Summary

David and goliath bible verse
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David and goliath bible verse

The Ultimate Biblical Guide to David & Goliath: Facing Giants

Part 1: The Scripture Collection (55 Verses)

 

The narrative is primarily contained in 1 Samuel 17. However, to truly understand the spirit of David, we must also look at the Psalms he wrote which reflect this warrior spirit, and New Testament parallels.

The Threat & The Giant (The Context)

 

1. 1 Samuel 17:4 – “And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”

2. 1 Samuel 17:8 – “He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle?'”

3. 1 Samuel 17:9 – “If he is able to fight with 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 serve us.”

4. 1 Samuel 17:10 – “And the Philistine said, ‘I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.'”

5. 1 Samuel 17:11 – “When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

6. 1 Samuel 17:16 – “For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.”

7. 1 Samuel 17:24 – “All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.”

8. 1 Samuel 17:26 – “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

The Preparation & The Rejection of Armor

 

9. 1 Samuel 17:32 – “And David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.'”

10. 1 Samuel 17:33 – “And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.'”

11. 1 Samuel 17:34 – “But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear… I went after him and struck him.'”

12. 1 Samuel 17:36 – “Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

13. 1 Samuel 17:37 – “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

14. 1 Samuel 17:38 – “Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail.”

15. 1 Samuel 17:39 – “And David said to Saul, ‘I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ So David put them off.”

16. 1 Samuel 17:40 – “Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch.”

The Confrontation (The Battle of Words)

 

17. 1 Samuel 17:41 – “And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.”

18. 1 Samuel 17:42 – “And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.”

19. 1 Samuel 17:43 – “And the Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”

20. 1 Samuel 17:44 – “The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.'”

21. 1 Samuel 17:45 – “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'”

22. 1 Samuel 17:46 – “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”

23. 1 Samuel 17:47 – “And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

The Victory

 

24. 1 Samuel 17:48 – “When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.”

25. 1 Samuel 17:49 – “And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead.”

26. 1 Samuel 17:49 (b) – “The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.”

27. 1 Samuel 17:50 – “So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.”

28. 1 Samuel 17:51 – “Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it.”

Thematic Verses: God’s Strength vs. Giants (David’s Psalms)

 

29. Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

30. Psalm 27:3 – “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.”

31. Psalm 144:1 – “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

32. Psalm 18:29 – “For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.”

33. Psalm 18:32 – “The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.”

34. Psalm 18:34 – “He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

35. Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

36. Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

37. Psalm 44:6 – “For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.”

38. Psalm 118:10 – “All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!”

39. Psalm 3:6 – “I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”

40. Psalm 108:13 – “With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”

41. Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

42. 2 Corinthians 10:4 – “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

43. Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

44. Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

45. Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

46. Romans 8:37 – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

47. 1 John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

48. Hebrews 11:32-34 – “…David… who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises… became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”

49. Psalm 33:16 – “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.”

50. Psalm 33:17 – “The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.”

51. Proverbs 21:31 – “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.”

52. Psalm 60:12 – “With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”

53. Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened… for the Lord your God is with you.”

54. Deuteronomy 20:1 – “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots… do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you.”

55. Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed.”

Part 2: Top 25 Forum Q&A (What Believers Are Asking)

 

I have analyzed the most active threads on r/Bible, GotQuestions, and theological forums to find the most pressing questions regarding this event.

1. Q: Why did David pick up five stones if he only needed one? A: Common theories: 1) He wanted backup ammo. 2) Goliath had four giant brothers (sons of Anak) and David was prepared to take them all out (2 Samuel 21:16-22). 3) It symbolizes the Pentateuch (Torah). Most likely: Practical preparedness.

2. Q: How tall was Goliath really? A: The Masoretic text says “six cubits and a span” (approx. 9 feet 9 inches). The Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint say “four cubits and a span” (approx. 6 feet 9 inches). Either way, he was a giant compared to the average man of that era (5’5″).

3. Q: Was Goliath a Nephilim? A: Likely a descendant. He was a “Anakim,” a race of giants living in Canaan, often associated with the Nephilim bloodlines from Genesis 6.

4. Q: Why did David cut off Goliath’s head? A: To ensure death, but primarily as a sign of total victory and public humiliation of the enemy’s “serpent head” (Genesis 3:15 imagery).

5. Q: Is the story a metaphor or history? A: Orthodox Christianity teaches it as historical fact. Geographically, the Valley of Elah exists, and archaeology confirms the Philistine presence and weaponry of that era.

6. Q: Why did Saul try to give David his armor? A: Saul was relying on human wisdom. He assumed a conventional battle required conventional gear. David rejected it because he hadn’t “tested” it—he trusted what he knew (God and his sling).

7. Q: How old was David? A: Scholars estimate he was between 15 and 19 years old. He was too young to be drafted into the army (age 20).

8. Q: Why was David angry at Goliath? A: David wasn’t angry about the threat to Israel; he was angry that Goliath “defied the armies of the living God.” It was theological indignation, not political.

9. Q: What is the spiritual meaning of the “smooth stones”? A: Smooth stones fly straighter and faster than jagged ones. It shows David sought excellence in his craft, even while trusting God.

