King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 17:34 Mean?

1 Samuel 17:34 in the King James Version says “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...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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: lamb: or, kid”

1 Samuel 17:34 · KJV

Context

32

And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33

And 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.

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: lamb: or, kid

35

And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

Read 1 Samuel 17 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study 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.

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Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

  1. What wilderness experiences has God used to prepare you for larger assignments?
  2. How does faithfulness in unseen moments build capacity for public challenges?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 16

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

דָּוִד֙2 of 16

“And David”

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

אֶל3 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

שָׁא֔וּל4 of 16

“unto Saul”

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

רֹעֶ֨ה5 of 16

“kept”

H7462

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

הָיָ֧ה6 of 16
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

עַבְדְּךָ֛7 of 16

“Thy servant”

H5650

a servant

לְאָבִ֖יו8 of 16

“his father's”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

בַּצֹּ֑אן9 of 16

“sheep”

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

וּבָ֤א10 of 16

“and there came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

הָֽאֲרִי֙11 of 16

“a lion”

H738

a lion

וְאֶת12 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַדּ֔וֹב13 of 16

“and a bear”

H1677

the bear (as slow)

וְנָשָׂ֥א14 of 16

“and took”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

שֶׂ֖ה15 of 16

“a lamb”

H7716

a member of a flock, i.e., a sheep or goat

מֵֽהָעֵֽדֶר׃16 of 16

“out of the flock”

H5739

an arrangement, i.e., muster (of animals)

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 17:34 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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