1 Samuel 17:9

1 Samuel 17:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
• New International Version (NIV)If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us."
• New King James Version (NKJV)If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”

Context of 1 Samuel 17:9

7His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him. 8He stood and shouted to the Israelite battle formations, “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.” 10Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!” 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.

1 Samuel 17:9 word by word

אִם־יוּכַ֞ל לְהִלָּחֵ֤ם אִתִּי֙ וְהִכָּ֔נִי וְהָיִ֥ינוּ לָכֶ֖ם לַעֲבָדִ֑ים וְאִם־אֲנִ֤י אֽוּכַל־לוֹ֙ וְהִכִּיתִ֔יו וִהְיִ֤יתֶם לָ֙נוּ֙ לַעֲבָדִ֔ים וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם אֹתָֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If he be ableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• to fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• with me, and to killנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• me, then will we be your servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• and serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serveH5647

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:9

• 1 Samuel 11:1Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Then will we be your servants - Of this stipulation we hear nothing farther.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-114-11. a champion--Hebrew, a "man between two"; that is, a person who, on the part of his own people, undertook to determine the national quarrel by engaging in single combat with a chosen warrior in the hostile army.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 17:9

• Armies
• Championship

In the dictionaries

• Arise
• Assay
• Carriage
• Cause
• Coat
• David
• Elhanan
• Naughtiness
• Prevail
• Rehearse

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings