1 Samuel 17:40

1 Samuel 17:40 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
• New International Version (NIV)Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

Context of 1 Samuel 17:40

38Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire and put a bronze helmet on his head. He also put body armor on him. 39David strapped on his sword over his fighting attire and tried to walk around, but he was not used to them. David said to Saul, “I can’t walk in these things, for I’m not used to them.” So David removed them. He took his staff in his hand, picked out five smooth stones from the stream, placed them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag, took his sling in hand, and approached the Philistine. 41The Philistine kept coming closer to David, with his shield bearer walking in front of him. 42When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy.

1 Samuel 17:40 word by word

וַיִּקַּ֨ח מַקְל֜וֹ בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיִּבְחַר־ל֣וֹ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה חַלֻּקֵֽי־אֲבָנִ֣ים׀ מִן־הַנַּ֡חַל וַיָּ֣שֶׂם אֹ֠תָם בִּכְלִ֨י הָרֹעִ֧ים אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ וּבַיַּלְק֖וּט וְקַלְּע֣וֹ בְיָד֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֖שׁ אֶל־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• his staffמַקֵּלmaqqêl maqqelâh · rodH4731
• in his handיָדyâd · handH3027
• and choseבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• him fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• smoothחַלֻּקchallûq · smoothH2512
• stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• out of the brookנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: riverH5158
• and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• them in a shepherd’sרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
• bagכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• which he had, even in a scripיַלְקוּטyalqûţ · pouchH3219
• and his slingקֶ֫לַעqela‛ · slingH7050
• and he drew nearנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• to the Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:40

• Judges 3:31After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath; he killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and, like Ehud, delivered Israel.
• Judges 7:16He divided the three hundred men into three units. He gave them all trumpets and empty jars with torches inside them.
• Judges 15:15He happened to see a solid jawbone of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
• Judges 20:16Among this army were seven hundred specially-trained left-handed soldiers. Each one could sling a stone and hit even the smallest target.
• 1 Corinthians 1:27But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.
• Matthew 10:10no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 40He took his staff - What we would call his crook. Five smooth stones - Had they been rough or angular, they would not have passed easily through the air, and their asperities would, in the course of their passage, have given them a false direction. Had they not been smooth, they could not have been readily despatched from the sling. A shepherd 's bag - That in which he generally carried his provisions while keeping the sheep in the open country. And his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 40-47Verses 40-47 The security and presumption of fools destroy them. Nothing can excel the humility, faith, and piety which appear in David's words. He expressed his assured expectation of success; he gloried in his mean appearance and arms, that the victory might be ascribed to the Lord alone.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 40A stream flowed through the valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:2). A sling was a leather pouch with two leather straps. When spun quickly with a stone inside, releasing one strap would launch the stone at a target. David likely became very skilled with a sling as a shepherd, but warriors also used slings (Judges 20:16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4040. brook--wady. bag--or scrip for containing his daily food. sling--The sling consisted of a double rope with a thong, probably of leather, to receive the stone. The slinger held a second stone in his left hand. David chose five stones, as a reserve, in case the first should fail. Shepherds in the East carry a sling and stones still, for the purpose of driving away, or killing, the enemies that prowl about the flock.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 17:40

• Armies
• Championship
• Courage
• Decision
• Sling

In the dictionaries

• Arise
• Armour
• Assay
• Bag
• Carriage
• Cause
• Coat
• David
• Elhanan
• Naughtiness

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