1 Samuel

1 Samuel 17:4–11

⁴Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height,^a ⁵and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels,^b ⁶and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. ⁷The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.^c In addition, his shield bearer went before him.

⁸And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. ⁹If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and work for us.”

¹⁰Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”

¹¹On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Footnotes

a 17:4 Goliath was approximately 9 feet 9 inches or 297 centimeters tall; LXX, DSS, and Josephus four cubits and a span in height (approximately 6 feet 9 inches or 206 centimeters tall).
b 17:5 5,000 shekels is approximately 125.6 pounds or 57 kilograms.
c 17:7 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms.

Read all of 1 Samuel 17

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 17:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then a champion	אִֽישׁ־	’îš-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H376 man
named	שְׁמ֖וֹ	šə·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H8034 name
Goliath	גָּלְיָ֥ת	gā·lə·yāṯ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1555 Goljath
who was from Gath	מִגַּ֑ת	mig·gaṯ	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1661 wine-press
came out	וַיֵּצֵ֤א	way·yê·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
from the Philistine	פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
camp	מִמַּחֲנ֣וֹת	mim·ma·ḥă·nō·wṯ	Preposition-m; Noun - common plural construct	H4264 encampment, camp
He was six	שֵׁ֥שׁ	šêš	Number - feminine singular	H8337 six
cubits	אַמּ֖וֹת	’am·mō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H520 ell, cubit
and a span	וָזָֽרֶת׃	wā·zā·reṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular	H2239 span
in height	גָּבְה֕וֹ	gā·ḇə·hōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1363 height

1 Samuel 17:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and	נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙	nə·ḥō·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5178 copper, bronze
helmet	וְכ֤וֹבַע	wə·ḵō·w·ḇa‘	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3553 helmet
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
his head	רֹאשׁ֔וֹ	rō·šōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7218 head
He	ה֣וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
wore	לָב֑וּשׁ	lā·ḇūš	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular	H3847 put on (a garment), wear, clothe, be clothed
a bronze	נְחֹֽשֶֽׁת׃	nə·ḥō·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5178 copper, bronze
coat	וְשִׁרְי֥וֹן	wə·šir·yō·wn	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H8302 body-armour
of mail	קַשְׂקַשִּׂ֖ים	qaś·qaś·śîm	Noun - feminine plural	H7193 scale
weighing	וּמִשְׁקַל֙	ū·miš·qal	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4948 id.
five	חֲמֵשֶׁת־	ḥă·mê·šeṯ-	Number - masculine singular construct	H2568 five
thousand	אֲלָפִ֥ים	’ă·lā·p̄îm	Number - masculine plural	H505 thousand
shekels	שְׁקָלִ֖ים	šə·qā·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H8255 shekel

1 Samuel 17:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and	וּמִצְחַ֥ת	ū·miṣ·ḥaṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H4697 greave(s)
of bronze	נְחֹ֖שֶׁת	nə·ḥō·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5178 copper, bronze
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
his legs	רַגְלָ֑יו	raḡ·lāw	Noun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine singular	H7272 foot
and a javelin	וְכִיד֥וֹן	wə·ḵî·ḏō·wn	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3591 dart, javelin
of bronze	נְחֹ֖שֶׁת	nə·ḥō·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H5178 copper, bronze
slung between	בֵּ֥ין	bên	Preposition	H996 interval, space between
his shoulders	כְּתֵפָֽיו׃	kə·ṯê·p̄āw	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H3802 shoulder, shoulder-blade, side

1 Samuel 17:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The shaft	וְחָץ	wə·ḥå̄ṣ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H2671 arrow
of his spear	חֲנִית֗וֹ	ḥă·nî·ṯōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H2595 spear
was like a weaver’s	אֹֽרְגִ֔ים	’ō·rə·ḡîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H707 weave
beam	כִּמְנוֹר֙	kim·nō·wr	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4500 beam
and its iron	בַּרְזֶ֑ל	bar·zel	Noun - masculine singular	H1270 iron
point	וְלַהֶ֣בֶת	wə·la·he·ḇeṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3852 id.
six	שֵׁשׁ־	šêš-	Number - feminine singular construct	H8337 six
hundred	מֵא֥וֹת	mê·’ō·wṯ	Number - feminine plural	H3967 hundred
shekels	שְׁקָלִ֖ים	šə·qā·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H8255 shekel
In addition	וְנֹשֵׂ֥א	wə·nō·śê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H5375 lift, take, carry
his shield bearer	וְנֹשֵׂ֥א	wə·nō·śê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H5375 lift, take, carry
went	הֹלֵ֥ךְ	hō·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
before him	לְפָנָֽיו׃	lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before

