1 Samuel 17 51

1 Samuel 17:51 kjv

Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

1 Samuel 17:51 nkjv

Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

1 Samuel 17:51 niv

David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

1 Samuel 17:51 esv

Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

1 Samuel 17:51 nlt

Then David ran over and pulled Goliath's sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. Israel Routs the Philistines When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 51 Meaning

David, empowered by God, swiftly pursued and confirmed the victory over Goliath, the Philistine giant. He took Goliath's own massive sword, drew it from its sheath, and used it to sever the giant's head. This act unequivocally proved Goliath's death, shaming the Philistines by using their champion's weapon against him, and causing their army to flee in terror.

1 Samuel 17 51 Context

First Samuel chapter 17 details the epic confrontation between David and Goliath. For forty days, Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, had defied and terrorized the armies of Israel. Saul and his soldiers were paralyzed with fear. David, a young shepherd boy visiting his brothers, was incensed by Goliath's blasphemies against the living God. Despite being scorned by his own brother and dismissed by Saul, David volunteered to fight, relying solely on the Lord's power. He rejected Saul's armor, instead facing the giant with five smooth stones and a sling. Having felled Goliath with a single stone to the forehead, verse 51 describes David's decisive act to confirm the victory and seal the fate of the Philistine army.

1 Samuel 17 51 Word analysis

• Therefore: (וַיָּרָץ va·ya·rats) Implies immediate action, a direct consequence of Goliath's fall and David's prior confidence in God. It signals the swift and decisive conclusion.
• David: (דָּוִד Da·wid) The hero, still a young man, but the chosen one through whom God acts. His name means "beloved."
• ran: (וַיָּרָץ va·ya·rats) Signifies speed, zeal, and fearlessness. David doesn't hesitate or stand back; he actively pursues the fallen giant. This contrasts with Saul's fear and inaction.
• and stood over: (וַיַּעֲמֹד עַל vai·ya·a·mod al) David is not hesitant or timid. This posture signifies dominance, authority, and ultimate control over the defeated enemy.
• the Philistine: (הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי hap·pə·lish·ti) Refers to Goliath. This specifies the nationality of the defeated champion, representing the oppressors of Israel.
• and took his sword: (וַיִּקַּח אֶת־חַרְבּוֹ vai·yiq·qaḥ 'et-ḥar·bōw) David, who famously had no sword of his own, uses Goliath's formidable weapon. This is highly significant: God's power allows the weak to use the enemy's own strength/resources against them, turning their terror into their destruction.
• and drew it out of its sheath: (וַיִּשְׁלְפֶהָ מִתַּעְרָהּ wai·yish·le·phe·hā mit·ta'·rāh) Indicates a purposeful, efficient act, demonstrating skill and unwavering resolve. Goliath's massive sword (1 Sam 17:7 says his spearhead was 600 shekels, his sword likely proportional) would have been incredibly heavy, suggesting divine enablement for David to wield it so easily.
• and killed him: (וַיְמֹתְתֵהוּ wa·yə·mō·thə·thē·hū) The final, fatal act. The blow to the head with the stone incapacitated him, but the sword blow confirmed the death decisively.
• and cut off his head: (וַיִּכְרֹת אֶת־רֹאשׁוֹ wa·yikh·rōth 'et-rō·shōw) A definitive act in ancient warfare, proving absolute victory, demonstrating utter humiliation of the defeated, and serving as a trophy or public display. For Goliath, who "defied the armies of the living God," this symbolic decapitation shows God's complete judgment. This is a common motif in ANE for powerful figures.
• with it: (בָּהּ bāh) Explicitly states that Goliath's own sword was used, reinforcing the divine irony and justice.
• When the Philistines saw: (וַיִּרְאוּ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים wa·yir·'ū hap·pə·lish·tîm) The immediate visible reaction of the enemy. Their collective identity was tied to their champion.
• that their champion was dead: (כִּי מֵת גִּבּוֹרָם kî mēth gib·bōw·rām) The devastating truth for the Philistines. Their gibbôr (mighty man, hero) was slain. This term, used throughout 1 Samuel, signifies a warrior.
• they fled: (וַיָּנֻסוּ wai·yā·nu·sū) The ultimate consequence of their champion's death. Their morale completely collapsed. This confirms the battle belonged to the Lord (1 Sam 17:47), and Goliath's defeat alone led to Israel's victory.

1 Samuel 17 51 Bonus section

The massive sword of Goliath, once a symbol of Philistine power and Israel's dread, was later preserved as a significant trophy and relic in the sanctuary at Nob, indicating its profound spiritual and historical importance (1 Sam 21:9). It served as a tangible reminder of God's miraculous deliverance and David's anointing as a leader chosen by the Lord to overcome impossible odds. The decapitation also draws a parallel to the primordial promise of crushing the serpent's head (Gen 3:15), hinting at a larger spiritual struggle against evil that would culminate in Christ's victory. This decisive act secured the temporary cessation of Philistine oppression, signifying Yahweh's supremacy over Dagon and other Philistine deities whom Goliath represented.

1 Samuel 17 51 Commentary

Verse 51 captures the triumphant culmination of one of the Bible's most iconic battles, demonstrating God's power through the unexpected. David's actions were swift and resolute, reflecting a divinely empowered certainty. His "running" signifies spiritual eagerness, not mere human haste. The key detail is David using Goliath's own sword to decapitate him. This is a profound symbol: the very instrument of terror wielded by the enemy is turned back upon them, illustrating that evil is ultimately self-destructive when confronted by God's truth and faith. This wasn't merely finishing the job; it was a public declaration of complete conquest and the decisive proof needed to shatter the Philistine morale. Goliath's defiance of God was met with an emphatic, humiliating end, secured by his own might-turned-weapon. This event fundamentally shifted the balance of power, sparking the flight of the Philistines and ushering in a new era for Israel under God's chosen leader.

Practical usage:

• God often uses unconventional means and unexpected individuals to accomplish His greatest works, defying human logic and demonstrating His absolute power.
• Our greatest weaknesses or disadvantages can become the very channels through which God displays His strength and achieves victory.
• When facing spiritual battles, the "sword of the Spirit" (God's word) can be turned against the lies and strongholds of the enemy, leading to their decisive defeat.