1 Samuel 17:34
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
Original Language Analysis
רֹעֶ֨ה
kept
H7462
רֹעֶ֨ה
kept
Strong's:
H7462
Word #:
5 of 16
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
הָיָ֧ה
H1961
הָיָ֧ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
6 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְאָבִ֖יו
his father's
H1
לְאָבִ֖יו
his father's
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
8 of 16
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
בַּצֹּ֑אן
sheep
H6629
בַּצֹּ֑אן
sheep
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
9 of 16
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
וּבָ֤א
and there came
H935
וּבָ֤א
and there came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
10 of 16
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְנָשָׂ֥א
and took
H5375
וְנָשָׂ֥א
and took
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
14 of 16
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
Historical Context
Lions and Syrian brown bears both inhabited the Judean wilderness during this period. A shepherd's defense of flocks against predators required courage, skill, and weapons (staff, sling, perhaps knife). Such encounters were genuinely life-threatening.
Questions for Reflection
- What wilderness experiences has God used to prepare you for larger assignments?
- How does faithfulness in unseen moments build capacity for public challenges?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
David's testimony of defending sheep against lion and bear reveals how wilderness obscurity prepared him for public victory. The Hebrew emphasizes personal initiative: 'I went out after him.' These encounters, witnessed only by God, built the faith foundation for the confrontation all Israel would see. Faithfulness in small things, hidden things, prepares for faithfulness in great public moments.