I Chronicles 20:5 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 20:5 Commentary: Study, Elhanan Slays Lahmi, Harmonizing Giant Accounts
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore how 1 Chronicles 20:5 clarifies the identity of the giant slain by Elhanan, the textual relationship with 2 Samuel 21:19, and what this reveals about God's deliverance through
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Chronicler records Elhanan killing Lahmi, the brother of Goliath, clarifying a potential contradiction with David's victory.
- Key words: Elhanan ("God has been gracious"), Lahmi ("my bread"), Jair ("forested"), weaver's beam (symbol of great size).
- Main debate: Does the Bible contain two conflicting accounts of who killed Goliath? The Chronicler's version is widely seen as an intentional correction of a scribal error in 2 Samuel.
- Theological theme: God subdues His people's enemies through humble, faithful servants, demonstrating that victory belongs to the Lord.
- Best use: A passage about the reliability of Scripture and the power of God to overcome seemingly invincible opposition.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And there is again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair smiteth Lahmi, brother of Goliath the Gittite, the wood of whose spear is like a beam of weavers.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And there was again a battle with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair smote Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite; now the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Another battle also was fought against the Philistines, in which Adeodatus the son of Saltus a Bethlehemite slew the brother of Goliath the Gethite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y volvióse á levantar guerra con los Filisteos; é hirió Elhanán hijo de Jair á Lahmi, hermano de Goliath Getheo, el asta de cuya lanza era como un enjullo de tejedores.
E voltou-se a levantar guerra com os filisteus; e feriu Elanã filho de Jair a Lami, irmão de Golias geteu, a haste de cuja lança era como um lançador de tecedores.
Il y eut encore une bataille avec les Philistins. Et Elchanan, fils de Jaïr, tua le frère de Goliath, Lachmi de Gath, qui avait une lance dont le bois était comme une ensouple de tisserand.
Und es erhob sich noch ein Streit mit den Philistern. Da schlug Elhanan, der Sohn Jairs, den Lahemi, den Bruder Goliaths, den Gathiter, welcher hatte eine Spießstange wie ein Weberbaum.
Daarna was er nog een krijg tegen de Filistijnen, en Elhanan, de zoon van Jair, versloeg Lachmi, den broeder van Goliath, den Gethiet, wiens spieshout was als een weversboom.
Ci fu un’altra battaglia coi Filistei; ed Elhanan, figliuolo di Jair, uccise Lahmi, fratello di Goliath di Gath, di cui l’asta della lancia era come un subbio da tessitore.
Była też jeszcze wojna z Filistynami, gdzie zabił Elchana, syn Jairowy, Lachmiego, brata Golijata Gietejczyka, którego drzewce u włóczni było nawój tkacki.
И опять была война с Филистимлянами. Тогда Елханам, сын Иаира, поразил Лахмия, брата Голиафова, Гефянина, у которого древко копья было, как навой у ткачей.
又 與 非利士人 打仗。睚珥 的兒子 伊勒哈難 殺了 迦特人 歌利亞 的兄弟 拉哈米；這人的槍 桿 粗如織布 的機軸。
And again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan, the son of Jair, put to death Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the stem of whose spear was like a cloth-worker's rod.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 20:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse records the slaying of a Philistine giant by one of David's warriors, continuing a pattern of victory over the enemies of Israel. The main point of consensus is that the Chronicler intentionally clarifies the identity of the victim to prevent a contradiction with 1 Samuel 17, where David kills Goliath. As the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes, the Hebrew text of 2 Samuel 21:19 states simply that Elhanan killed "Goliath the Gittite," whereas the Chronicler specifies Lahmi the brother of Goliath. This small difference, adding one word and adjusting another, shows the Chronicler's careful editorial hand. Matthew Henry observes that the Philistine giants, like stubborn sins, are subdued only after prolonged struggle, and that David's men, ordinary in stature, prevail because God is with them.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Chronicler's correction of copyist error: The Hebrew texts of 2 Sam 21:19 and 1 Chron 20:5 are very similar; a single letter change and an added word produce the clarification. Cambridge Bible supports this as an intentional emendation.
- Goliath as a title: The term 'Goliath' could mean 'champion' or 'exile,' analogous to Assyrian titles like Tartan or Rabsaris. 2 Sam 21:19 might thus read 'Elhanan killed the Gittite champion,' not referring to the specific Goliath of 1 Sam 17.
