King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 17:46 Mean?

1 Samuel 17:46 in the King James Version says “This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will giv... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. deliver: Heb. shut thee up

1 Samuel 17:46 · KJV


Context

44

And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

45

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. deliver: Heb. shut thee up

47

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

48

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

David's prophetic declaration of victory before battle demonstrates faith's certainty about God's promises. His stated purpose - 'that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel' - frames the conflict missionally. The victory would not merely save Israel but reveal Yahweh to the nations. David understood his role in redemptive history as displaying God's reality to a watching world.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern warfare was viewed as conflict between national deities. Victory for Israel meant vindication of Yahweh over Dagon. The universal scope of David's vision ('all the earth') reflects Israel's calling to be a light to nations.

Reflection Questions

  1. How might your current struggles, if overcome by faith, display God's reality to others?
  2. What does David's missional understanding teach about the purpose of spiritual victory?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
הַיּ֣וֹם1 of 27

This day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַזֶּ֡ה2 of 27
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

יְסַגֶּרְךָ֩3 of 27

deliver

H5462

to shut up; figuratively, to surrender

יְהוָ֨ה4 of 27

will the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בְּיָדִ֜י5 of 27

thee into mine hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

וְהִכִּיתִ֗ךָ6 of 27

and I will smite

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

וַהֲסִֽרֹתִ֤י7 of 27

thee and take

H5493

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

אֶת8 of 27
H853

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

רֹֽאשְׁךָ֙9 of 27

thine head

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ10 of 27
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וְנָ֨תַתִּ֜י11 of 27

from thee and I will give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

פֶּ֣גֶר12 of 27

the carcases

H6297

a carcase (as limp), whether of man or beast; figuratively, an idolatrous image

מַֽחֲנֵ֤ה13 of 27

of the host

H4264

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

פְלִשְׁתִּים֙14 of 27

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

הַיּ֣וֹם15 of 27

This day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַזֶּ֔ה16 of 27
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

לְע֥וֹף17 of 27

unto the fowls

H5775

a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively

הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם18 of 27

of the air

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וּלְחַיַּ֣ת19 of 27

and to the wild beasts

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

הָאָ֔רֶץ20 of 27

of the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙21 of 27

may know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

כָּל22 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָ֔רֶץ23 of 27

of the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

כִּ֛י24 of 27
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יֵ֥שׁ25 of 27

that there is

H3426

there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)

אֱלֹהִ֖ים26 of 27

a God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃27 of 27

in Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity


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 17:46 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 17:46 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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