10. Q: Why were the Israelites so afraid? A: They were looking at the giant’s size rather than God’s size. Fear is a matter of perspective.

11. Q: Did David kill Goliath, or did Elhanan? (2 Samuel 21:19) A: This is a common translation debate. 1 Chronicles 20:5 clarifies that Elhanan killed “Lahmi the brother of Goliath.” The KJV inserts “the brother of” in Samuel to fix the copyist omission.

12. Q: What does the “staff” represent in David’s hand? A: It was his shepherd’s tool. It represented his identity as a shepherd, contrasting with Goliath’s identity as a warrior.

13. Q: Is David a “Type” of Christ in this story? A: Yes. David (the anointed King) defeats the enemy that holds God’s people in fear, winning a victory that the people did not earn but get to share in.

14. Q: What happened to Goliath’s sword? A: David kept it. Later, when fleeing Saul, he went to the priest Ahimelech and retrieved Goliath’s sword for his own use (1 Samuel 21:9).

15. Q: Why did Eliab (David’s brother) get mad at him? A: Jealousy and conviction. David’s courage highlighted Eliab’s cowardice.

16. Q: What is the “Valley of Elah”? A: It is the physical location of the battle. It means “Valley of the Oak.”

17. Q: Why didn’t Saul fight Goliath? A: Saul was described as “head and shoulders” taller than any Israelite. He was the logical choice, but he had lost his faith and anointing.

18. Q: How heavy was Goliath’s armor? A: His coat of mail weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze (approx. 125 lbs / 57 kg). The spearhead was 15 lbs.

19. Q: Did David pray before the fight? A: The text doesn’t record a specific prayer in the moment, but his speech to Goliath (“The battle is the Lord’s”) is essentially a prayer of declaration.

20. Q: Why did the Philistines flee after Goliath died? A: Their confidence was entirely in their champion. When the idol falls, the fear sets in.

21. Q: What can we learn from the “40 days” of Goliath’s taunting? A: 40 is a number of testing in the Bible. Israel was being tested, and they were failing until David arrived.

22. Q: Is “Facing Your Giants” a biblical concept? A: Yes, but the point of the story isn’t “You can do it.” The point is “God can do it through you when you trust Him.”

23. Q: Why did David take the head to Jerusalem? A: Jerusalem was a Jebusite stronghold at the time. It was a prophetic act declaring that one day, this city would belong to God’s King.

24. Q: What does “Lord of Hosts” mean in this context? A: Yahweh Sabaoth—The Lord of Angelic Armies. David was invoking the unseen reality against the seen reality.

25. Q: How fits the sling in ancient warfare? A: Slingers were elite artillery. A stone could fly at 100mph with the stopping power of a .45 caliber bullet. David brought a gun to a knife fight.

Part 3: 15 Actionable Tips for Daily Application

At Work & Career

 

1. The “Lion and Bear” Resume: When facing a huge project or promotion interview, recall your past small victories (lions/bears). Remind yourself: “The God who helped me then will help me now.”

2. Ignore the Armor: Don’t try to be your boss or your predecessor. Saul’s armor didn’t fit David. Use your unique skills and style, even if they seem unconventional.

3. Identify the “40 Day” Noise: Is there a negative voice (imposter syndrome, a toxic coworker) that taunts you daily? Recognize it as a Goliath strategy to induce fear through repetition. Stop listening.

4. Run Toward the Roar: David “ran quickly” toward the battle line. Procrastination feeds fear. Tackle the hardest task first thing in the morning.

In Studies (School/University)

 

5. Re-frame the Giant: That thesis or final exam isn’t a monster; it’s an opportunity for God to show His strength in your weakness.

6. Ignore the “Eliabs”: Critics (even friends/family) might say “Who do you think you are?” when you dream big. Stay focused on the mission, not the mockers.

7. Excellence in the Small Things: David was a skilled slinger because he practiced in the fields when no one was watching. Study hard in the quiet so you are ready for the test.

Social Life & Society

 

8. Speak Truth to Power: When culture defies God’s ways (like Goliath defied Israel), don’t be afraid to speak biblical truth with confidence, even if you are the minority.

9. The Wrong Enemy: Remember, your battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6). Don’t fight people; fight the spiritual lies they believe.

10. Be a Giant Killer for Others: Sometimes you are the one with the faith. Stand up for those who are paralyzed by fear in your community.

Family & Home

 

11. Define the Enemy: Financial debt, addiction, or marital strife are “Goliaths.” Name them, bring them into the light, and attack them with spiritual weapons.

12. Prophetic Declaration: Walk through your house and declare “The Battle is the Lord’s” over your children’s rooms and your finances.

13. Shepherd Your Flock: David fought the lion to save the sheep. As a parent, fight the cultural influences (screens, bad peers) that try to devour your children.

14. Five Smooth Stones: Teach your family to have their “stones” ready: Prayer, Scripture, Worship, Community, and Generosity.

15. Celebrate the Head: When God gives you a victory (paid off a loan, healed a sickness), make a memorial of it. Keep the “sword” as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.