I Chronicles 11:23 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 11:23 Commentary: Faith Over Weaponry
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Benaiah's defeat of an Egyptian giant, its parallel to David and Goliath, and what it teaches about trusting God over human weapons.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Benaiah, armed only with a staff, defeats a giant Egyptian by taking his spear and killing him with it.
- Key words: “staff” (shevet, simple club/walking stick); “tore away” (gazal, seize by force); “spear like a weaver’s beam” (chanit kimenor oregim, heavy spear shaft).
- Main debate: Whether Benaiah’s staff was a literal walking stick or a club; also minor discussion about his exact rank among the mighty men.
- Theological theme: God’s strength is made perfect in human weakness; trusting Him means acting boldly with whatever is at hand.
- Best use: Preaching on courage, God’s deliverance, and the principle that the weapons of faith can overcome overwhelming odds.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he hath smitten the man, the Egyptian--a man of measure, five by the cubit--and in the hand of the Egyptian is a spear like a beam of weavers, and he goeth down unto him with a rod, and taketh violently away the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slayeth him with his own spear.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
He also smote the Egyptian, a man of stature, five cubits high: and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he slew an Egyptian, whose stature was of five cubits, and who had a spear like a weaver's beam: and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked away the spear, that he held in his hand, and slew him with his own spear.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
El mismo venció á un Egipcio, hombre de cinco codos de estatura: y el Egipcio traía una lanza como un enjullo de tejedor; mas él descendió á él con un bastón, y arrebató al Egipcio la lanza de la mano, y matólo con su misma lanza.
Ele também matou um homem egípcio alto, de cinco côvados; o egípcio trazia na mão uma lança como um lançador de tecelão; porém Benaia desceu a ele com um bastão; e arrancou a lança da mão do egípcio, e o matou com sua própria lança.
Il frappa un Égyptien d’ une stature de cinq coudées et ayant à la main une lance comme une ensouple de tisserand; il descendit contre lui avec un bâton, arracha la lance de la main de l’ Égyptien, et s’ en servit pour le tuer.
Er schlug auch einen ägyptischen Mann, der war fünf Ellen groß und hatte einen Spieß in der Hand wie ein Weberbaum. Aber er ging zu ihm hinab mit einem Stecken und nahm ihm den Spieß aus der Hand und tötete ihn mit seinem eigenen Spieß.
Hij versloeg ook een Egyptischen man, een man van grote lengte, van vijf ellen; en die Egyptenaar had een spies in de hand, als een weversboom; maar hij ging tot hem af met een staf, en rukte de spies uit de hand des Egyptenaars, en hij doodde hem met zijn eigen spies.
Uccise pure un Egiziano di statura enorme alto cinque cubiti, che teneva in mano una lancia grossa come un subbio da tessitore; ma Benaia gli scese contro con un bastone, strappò di mano all’Egiziano la lancia, e se ne servì per ucciderlo.
Ten też zabił męża Egipczanina, męża, którego wzrost był na pięć łokci. A chociaż Egipczanin miał w ręku oszczep jako nawój tkacki, wszkże przyszedł do niego z kijem, i wydarł oszczep z ręki Egipczanina, i zabił go oszczepem jego.
