1 Samuel 17:47 kjv
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
1 Samuel 17:47 nkjv
Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."
1 Samuel 17:47 niv
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
1 Samuel 17:47 esv
and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."
1 Samuel 17:47 nlt
And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!"
1 Samuel 17 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 14:14 | The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. | God fights for His people. |
| Deut 1:30 | The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you... | God as the divine warrior. |
| Deut 3:22 | You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself will fight for you. | Assurance of God's direct intervention. |
| Josh 23:10 | One man of you puts to flight a thousand, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you... | Divine empowerment in battle. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | ...do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. | Direct echo: The battle is God's. |
| Psa 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Contrast human reliance vs. God's name. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | No king is saved by the size of his army... A horse is a vain hope for deliverance... | Salvation not by military strength. |
| Psa 44:3 | It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory... | God's arm brings victory, not human means. |
| Psa 118:14 | The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. | God as the source of strength and salvation. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts. | Emphasizes God's Spirit, not human strength. |
| Hos 1:7 | But I will show love to the people of Judah and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle... | God's salvation through His own means. |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. | God's chosen means humble human pride. |
| 1 Cor 1:29 | ...so that no one may boast before him. | God's design prevents human boasting. |
| Eph 6:12 | For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities... | Spiritual nature of the true battle. |
| Rom 8:37 | No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. | Believers are conquerors through Christ. |
| 1 Jn 4:4 | ...because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. | Greater power indwelling believers. |
| Rev 19:11 | I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse... | Christ leading a divine army. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Let not the wise man boast... but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me... | Knowing God as the true boasting. |
| Prov 21:31 | The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD. | Clear statement that victory comes from God. |
| Col 2:15 | And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. | Christ's ultimate victory over spiritual enemies, by non-worldly means. |
1 Samuel 17 verses
1 Samuel 17 47 Meaning
1 Samuel 17:47 declares that God's deliverance and victory do not come through human military strength or conventional weapons. Instead, it is God who owns and fights the battle, ensuring that He, not human might, is credited with the triumph. This public display would ensure that all assembled—Israelites and Philistines alike—would recognize YHWH's unique power to save.
1 Samuel 17 47 Context
1 Samuel chapter 17 details the confrontation between the Philistine champion, Goliath, and the young Israelite shepherd, David. For forty days, Goliath terrorized the Israelite army, who, led by King Saul, were paralyzed by fear. The conventional military might of Saul and his army was useless against Goliath. Into this impasse steps David, motivated by zeal for YHWH's honor, not by military prowess or experience. Before facing Goliath, David boldly declares the principles of divine warfare, specifically articulating in verse 47 that the victory will come directly from YHWH, demonstrating His power over human weaponry and reliance. This verse is David's prophetic statement and confession of faith, contrasting Israel's fear and the Philistines' confidence in human might with YHWH's absolute sovereignty in battle.
1 Samuel 17 47 Word analysis
- "And all this assembly": (Hebrew: qahal) Refers not only to the immediate armies of Israel and Philistia but the entire gathering present, emphasizing that God intended a public and undeniable revelation of His power to both covenant people and pagans. This implies a wider scope of divine demonstration.
- "shall know": (Hebrew: yada') Denotes an experiential and intimate knowing, not just intellectual understanding. They would physically witness and comprehend God's active involvement and unique manner of salvation.
- "that the LORD": (Hebrew: YHWH) Refers to the covenant God of Israel. David is asserting the power of Israel's God, contrasting Him with the Philistine gods who empowered warriors like Goliath based on their physical might. YHWH is not reliant on human strength.
- "saveth not": (Hebrew: yasha') Meaning to deliver, rescue, bring victory, or grant salvation. The negation ("not") powerfully emphasizes the method of God's salvation. He does not conform to human military standards or expectations.
- "with sword and spear": These represent the quintessential instruments of ancient warfare, symbolizing human power, military technology, and martial prowess. David dismisses the efficacy of such tools in God's ultimate victory.
- "for the battle is the LORD's": (Hebrew: milḥamah la-YHWH) This is the theological linchpin of the verse. It asserts divine ownership, agency, and ultimate control over the conflict. It means the battle belongs to Him to fight, direct, and ultimately determine its outcome, not merely that He helps or is on one side.
- "and he will give you": "He" refers directly to the LORD, not David. It is a confident, prophetic declaration of the inevitable outcome, flowing directly from the preceding statement of divine sovereignty.
- "into our hands": A common idiomatic expression signifying complete defeat, surrender, and control of the vanquished. This expresses David's certainty of victory granted by God.
1 Samuel 17 47 Bonus section
- Polemical Statement: This verse serves as a direct polemic, a rhetorical attack, against the Philistines' reliance on physical might and their god's supposed endorsement of it (personified by Goliath's challenge). It also subtly rebukes the Israelites' fear and their over-reliance on a king (Saul) and human armies, rather than on their covenant God.
- Type of Christ's Victory: The victory of David (a shepherd boy without traditional weaponry) over Goliath (the formidable champion) through divine empowerment typifies Jesus Christ's ultimate victory. Christ conquered sin, death, and the forces of evil not by earthly military force, but by the "foolishness" of the Cross and resurrection—a divine triumph that defied human logic and rendered the world's power structures impotent, much as God saved "not with sword and spear."
- Universal Declaration: The phrase "all this assembly shall know" emphasizes God's intention for His revelation to extend beyond Israel. David understood that this battle was for the glory of YHWH to be made known among all peoples, not just a localized conflict.
1 Samuel 17 47 Commentary
1 Samuel 17:47 distills the core theological message of the David and Goliath narrative. It highlights a foundational biblical truth: God's power and methods of salvation often transcend and even defy human logic and military strength. David’s faith understood that this was not merely a physical contest of warriors but a divine demonstration of YHWH's supreme power against pagan deities and human self-reliance. The public nature of this victory ensures that everyone present learns that true salvation and victory come from God alone, not from weapons or military might. This understanding liberates believers from trusting in visible resources and anchors them firmly in God's unseen, yet invincible, strength.For practical usage, this verse encourages us to trust God in overwhelming circumstances where our own resources (like "sword and spear") are inadequate, reminding us that the spiritual battle against sin or overwhelming challenges belongs to Him. It encourages dependence on divine power, not human effort, for genuine victory and deliverance.