King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 17:17 Mean?

1 Samuel 17:17 in the King James Version says “And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and ru...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;”

1 Samuel 17:17 · KJV

Context

15

But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

16

And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17

And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

18

And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. cheeses: Heb. cheeses of milk of: Heb. of a thousand

19

Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

The Goliath narrative demonstrates that human impossibilities create opportunities for divine glory. David's confidence rests not in weapons or military training but in the character of the God who delivered him from lion and bear. His declaration that 'the battle is the LORD's' establishes the theological principle that spiritual victory comes through faith in God's power rather than confidence in human strength. The contrast between Saul's armor (representing human methods) and simple shepherd's weapons (representing faith) teaches that God uses unexpected means to accomplish His purposes and receive glory.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The establishment of monarchy around 1050-1010 BCE represented a dramatic political and theological shift for Israel. Unlike surrounding nations where kings were considered divine or semi-divine, Israel's kings were supposed to function under God's ultimate authority as laid out in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. The Benjamite tribe occupied strategic territory between Ephraim and Judah, making Saul's selection a politically astute choice to balance tribal rivalries. Archaeological remains from this period show increased fortification and centralization of settlements, confirming the transition to state-level organization.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage deepen our understanding of God's character, purposes, and ways of working in human history?
  2. What specific heart attitudes, thought patterns, or life practices does this passage call you to examine or change?
  3. How does this passage connect to the larger biblical narrative of redemption and point toward Christ and the gospel?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 16

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יִשַׁ֜י2 of 16

“And Jesse”

H3448

jishai, david's father

לְדָוִ֣ד3 of 16

“unto David”

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

בְּנ֗וֹ4 of 16

“his son”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

קַח5 of 16

“Take”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

נָ֤א6 of 16
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

לְאַחֶֽיךָ׃7 of 16

“now for thy brethren”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

אֵיפַ֤ת8 of 16

“an ephah”

H374

an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general

הַקָּלִיא֙9 of 16

“parched”

H7039

roasted ears of grain

הַזֶּ֑ה10 of 16

“of this”

H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וַֽעֲשָׂרָ֥ה11 of 16

“corn and these ten”

H6235

ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

לֶ֖חֶם12 of 16

“loaves”

H3899

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

הַזֶּ֑ה13 of 16

“of this”

H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְהָרֵ֥ץ14 of 16

“and run”

H7323

to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)

הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה15 of 16

“to the camp”

H4264

an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e

לְאַחֶֽיךָ׃16 of 16

“now for thy brethren”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 17:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 17:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Samuel 25:18Ruth 2:14Matthew 7:112 Samuel 17:28Luke 11:13

Test Your Knowledge

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