он же убил Египтянина, человека ростом в пять локтей: в руке Египтянина было копье, как навой у ткачей, а он подошел к нему с палкою и, вырвав копье из руки Египтянина, убил его его же копьем:
又 殺了 一個埃及 人。埃及 人 身高 五 肘，手 裡拿著槍，槍桿粗如織布 的機軸；比拿雅只拿著棍子 下 去，從埃及人 手 裡奪過 槍來，用那槍 將他刺死。
And he made an attack on an Egyptian, a very tall man about five cubits high, armed with a spear like a cloth-worker's rod; he went down to him with a stick, and pulling his spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, put him to death with that same spear.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 11:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse records a historical exploit of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, one of David’s mighty men. The Egyptian stood about seven and a half feet tall (Barnes notes the height is “not so great as that recorded of other giants”). His spear “like a weaver’s beam” echoes Goliath’s weapon (1 Sam 17:7). Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown observe that the encounter “reminds us, in some respects, of David’s combat with Goliath.” Benaiah went down to the giant with only a staff, likely his walking stick, and tore the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, killing him with it. The Hebrew verb gazal (“tore away”) suggests a forceful seizure. The verse stands in the Chronicler’s list of heroes who helped establish David’s kingdom, showing God’s strength at work through ordinary courage.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse records Benaiah’s victory over an Egyptian giant by seizing his spear and killing him with it, highlighting his faith and courage.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the staff | Benaiah went into battle with only a staff, no other weapon mentioned. | Some see it as an ordinary walking stick; others as a shepherd’s club. Both views agree it was a humble implement. |
| Parallel to David’s Goliath | The language of height, a spear like a weaver’s beam, and victory with the enemy’s weapon echoes the Goliath story. | A few commentators see a deliberate literary parallel; others view it as an independent historical event recorded without typological intent. |
| Benaiah’s rank among the mighty men | He was more honorable than the thirty but not counted among the first three. | Keil and Delitzsch discuss whether the “three” refers to Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah or others. The precise numbering is contested. |
| Historical accuracy | Christians across traditions accept this as a factual account from the Chronicler’s source material. | Some liberal critics question the historicity of giant warriors, but the supplied commentaries do not raise this debate. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse belongs to the catalogue of David’s mighty men in 1 Chronicles 11, a chapter that follows David’s anointing as king over all Israel (11:1, 3) and his capture of Jerusalem (11:4, 9). The Chronicler compiled these hero stories to show how God built David’s kingdom through faithful warriors. The list includes three tiers: the “three” most celebrated (Jashobeam, Eleazar, Shammah), the next group (Abishai and Benaiah), and then “the thirty” (v. 26). Benaiah’s feat, killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day (v. 22) and now this Egyptian, places him above the thirty but not equal to the three (v. 25).
The Egyptian was likely a mercenary or a Philistine ally. Egypt was a familiar enemy, and its soldiers were known for height and strength. The “spear like a weaver’s beam” describes a heavy, thick shaft used by professional warriors. A weaver’s beam is the crossbar of a loom, heavy and solid, a detail that also appears in the Goliath account (1 Sam 17:7) and in the slaying of Lahmi (1 Chr 20:5). Benaiah’s “staff” (shevet) was probably a simple walking stick or shepherd’s club, underscoring his lack of conventional weaponry. In the ancient Near East, combat heroes were celebrated for such unmatched acts of boldness, and the Chronicler includes this account to inspire trust in the God who gives victory against overwhelming odds.
Textual Notes
No significant textual variants are mentioned in the supplied commentaries. The verse appears in the parallel account in 2 Samuel 23:21 with minor differences in spelling, but the narrative is virtually identical across manuscripts. The consulted sources note no disputed readings.
Reception History
This verse has been read throughout church history as an example of courage and divine enablement. Early church fathers like Chrysostom referenced David’s mighty men in homilies on faithfulness under duress. Medieval monastic commentaries used Benaiah’s feat to illustrate the spiritual battle, the Christian wielding the staff of faith against the enemy’s spear. Reformation-era commentators (e.g., Matthew Henry) focused on the principle that God can use small means to achieve great victories. In modern preaching, the verse is often linked with David and Goliath to show a pattern of God delivering His people through humble instruments. It also appears in devotional literature on courage and spiritual warfare.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Seeming disadvantage: Benaiah faced a giant with only a staff, while the enemy had a heavy spear. God’s strength works best when human resources are few.
- Turning the tables: He seized the Egyptian’s own spear and used it against him. God can turn an opponent’s weapons into instruments of deliverance.
- Faith in action: Benaiah “went down” to the giant, deliberate, courageous movement. Faith is not passive; it steps into danger trusting God.
