1 Samuel 17:36
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
Study Note
Study Note
David's claim to fight Goliath is grounded in his testimony about the lion and bear he had killed as a shepherd: 'thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.' The logic is typological: past faithfulness to God's protection in private pastoral conflict becomes the evidential basis for confidence in public military confrontation. The theological identifier 'defied the armies of the living God' transforms the military problem into a theological one — Goliath's offense is primarily covenantal, not merely military. This model of interpreting present challenges through the lens of past divine faithfulness appears in Pauline confidence texts (2 Timothy 4:17-18: 'the Lord will rescue me').
Other Translations
Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
Both the lion and the bear hath thy servant smitten, and this uncircumcised Philistine hath been as one of them, for he hath reproached the ranks of the living God.'
Your servant has overcome lion and bear: and the fate of this Philistine, who is without circumcision, will be like theirs, seeing that he has put shame on the armies of the living God.
Cross References
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth …
And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight …
Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook …
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on …
This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, …
Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered …
Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not …
And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, …
Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two …