And David said to Saul, “May no one’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”
Parallel translations
- WEB David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
- KJV And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
- BSB And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!”
- NKJV Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
- NLT “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David urges Saul not to lose heart and volunteers to fight Goliath himself. His confidence rests not in his own strength but in God.
Overview
David steps forward where the whole army has failed, offering himself as God's servant to fight the Philistine. His exhortation, Let no man's heart fail, rebukes the prevailing fear with calm faith. This bold volunteering anticipates the greater Son of David, who alone steps forward to face the enemy of His people when no one else can.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Deut 20:1–3When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
- 1 Sam 16:18Then one of the young men answered, and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and Yahweh is with him.”
- Ps 3:6I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.
- Isa 35:4Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
- Num 14:9Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.”
- Ps 27:1–3By David. Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
- Heb 12:12Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
- 1 Sam 14:6Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint on Yahweh to save by many or by few.”
- Num 13:30Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!”
- Josh 14:12Now therefore give me this hill country, of which Yahweh spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and great and fortified cities. It may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Yahweh said.”
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 17:32 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.