- Harmonization via relational identity: Some traditions (e.g., the Targum) propose that Elhanan killed a relative of Goliath, and the Chronicler preserves the exact name while 2 Samuel uses the more famous family name.
What is clear: A giant associated with Gath was killed by one of David's warriors, and the Chronicler's record affirms that God continued to deliver Israel through faithful servants despite the ongoing threat.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Who killed Goliath? | David killed Goliath of Gath as recorded in 1 Samuel 17. 1 Chronicles 20:5 records Elhanan killing someone else, Lahmi, Goliath's brother. | Some argue 2 Samuel 21:19 originally said Elhanan killed Goliath, suggesting an early scribal error that the Chronicler corrected. Others propose 'Goliath' in 2 Samuel 21:19 is a title meaning 'champion' rather than a personal name. |
| The Chronicler's editorial approach | The Chronicler selectively used sources and omitted David's sin to focus on God's covenant faithfulness. | Catholic and some Protestant traditions see this as legitimate theological history; others question whether omitting moral failure distorts the full picture of David's life. |
| Nature of the giants | The Rephaim were a historical people group of unusually large stature living in Canaan and Philistia. | Some hold that the descriptions (e.g., six fingers) point to a genetic or supernatural origin; others view them as exaggerated literary figures symbolizing Israel's enemies. |
| Application for today | Believers can trust God to give victory over overwhelming challenges. | Charismatic traditions emphasize present-day spiritual warfare against demonic 'giants'; cessationist traditions focus on the historical nature of the accounts and the future resurrection hope. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse belongs to a cluster of battles between David's forces and the Philistines, recorded in 1 Chronicles 18, 20. The Chronicler condenses material from 2 Samuel 11, 12, notably omitting David's adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. What remains is a focused account of military victories that demonstrate God's faithfulness to His covenant. The location "Gath" was a major Philistine city and a stronghold of the Rephaim, a race of giants (Deuteronomy 2:20, 21). The repetition of giant killings in this passage, three separate encounters in verses 4, 8, reinforces the motif of God delivering His people against seemingly invincible foes. The description of the spear shaft "like a weaver's beam" echoes the earlier description of Goliath's weapon in 1 Samuel 17:7, deliberately drawing a comparison between the two giants.
The Chronicler writes after the exile, for a community that needed reassurance of God's power to restore and protect. By highlighting these victories, he reminds his readers that the same God who subdued the giants of old remains active. The omission of David's sin also serves a pastoral purpose: the Chronicler wants to present David as a model of faithfulness, not a cautionary tale about moral failure. The wars with the Philistines here show an ongoing struggle, yet each engagement ends with the enemy subdued. This echoes the pattern of Israel's conquest of Canaan, where the Anakim were driven out (Joshua 11:21, 22). The historical context underscores that God's help, not human strength, is the decisive factor.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note a significant variant between 2 Samuel 21:19 and 1 Chronicles 20:5. In the Masoretic Text of 2 Samuel 21:19, Elhanan kills "Goliath the Gittite" (Hebrew: et Golyat haGitti). In the Chronicler's version, the victim is named "Lahmi the brother of Goliath" (Hebrew: et Lachmi achi Golyat). The difference involves one Hebrew letter: lamed versus gimel, and the addition of the word "brother." The Cambridge Bible suggests that the Chronicler made an emendation to harmonize the text with the widely known account of David slaying Goliath. Some ancient versions (e.g., the Septuagint of 2 Samuel 21:19) read "Elhanan killed Goliath the Gittite," while the Chronicler's reading is supported by the Targum and later Jewish tradition. No other significant textual variants are noted in the consulted sources.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpretation, as seen in the Targum of 1 Chronicles, harmonized the accounts by claiming that David himself killed Lahmi on the same day he killed Goliath. This approach attempts to preserve both David's heroism and the Chronicler's detail. Medieval Jewish commentators like Rashi followed this harmonization. In Christian tradition, Matthew Henry (1710) treated the passage as a spiritual allegory of grace overcoming corruption, seeing the repeated battles as a metaphor for persistent sin. The Cambridge Bible (1880) represents the modern critical view that the Chronicler deliberately corrected a textual problem. Many evangelical scholars today see the Chronicler's version as the more accurate reading of the original event and 2 Samuel 21:19 as containing a copyist error. The passage has been less used in liturgy, but its motif of giants falling before God's servants has inspired hymns about spiritual warfare.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary victories. Elhanan, a lesser-known warrior, steps into the gap when the enemy appears. His faith is not in his own strength but in the God of Israel.
