New English Translation
1 Samuel 17:42
42When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy.
1 Samuel 17:42 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
- New International Version (NIV)He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.
Context of 1 Samuel 17:42
40He 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. When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy. 43The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44The Philistine said to David, “Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the field!”
Read all of 1 Samuel 171 Samuel 17:42 word by word
וַיַּבֵּ֧ט הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛י וַיִּרְאֶ֥ה אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד וַיִּבְזֵ֑הוּ כִּֽי־הָיָ֣ה נַ֔עַר וְאַדְמֹנִ֖י עִם־יְפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when the Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- looked aboutנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
- and sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- he disdainedבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
- a youthנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- and ruddyאַדְמוֹנִי'admônîy 'admônîy · redH132
- and of a fairיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
- countenanceמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:42
- 1 Kings 20:18He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.”
- 2 Kings 18:23Now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, provided you can find enough riders for them.
- Nehemiah 4:2and in the presence of his colleagues and the army of Samaria he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves? Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?”
- Psalms 123:4We have had our fill of the taunts of the self-assured, of the contempt of the proud.
- 1 Samuel 17:33But Saul replied to David, “You aren’t able to go against this Philistine and fight him! You’re just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth!”
- 1 Samuel 16:12So Jesse had him brought in. Now he was ruddy, with attractive eyes and a handsome appearance. The Lord said, “Go and anoint him. This is the one!”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:42
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 42He disdained him - He held him in contempt; he saw that he was young, and from his ruddy complexion supposed him to be effeminate.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. 42ruddy: The same Hebrew word is translated “red” (Genesis 25:25). Here, it highlights David’s youth and inexperience. boy: Saul had expressed similar disbelief (1 Samuel 17:33). Goliath, as a champion, expected to face an Israelite warrior of equal status.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 42-4742-47. the Philistine said ... said David to the Philistine--When the two champions met, they generally made each of them a speech, and sometimes recited some verses, filled with allusions and epithets of the most opprobrious kind, hurling contempt and defiance at one another. This kind of abusive dialogue is common among the Arab combatants still. David's speech, however, presents a striking contrast to the usual strain of these invectives. It was full…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 17:42
In the dictionaries
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
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