Bible Strands
1 Samuel 17:49
Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David confronts the advancing Philistine combatant and retrieves a projectile from his bag to strike his forehead. The narrative captures the exact moment of the attack before the enemy collapses facedown.
The words — וַ/יִּשְׁלַח (va/i.yishlach) denotes "and he sent" or released the projectile, while הַ/כְּלִי (ha./ke.li) identifies "the bag" from which the stone was drawn. These terms record the deliberate physical motion preceding the strike.
The thread — The pattern of an unaimed or unexpected strike disabling a powerful figure appears in 1 Kings 22:34 and 2 Kings 9:24. The theological principle of God using unlikely means to defeat the strong is referenced in 1 Corinthians 1:27.
Why it lands — The text establishes that the outcome depends on the precise delivery of force to a vital point, not on conventional armor or weapons. It requires the reader to acknowledge that decisive results follow from targeted action rather than superior equipment.
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 David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- 1 Kings 22:34 However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
- 2 Kings 9:24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.