- The enemy keeps returning, but God keeps delivering. Just when the Philistines seem defeated, another giant appears. The Christian life involves repeated battles, but each victory builds confidence in God's sustaining power.
- Our legacy is shaped by humble service, not by fame. Elhanan is not a household name like David, yet his act is recorded in Scripture. God values faithful obedience over public recognition.
Five-point outline
- Conflict is normal in the life of faith (v.5a: "again there was war").
- The enemy may look intimidating, but his weapons are known and can be tested (weaver's beam imagery reminds us that God has seen it before).
- Victory comes through named, faithful individuals, not anonymous crowds.
- The Chronicler's editorial work shows that Scripture's details matter; God preserves truth across witnesses.
- Every giant slain points forward to the ultimate victory of Christ over sin, death, and evil.
Illustration hooks
- The workplace bully: A coworker seems untouchable, like a giant. Yet one act of integrity or courage can shift the dynamic, reminding others that power has limits.
- Family patterns of struggle: Some challenges recur across generations, financial strain, addiction, conflict. Each victory, however small, chips away at the pattern.
- Community repair after scandal: After a church or organization fails, a quiet servant often steps up to rebuild trust, working behind the scenes like Elhanan.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this verse contradict 1 Samuel 17 where David kills Goliath? How can both be true?
- Why does the Chronicler omit David's sin with Bathsheba? Is he whitewashing history?
- What does it mean for us to face "giants" today, can we expect God to help us overcome them?
Leading a Discussion
Read 1 Chronicles 20:5 alongside 2 Samuel 21:19 and 1 Samuel 17. Notice the differences and consider why the Chronicler might have adjusted the wording. This passage invites us to trust that God's Word is reliable, even when details require careful study.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the way this battle is described? What details does the Chronicler include?
- Compare the description of the spear shaft in verse 5 with 1 Samuel 17:7. What does this repetition suggest about the nature of the enemy?
- Why do you think the Chronicler omitted the story of David's sin? What does this tell us about the purpose of 1 Chronicles?
- In what ways might this passage encourage someone who feels overwhelmed by a recurring problem or "giant"?
- Elhanan is not a famous figure. How does this challenge our culture's obsession with celebrity and recognition?
- How would you respond to someone who says the Bible contains errors because of the difference between 2 Samuel 21:19 and 1 Chronicles 20:5?
- What would it look like for your group to support someone who is facing a "giant", a daunting challenge that seems too big to overcome?
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)
| 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 21:9 | The priest said, “Behold, the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you would like to take that, take it, for there is no other except that here.” David said, “There is none like that. Give it to me.” |
| I Samuel 22:10 | He inquired of Yahweh for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” |
| II Samuel 21:19 | There was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, 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
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the Targum's interpretation, which identifies the killer of Goliath's brother as David rather than Elhanan. This reading resolves an apparent discrepancy between Chronicles and Samuel by suggesting David accomplished both victories on the same day.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary suggests the apparent contradiction between David and Elhanan both killing Goliath may be resolved if Goliath was not a personal name but a descriptive title meaning champion. The writer notes that other terms like Tartan and Rabshakeh were once mistaken for proper names but are now known to be Assyrian officer titles.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight that this second battle with the Philistines features Elhanan killing Lahmi, who is explicitly identified as the brother of the more famous Goliath. This detail connects the two accounts while noting that Lahmi's spear was equally massive, with a shaft like a weaver's beam.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch observe that the Chronicler omits the story of David nearly being slain by the giant Jishbi-Benob, even though it was in his source material. They argue this omission fits the Chronicler's purpose: he highlights David's victorious power over the nations, not a moment where the king needed rescue while weak.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange examines how the Chronicler deliberately selected from his sources, omitting episodes from 2 Samuel that might tarnish David's reputation. He notes the absence of David's dangerous fight with Ishbi-benob, his adultery and murder, and Solomon's idolatry, arguing the Chronicler focused instead on David's victorious wars and legitimate rule.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Israel never produced giants, only their enemies did, because God's people grow in usefulness, not in size. Ordinary servants of David defeated these imposing foes in every encounter because God takes pleasure in cutting down the proud.