1 Samuel 17:8
And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד
And he stood
H5975
וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד
And he stood
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
1 of 22
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
וַיִּקְרָא֙
and cried
H7121
וַיִּקְרָא֙
and cried
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
2 of 22
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
מַֽעַרְכֹ֣ת
unto the armies
H4634
מַֽעַרְכֹ֣ת
unto the armies
Strong's:
H4634
Word #:
4 of 22
an arrangement; concretely, a pile; specifically a military array
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 22
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לָ֥מָּה
H4100
לָ֥מָּה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
8 of 22
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
תֵֽצְא֖וּ
unto them Why are ye come out
H3318
תֵֽצְא֖וּ
unto them Why are ye come out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
9 of 22
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לַֽעֲרֹ֣ךְ
in array
H6186
לַֽעֲרֹ֣ךְ
in array
Strong's:
H6186
Word #:
10 of 22
to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
מִלְחָמָ֑ה
to set your battle
H4421
מִלְחָמָ֑ה
to set your battle
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
11 of 22
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
הֲל֧וֹא
H3808
הֲל֧וֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗י
am not I a Philistine
H6430
הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗י
am not I a Philistine
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
14 of 22
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
לְשָׁא֔וּל
to Saul
H7586
לְשָׁא֔וּל
to Saul
Strong's:
H7586
Word #:
17 of 22
shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites
אִ֖ישׁ
you a man
H376
אִ֖ישׁ
you a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
20 of 22
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Historical Context
Ancient treaties often imposed vassalage, with the defeated becoming 'servants' ('avadim) to victors. Goliath's terms reflected standard ancient Near Eastern diplomatic practice, where military defeat meant political subjugation and tribute obligations.
Questions for Reflection
- How do spiritual enemies attempt to frame conflicts in purely human or political terms?
- What does Israel's paralysis teach about the inadequacy of human resources against spiritual opposition?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
Goliath's taunt frames the conflict in political terms - 'servants to Saul' - missing the deeper reality that Israel served Yahweh. His proposal of representative combat offered seemingly reasonable terms, yet accepting would place Israel's fate in human hands rather than divine deliverance. The challenge 'choose you a man' exposed Israel's crisis: they had no one willing or able to face such opposition in human strength.