And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the Philistine looked around, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and had a good looking face.
- BSB When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome.
- NKJV And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.
- NASB When the Philistine looked and saw David, he was contemptuous of him; for he was only a youth, and reddish, with a handsome appearance.
- NLT sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.
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
Goliath looks David over and despises him as a mere ruddy youth. His contempt reflects the pride that judges only by appearance.
Overview
The giant disdains David upon seeing his youth and handsome, unwarlike appearance. Goliath's scorn embodies the arrogance of those who measure strength by outward sight. His underestimation will prove fatal, illustrating that God delights to overturn the proud and to save through those the world despises.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Sam 16:12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
- 1 Sam 17:33And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
- Ps 123:3–4Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
- Prov 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
- 2 Cor 11:27–29In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
- 2 Kgs 18:23–24Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
- Neh 4:2–4And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
- 1 Kgs 20:18And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
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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 17:42 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
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