Five-point outline
- Setting: Benaiah’s place among David’s heroes (v. 22, 24)
- The enemy: a giant Egyptian, five cubits tall, armed with a massive spear
- The weapon of faith: a humble staff, not a sword or shield
- The encounter: going down, snatching the spear, killing with his own weapon
- The outcome: Benaiah gains a name among the mighty, pointing to God’s honor
Illustration hooks
- A person facing a chronic illness feels like they are armed with only a “staff” against a giant. The verse shows that small resources in God’s hands can overcome great obstacles.
- A workplace conflict where one side has all the “spears” (authority, leverage), but integrity and courage can turn the situation for good.
- A new believer with little Bible knowledge feels weak against intellectual attacks. Like Benaiah, they can use the opponent’s own arguments transformed by God’s truth.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God expect me to take on impossible challenges? Where is the line between faith and foolishness?
- If God gave David victory over Goliath, why does the Bible also celebrate a similar feat by someone else? Does that diminish David’s uniqueness?
- How do I know when to act boldly versus when to wait on the Lord?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things when they trust Him rather than conventional strength. Benaiah’s weapon was a staff, the same kind of tool a shepherd carries. His victory came not from superior equipment but from courage and God’s enabling.
Discussion questions
- What details in the verse stand out to you? Why do you think the Chronicler recorded this story?
- How does Benaiah’s battle parallel David’s fight with Goliath (1 Sam 17)? What is similar, and what is different?
- Benaiah used a “staff” against a spear like a weaver’s beam. What “staffs” do you have in your life, things that seem inadequate but can be used by God?
- The Hebrew verb for “tore away” (gazal) implies violent seizure. What does this teach about the kind of faith needed in difficult situations?
- Benaiah had already killed a lion and two Moabite heroes (v. 22). How does past obedience prepare us for future challenges?
- This story is part of a list of heroes. Why is it important that Scripture celebrates the faith of many people, not just the leaders?
- What is one “impossible” situation you are facing now? How might God want you to step forward with what you have, trusting Him?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 3:11 | (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its width, after the cubit of a man.) |
| I Samuel 17:4 | A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span went out. |
| I Samuel 17:7 | The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. His shield bearer went before him. |
| I Samuel 17:51 | Then David ran, stood over the Philistine, took his sword, drew it out of its sheath, killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. |
| I Chronicles 20:5 | Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke makes only a brief cross-reference here, directing the reader to his fuller note on the parallel account. He treats the episode as a narrative detail that gains clarity from the earlier passage, without adding any independent observation of his own.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Goliath's height of five cubits, about seven and a half feet, is less than the heights recorded for other giants in Scripture. His point is that Goliath was not the tallest giant mentioned, which puts his size into perspective.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary treats the list of David's mighty men as a composite record, assembled from different sources at different times. It notes that parts of the eulogy for Abishai and Benaiah appear to be quoted from a lost poem, and that Chronicles adds sixteen names not found in Samuel.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the staggering contrast: this Israelite went down against a giant armed with only a staff, yet he disarmed the Egyptian and killed him with his own massive spear. The point is the Lord's strength made perfect in human weakness and courage.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the phrase "he went down" is the ordinary expression for entering battle, and he draws a comparison between Benaiah's fight with this eight-foot Egyptian giant and David's combat with Goliath. The commentator emphasizes that Benaiah faced this heavily armed opponent with nothing more than a walking stick.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch argue that "the three" in these verses consistently refers to the same top-ranked triad of heroes (Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah), not a different group. Abishai was their chief and leader, yet he did not match their heroic deeds—a distinction that is not contradictory.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange observes that the Chronicler deliberately highlights only the bright side of David’s reign, omitting the rival kingdom of Ishbosheth and Joab’s violent actions. This selective glorification of David’s kingdom as an ideal theocracy also leads the author to place the hero list at the start rather than the end of his history.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that David would not drink the water his men risked their lives to bring, instead pouring it out as an offering to the Lord. David saw the water as the price of his men's blood and would not treat it as ordinary refreshment, honoring both their sacrifice and God.