cosmic confrontation between the true God of Israel and the gods of the Philistines. David, full of the Holy Spirit, speaks prophetically, outlining God's sovereign plan. He is God's instrument, declaring the immediate downfall of Goliath and, by extension, the disgrace of the entire Philistine army. The explicit, gruesome details of Goliath's fate and the fate of the Philistine host emphasize the absolute victory and the depth of their dishonor in ancient culture. The central theme, however, is God’s glory: the entire ordeal serves to showcase to "all the earth" that the God of Israel is indeed the living and acting God, not just a tribal deity. This moment establishes YHWH's preeminence over all pagan deities and human power, solidifying His reputation among the nations through a dramatic, visible act of deliverance. This echoes the pattern seen in God's acts in Egypt and the wilderness—He defeats the powerful to prove His uniqueness.