Bible Strands

1 Samuel 17:9

If 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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Goliath addresses the Israelite ranks and King Saul, proposing single combat to decide the battle.

The words — The text uses יוּכַל (yu.Khal, "he will be able") and עֲבָדִים (a.va.Dim, "servants") to define the conditional outcome of the duel.

The thread — The demand for national servitude parallels Nahash’s treaty proposal in 1 Samuel 11:1.

Why it lands — The passage presents a direct ultimatum that requires a reader to evaluate the cost of resistance against a declared threat.

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

אִם־'im-ifיוּכַ֞לyu.Khalhe will be ableלְהִלָּחֵ֤םle./hi.la.Chemto/ fightאִתִּי֙'i.T/iwith/ meוְהִכָּ֔נִיve./hi.Ka./niand/ he will strike down/ meוְהָיִ֥ינוּve./ha.Yi.nuand/ we will becomeלָכֶ֖םla./Khemof/ youלַעֲבָדִ֑יםla./'a.va.Dim<into>/ slavesוְאִם־ve./'im-and/ ifאֲנִ֤י'a.NiIאֽוּכַל־'u.khal-I will prevailלוֹ֙l/oto <the>/ himוְהִכִּיתִ֔יוve./hi.ki.Ti/vand/ I will strike down/ himוִהְיִ֤יתֶםvi/h.Yi.temand/ you will becomeלָ֙נוּ֙la./nuof/ usלַעֲבָדִ֔יםla./'a.va.Dim<into>/ slavesוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖םva./'a.vad.Temand/ you will serveאֹתָֽנוּ׃'o.Ta./nu<obj.>/ us

King James Version

If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

Cross-references