1 Samuel 17:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And	וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד	way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
and shouted	וַיִּקְרָא֙	way·yiq·rā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the ranks	מַעַרְכֹ֣ת	ma·‘ar·ḵōṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H4634 row, rank, battle-line
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
Why	לָ֥מָּה	lām·māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
do you come out	תֵצְא֖וּ	ṯê·ṣə·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H3318 go or come out
and array yourselves	לַעֲרֹ֣ךְ	la·‘ă·rōḵ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6186 arrange or set in order
for battle	מִלְחָמָ֑ה	mil·ḥā·māh	Noun - feminine singular	H4421 battle, war
Am I	אָנֹכִ֣י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
not	הֲל֧וֹא	hă·lō·w	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
a Philistine	הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗י	hap·pə·liš·tî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6430 Philistine
and are you	וְאַתֶּם֙	wə·’at·tem	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
not servants	עֲבָדִ֣ים	‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5650 slave, servant
of Saul	לְשָׁא֔וּל	lə·šā·’ūl	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
Choose	בְּרוּ־	bə·rū-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H1262 eat
one of your men	אִ֖ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
and have him come down	וְיֵרֵ֥ד	wə·yê·rêḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3381 come or go down, descend
against me	אֵלָֽי׃	’ê·lāy	Preposition; first person common singular	H413 motion to

1 Samuel 17:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
he is able	יוּכַ֞ל	yū·ḵal	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to fight	לְהִלָּחֵ֤ם	lə·hil·lā·ḥêm	Preposition-l; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct	H3898 fight, do battle
me	אִתִּי֙	’it·tî	Preposition; first person common singular	H854 with
and kill me	וְהִכָּ֔נִי	wə·hik·kā·nî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singular	H5221 smite
then we will be	וְהָיִ֥ינוּ	wə·hā·yî·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
your	לָכֶ֖ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
servants	לַעֲבָדִ֑ים	la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H5650 slave, servant
But if	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
I	אֲנִ֤י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
prevail	אֽוּכַל־	’ū·ḵal-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
against him	לוֹ֙	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
and kill him	וְהִכִּיתִ֔יו	wə·hik·kî·ṯîw	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular; third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
then you shall be	וִהְיִ֤יתֶם	wih·yî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
our	לָ֙נוּ֙	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
servants	לַעֲבָדִ֔ים	la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H5650 slave, servant
and work for	וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם	wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H5647 work, serve
us	אֹתָֽנוּ׃	’ō·ṯā·nū	Direct object marker; first person common plural	H853 mark of the accusative

1 Samuel 17:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the Philistine	הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י	hap·pə·liš·tî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6430 Philistine
said	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
I	אֲנִ֗י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
defy	חֵרַ֛פְתִּי	ḥê·rap̄·tî	Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular	H2778 reproach
the ranks	מַעַרְכ֥וֹת	ma·‘ar·ḵō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H4634 row, rank, battle-line
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
this	הַזֶּ֑ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
day	הַיּ֣וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
Give	תְּנוּ־	tə·nū-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
me	לִ֣י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
a man	אִ֔ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
to fight	וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֖ה	wə·nil·lā·ḥă·māh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural	H3898 fight, do battle

1 Samuel 17:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
On hearing	וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע	way·yiš·ma‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8085 hear
the	הָאֵ֑לֶּה	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
words	דִּבְרֵ֥י	diḇ·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1697 speech, word
of the Philistine	הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י	hap·pə·liš·tî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6430 Philistine
Saul	שָׁאוּל֙	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
and all	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the Israelites	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
were dismayed	וַיֵּחַ֥תּוּ	way·yê·ḥat·tū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H2865 be shattered, dismayed
and greatly	מְאֹֽד׃פ	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
afraid	וַיִּֽרְא֖וּ	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3372 fear