1 Samuel 17 49

1 Samuel 17:49 kjv

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

1 Samuel 17:49 nkjv

Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

1 Samuel 17:49 niv

Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

1 Samuel 17:49 esv

And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

1 Samuel 17:49 nlt

Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 49 Meaning

This verse describes the pivotal moment in the confrontation between David and Goliath, where David, armed only with his sling and a stone, delivers a precise and fatal blow to the Philistine giant. It highlights the direct action, the specific target, and the immediate, overwhelming impact of the stone, leading to Goliath's complete defeat and fall. The significance lies not in David's human strength, but in God empowering the humble and seemingly weak to overcome the formidable and proud.

1 Samuel 17 49 Context

First Samuel chapter 17 describes the standoff between the Philistines and the Israelites in the Valley of Elah. The Philistines had put forth Goliath, a massive warrior, as their champion, challenging Israel to single combat to decide the war. For forty days, Goliath defied Israel, terrifying Saul and his army. David, a young shepherd, arrives at the battle lines to bring provisions to his brothers and hears Goliath's blasphemous challenge against the living God. Incensed by the lack of faith among the Israelite army and trusting in God, who had enabled him to defend his flock from lions and bears, David volunteers to fight Goliath. He rejects Saul's heavy armor, opting for his simple shepherd's equipment: a staff, a bag, and five smooth stones from the wadi, and his sling. Prior to verse 49, David explicitly declares his confidence in the LORD's name, contrasting his spiritual armor with Goliath's physical might, setting the stage for divine intervention.

1 Samuel 17 49 Word analysis

• And David: Refers to David, chosen by God (1 Sam 16:1-13). His personal faith and dependence on God are central to the narrative.
• put his hand: Signifies intentional and decisive action. David was not hesitant but acted with purpose.
• in his bag: From his humble shepherd's pouch, containing the five smooth stones he had selected (1 Sam 17:40). This ordinary bag stands in stark contrast to Goliath's imposing military gear, highlighting God's power working through simple means.
• and took thence a stone: Hebrew: eben (אֶבֶן), a common rock, not special in itself. Its significance comes from divine selection and enablement. The stone is one of five David picked, indicating preparation but also relying on God for accuracy with just one.
• and slang it: Hebrew: wayeqalaʿehah (וַיְקַלְעֶהָ), from qalaʿ, meaning "to hurl, sling." This was David's skilled action, perfected as a shepherd to defend his flock. This ordinary human skill was elevated by divine aim.
• and smote: Hebrew: wayyakh (וַיַּךְ), from nakah, "to strike, hit, slay." Indicates a direct, impactful blow. The force of the strike was extraordinary, beyond what a normal sling shot would accomplish.
• the Philistine: Refers to Goliath of Gath, the giant champion of the Philistines (1 Sam 17:4). He represented the epitome of human pride and strength pitted against the Lord and His people.
• in his forehead: Hebrew: mitzcho (מִצְחוֹ), "his forehead." This was a precise and highly vulnerable target, despite Goliath's bronze helmet (1 Sam 17:5). The hit on this specific spot demonstrates either extraordinary luck, exceptional skill, or divine guidance of the stone. Biblical scholars generally understand this as divine intervention, ensuring the stone hit the only exposed, fatal spot.
• that the stone sunk: Implies immense force and impact. The stone did not merely hit but penetrated, suggesting an extraordinary power behind its trajectory. This detail emphasizes the lethal effectiveness of the blow, a direct result of divine empowerment.
• into his forehead: Reaffirms the depth and effectiveness of the penetration. The battle was won with a single, conclusive shot.
• and he fell upon his face: Signifies a complete and humiliating defeat. For a mighty warrior to fall prostrate suggests absolute collapse. It fulfills David's prior declaration that Goliath would be given to the birds (1 Sam 17:46).
• to the earth: The giant's total prostration, his defeat made utterly manifest and public. His mighty form lay defeated on the ground, before all, symbolizing the crushing of human pride by divine power.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone": This group of words emphasizes David's calm, deliberate action and reliance on his familiar shepherd's tools. It highlights the humble means God often uses to accomplish His purposes, contrasting starkly with Goliath's massive weaponry and armor.
• "and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead": This phrase describes the execution of David's skill and the divine precision of the act. It underscores the decisive and fatal nature of the blow, striking the most vulnerable point of a heavily armored warrior. This immediate and specific impact signifies the directness of God's intervention.
• "that the stone sunk into his forehead": This emphasizes the unusual power and penetration of the stone. It conveys that the impact was far beyond a mere physical act, suggesting divine power imbued into the simple projectile, ensuring its efficacy.
• "and he fell upon his face to the earth": This phrase concludes the action, illustrating Goliath's sudden and complete defeat. It vividly portrays the immediate, overwhelming collapse of the formidable giant, signifying a total, humiliating victory of the weak over the strong, and God's power over human might.

1 Samuel 17 49 Bonus section

The account in 1 Samuel 17:49 is not merely a historical record of a physical battle, but rich with theological and typological significance. Goliath, a massive and defiant figure challenging the armies of the living God, serves as a prototype of all spiritual forces opposed to God's people. His eventual defeat by a humble stone to the head carries an echo of Genesis 3:15, where the "seed of the woman" is prophesied to "bruise" or "crush" the head of the serpent. This connects Goliath's demise to the broader biblical theme of God's ultimate victory over the forces of evil, culminating in Christ's triumph on the cross over sin, death, and the devil (Col 2:15; Heb 2:14-15). David's decisive blow against Goliath is thus seen as a powerful foreshadowing of Christ, the greater David, who disarms and defeats the spiritual "giants" that oppress humanity. Furthermore, the selection of the stone and its specific impact also highlights divine precision and providence; it was not a random shot but divinely directed to humble the proud and exalt the Name of the Lord.

1 Samuel 17 49 Commentary

First Samuel 17:49 serves as the climax of the David and Goliath narrative, encapsulating the essence of a foundational biblical truth: God's power is revealed in overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds through humble means and faithful obedience. David, a youthful shepherd, by trusting in the Lord, accomplished what Israel's mighty army could not. The "stone" itself, an ordinary object, becomes an instrument of divine judgment, sinking into the "forehead" of the giant, precisely targeting the vulnerability beneath Goliath's arrogance and heavy armor. This immediate, public fall of Goliath "upon his face to the earth" powerfully illustrates the total humiliation of God's enemy and the complete triumph achieved by God's power working through a yielded individual. The victory was not by David's sling skill alone, but by the sovereign aim of God. This narrative offers a timeless lesson in relying on God's strength over human capabilities and facing challenges with unwavering faith, regardless of their magnitude.