1 Samuel 17:8 kjv
And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
1 Samuel 17:8 nkjv
Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
1 Samuel 17:8 niv
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.
1 Samuel 17:8 esv
He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
1 Samuel 17:8 nlt
Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. "Why are you all coming out to fight?" he called. "I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me!
1 Samuel 17 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 20:3-4 | "Hear, O Israel, today you are going to battle... For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory." | God fights for His people, a contrast to Israel's fear. |
| Exod 14:13 | "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today..." | God’s promise of deliverance from mighty enemies. |
| 2 Chron 20:15 | "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's." | The core theological truth that battles belong to God. |
| Ps 27:1 | "The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" | Overcoming fear through trust in God. |
| Isa 41:10 | "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God..." | God reassures His people against fear and dismay. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance..." | Reliance on God, not human might. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts. | God's work is achieved by His Spirit, not human strength. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Goliath's boast prefigures his downfall. |
| James 4:6 | "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." | Divine opposition to pride. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "...Let him who boasts boast in the LORD." | Boasting in God's strength rather than human might. |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | "...God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise..." | God uses the weak to shame the strong. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil..." | Spiritual warfare underlies physical battles. |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." | Goliath as an archetype of a roaring enemy. |
| Heb 2:14 | "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil..." | Christ's victory over the ultimate enemy (death/devil). |
| Rom 5:18-19 | "Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people." | Concept of a representative (Adam/Christ) for many. |
| 1 Sam 17:45 | "David said to the Philistine, 'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty...'" | David's contrast to Goliath's self-reliance. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | "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..." | A restatement of God's saving power. |
| 1 Sam 17:11 | "On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified." | The immediate response of Israel, emphasizing their fear. |
1 Samuel 17 verses
1 Samuel 17 8 Meaning
Goliath’s declaration in 1 Samuel 17:8 is a direct challenge to the armies of Israel. He questions their military strategy of setting up for a full-scale battle and instead proposes a single-combat duel. He identifies himself as a Philistine champion and diminishes the Israelite army by calling them "servants to Saul," thereby highlighting their perceived lack of courage and reliance on a human king rather than their God. His challenge is an act of psychological warfare, intended to strike fear and demoralize the Israelite forces into yielding or accepting a fight where the Philistines held a clear perceived advantage.
1 Samuel 17 8 Context
1 Samuel 17:8 is spoken by Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, during a standoff between the Israelite and Philistine armies in the Valley of Elah. For forty days, Goliath daily emerges to taunt and challenge the Israelites. This verse initiates his taunt, defining the terms of the proposed duel and directly confronting the Israelites. Historically, single combat was a practice used in ancient warfare to minimize large-scale casualties, allowing a decisive victory to be determined by the champions. Goliath's challenge served to demoralize the Israelite forces and mock their God, implicitly demanding a response that only faith in God could provide. It sets the stage for God's ultimate chosen champion, David, to rise.
1 Samuel 17 8 Word analysis
- And he stood and cried: This portrays Goliath’s deliberate action and powerful, public challenge. The Hebrew words
amad(עָמַד, "stood") andqara(קָרָא, "cried," or "called out") indicate he took a firm stand and announced his message with great authority, commanding attention. - unto the armies of Israel: This emphasizes that his challenge was directed not just at the leadership but at the entire national fighting force, maximizing the public humiliation and pressure.
- Why are ye come out to set your battle in array?: This is a rhetorical question, expressing a dismissive challenge. "Set your battle in array" (Hebrew:
arak milchamah) means to draw up in battle lines or prepare for full combat. Goliath implies this elaborate preparation is unnecessary, mocking their intention for a full war when he proposes a simpler, decisive outcome through single combat. It suggests he perceives their efforts as futile. - am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul?: This is a core part of Goliath's polemic and a psychological jab.
- a Philistine: He proudly identifies with his powerful, long-standing enemy nation, reminding Israel of their oppressors. Philistines were the recurring arch-enemies of Israel in this period, associated with idolatry and opposition to God's people.
- ye servants to Saul?: This phrase is deeply insulting. It demotes Israel from being servants of the LORD or a free nation, reducing them to mere retainers of a human king. It subtly critiques Saul's leadership, suggesting his kingdom is small and weak, especially in comparison to the Philistine might and their champions. It dismisses their divine covenant.
- choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me: This is the direct proposition for single combat. Goliath puts the onus entirely on Israel, confidently dictating the terms and the location (the valley floor) where the duel will take place. This phrase encapsulates his self-assurance and his belief in his own insurmountable strength.
1 Samuel 17 8 Bonus section
- The Champion's Role: Goliath is specifically identified as an
ish habenayim(אִישׁ הַבֵּינַיִם), literally "man in between" or "intermediary man," signifying a representative fighter whose victory or defeat would decide the larger battle, thus minimizing casualties. - Goliath's Stature: The magnitude of Goliath’s challenge is amplified by his extraordinary height (six cubits and a span, roughly 9'9"), described in the preceding verses. This physical superiority, coupled with his verbal taunts, instilled a paralyzing fear in the Israelites, including King Saul himself, despite Saul being noted for his tall stature among Israelites.
- Spiritual Blindness: Goliath’s challenge exemplifies a pervasive spiritual blindness where overwhelming human strength is prioritized over divine power. He saw only armies and men, failing to comprehend the living God who stood behind Israel. His taunt exposed the Israelites’ similar temporary blindness, causing them to focus on Goliath’s intimidating size rather than God’s omnipotence.
1 Samuel 17 8 Commentary
Goliath's taunt in 1 Samuel 17:8 is a masterclass in psychological warfare. He systematically belittles Israel’s military strategy, questions their purpose, and fundamentally insults their national and divine identity by framing them as mere subjects of King Saul rather than the people of God. His challenge for single combat avoids a full-scale battle, which would have been risky for both sides, while putting immense pressure on Israel to produce a champion from their ranks. This verbal assault is not merely a military maneuver but a theological one; by defying Israel, Goliath indirectly defies their God, daring Him to produce a worthy champion. The Philistine's booming challenge, echoing through the valley, highlighted the faith vacuum in Saul’s army, where human strength was overwhelmed, and reliance on God was absent. This set the stage for the true test of faith that only a shepherd boy, unencumbered by worldly fear, would understand and bravely meet.