1 Samuel 17:43

1 Samuel 17:43 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
• New International Version (NIV)He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

Context of 1 Samuel 17:43

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. The 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!” 45But David replied to the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel’s armies, whom you have defied!

1 Samuel 17:43 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד הֲכֶ֣לֶב אָנֹ֔כִי כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה בָֽא־אֵלַ֖י בַּמַּקְל֑וֹת וַיְקַלֵּ֧ל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛י אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בֵּאלֹהָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• I a dogכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
• that thou comestבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to me with stavesמַקֵּלmaqqêl maqqelâh · rodH4731
• cursedקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• by his godsאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:43

• 1 Samuel 24:14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?
• 2 Samuel 3:8These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today!
• 2 Samuel 9:8Then Mephibosheth bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?”
• 2 Samuel 16:9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
• 2 Kings 8:13Hazael said, “How could your servant, who is as insignificant as a dog, accomplish this great military victory?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has revealed to me that you will be the king of Syria.”
• Genesis 27:29May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. You will be lord over your brothers, and the sons of your mother will bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
• Numbers 22:6So now, please come and curse this nation for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
• Judges 9:27They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.
• Proverbs 26:2Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:43

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 43Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? - It is very likely that Goliath did not perceive the sling, which David might have kept coiled up within his hand. Cursed David by his gods - Prayed his gods to curse him. This long parley between David and Goliath is quite in the style of those times. A Hindoo sometimes in a fit of anger says to his enemy, The goddess Kalee shall devour thee! May Doorga destroy thee! Homer's heroes have generally an…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. 43a dog: This phrase is a metaphor (a word picture) for a low-status servant who bows and obeys others. Goliath used it to insult David and treat him as worthless (see 2 Samuel 9:8). sticks: David had hidden his sling. Goliath could see only David’s staff, so he thought David was coming with a simple weapon. by his gods: Goliath called on his gods, so David's win would also show God's victory over Dagon, the main god of the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 5:2, 5).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 17:43

• Armies
• Championship
• Courage
• Decision
• Dog (Sodomite?)
• Sling

In the dictionaries

• David
• Arise
• Assay
• Carriage
• Cause
• Coat
• 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