Bible Strands
1 Samuel 17:41
Now the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with his shield-bearer before him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator describes the moment immediately preceding the combat, as the Philistine warrior advances toward David while his shield-bearer walks ahead of him.
The words — The Hebrew הֹלֵ֥ךְ (ho.Lekh) and וְ/קָרֵ֖ב (ve./ka.Rev) both denote continuous motion, literally meaning "coming" and "approaching," which emphasizes the Philistine's steady advance.
The thread — This verse extends the physical sequence initiated in 1 Samuel 17:40, where David gathers stones and moves forward, and directly precedes the visual recognition described in 1 Samuel 17:42.
Why it lands — The text demands the reader track the deliberate, unadorned progression of the confrontation, noting how the advancing figure and his attendant frame the imminent clash.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.