Bible Strands
1 Samuel 17:8
And 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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Goliath stands before the Israelite battle lines and shouts a direct challenge to Saul’s army, demanding they send a single champion to fight him instead of the full host.
The words — The Hebrew verbs עמד (ya'amod, "he stood") and קרא (yiqra, "he called out") frame the physical posture and vocal projection of the challenge, while תצאו (tetze'u, "do you come out") questions their tactical decision to form ranks.
The thread — The threat of servitude echoes the monarchy’s burden in 1 Samuel 8:17, while the conditional wager mirrors the reward inquiry in 1 Samuel 17:26 and contrasts with the camp loyalty principle in 2 Samuel 11:11.
Why it lands — The verse demands a direct assessment of courage versus cowardice, forcing the reader to confront the cost of relying on institutional power rather than individual faith in a confrontation.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 8:17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
- 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
- 2 Samuel 11:11 Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”
- 1 Chronicles 21:3 But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”