I Samuel 17:34-37 · Bible study
1 Samuel 17:34-37 Commentary: Faith from the Past
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
How David’s shepherd victories over lion and bear shaped his trust that God would also defeat Goliath. A study of remembered faithfulness.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David’s past victories over wild animals become the foundation of his faith that God will also deliver him from Goliath.
- Key words: yad (hand/paw), used three times in v. 37 to connect the lion and bear to the Philistine; Elo·him chay·yim (living God), shows the battle is about God’s honor.
- Main debate: Whether the lion and bear came on one or two occasions (Barnes inclines to one, Gill to separate); also whether David emphasizes his courage or God’s deliverance more.
- Theological theme: God’s faithfulness in past trials is the basis for present trust; the “lesser to greater” argument shows His power is sufficient for any enemy.
- Best use: A model for praying through remembered testimonies of God’s help, especially when facing intimidating circumstances.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
34David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,
35I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.
36Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
37David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
34David said to Saul, “Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
35I went out after him, struck him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, struck him, and killed him.
36Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.”
37David said, “Yahweh, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go! Yahweh will be with you.”
KJV King James Version 1769
34And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
34And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock,
35I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah shall be with thee.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
34And David saith unto Saul, `A shepherd hath thy servant been to his father among the sheep, and the lion hath come--and the bear--and hath taken away a sheep out of the drove,
35and I have gone out after him, and smitten him, and delivered out of his mouth, and he riseth against me, and I have taken hold on his beard, and smitten him, and put him to death.
36Both the lion and the bear hath thy servant smitten, and this uncircumcised Philistine hath been as one of them, for he hath reproached the ranks of the living God.'
37And David saith, `Jehovah, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He doth deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.' And Saul saith unto David, `Go, and Jehovah is with thee.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
34And David said to Saul, Thy servant fed his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and also a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock.
35And I went after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I seized him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
37And David said, Jehovah who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and Jehovah be with thee.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
34And David said to Saul: Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, or a bear, and took a ram out of the midst of the flock:
35And I pursued after them, and struck them, and delivered it out of their mouth: and they rose up against me, and I caught them by the throat, and I strangled, and killed them.
36For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be also as one of them. I will go now, and take away the reproach of the people: for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, who hath dared to curse the army of the living God?
37And David said: The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David: Go, and the Lord be with thee.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 17:34
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that David’s testimony in verses 34, 37 answers Saul’s objection with two pillars: proven courage and conscious dependence on God. Adam Clarke notes that David states his reasons plainly: he has courage, it has been tested, and the Philistine is an enemy of God. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown emphasizes that David’s piety “sank all consideration of his own prowess” and ascribed his success to divine aid. Matthew Henry highlights the shift: the lion and bear were enemies to David and his sheep, but the Philistine is an enemy to God and His people. Wesley adds that David saw the contest as for God’s honor, not his own. The Cambridge Bible observes David’s “trusting heart” could not fear one who defied Yahweh. Gill notes that David was “fully persuaded” not by natural strength but by God’s power, and that he “went forth in the name and strength of the Lord.” With near unanimity, the commentators see these verses as the hinge: David’s past deliverances become certain grounds for future confidence, and Saul’s own blessing (“Yahweh will be with you”) endorses that faith.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- One incident or multiple: The Hebrew text can be read as a single attack by both animals (Gill) or as two separate encounters (most other commentators). The phrase “a lion and a bear” could mean a lion accompanied by a bear, but wild animals rarely travel together; hence many see two events.
- David's confidence: self-reliant or God-reliant?: Clarke highlights David's courage and strength; Jamieson-Fausset-Brown emphasizes his attribution of success to God. The text itself balances both: David recounts his actions but twice credits Yahweh as deliverer (v. 37).
- Saul's motivation for agreement: Poole suggests Saul may have envied David or feared ruin, while most see the king persuaded by David’s piety. The text only records the blessing, leaving motive inferred.
What is clear: David killed a lion and a bear in the line of duty, he explicitly credits God for those deliverances, and he expresses certain faith that the same God will deliver him from Goliath.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Historical reliability of the lion/bear encounter | David did kill a lion and a bear while shepherding; this is accepted as factual narrative within the text's own world. | Some commentators (e.g., Barnes) speculate the events happened together, while others (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) hold they were separate incidents. The Hebrew grammar permits both readings. |
| David's primary motive: personal courage or faith in God? | David gives glory to God for delivering him, showing that faith is central. | Clarke emphasizes David's tested courage and skill, while Jamieson-Fausset-Brown stresses that David's piety “sank all consideration of his own prowess.” Both elements are present, but interpreters weigh them differently. |
| Nature of Saul's response in verse 37b | Saul assents to David going forth. | Some see it as a genuine blessing and prayer (“may Yahweh be with you”), while others read it as a formal dismissal, possibly tinged with resignation or hope. The Cambridge Bible notes the Hebrew is an assurance, not a prayer: “Jehovah shall be with thee.” |
Historical & Cultural Context
In Saul’s day, Palestine was more wooded than today. The Cambridge Bible, citing Stanley, notes that bears descended from Lebanon and lions from the Jordan thickets to prey on flocks. The Syrian bear was especially ferocious, often more feared than the lion. David, as a shepherd boy, would have faced these threats alone, armed only with a staff and sling, the “rude staves and stones of the field” mentioned by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown. Such encounters were not unusual; Amos 3:12 describes a shepherd rescuing only scraps from a lion’s mouth, underscoring the danger.
The Philistine champion Goliath had defied Israel for forty days (1 Sam 17:16). Saul and his army were terrified. Into this scene steps David, sent by his father with provisions for his brothers. After hearing Goliath’s taunts, David volunteers. Saul objects: David is only a youth, Goliath a seasoned warrior. David’s reply draws on his recent history as a shepherd, a lowly occupation, to argue that the same God who delivered him from predator claws will deliver him from the Philistine’s hand. The Hebrew word yad (hand) appears three times in verse 37, linking the “paw” of the lion and bear to the “hand” of Goliath. The Philistine is “uncircumcised,” a term that marks him as outside the covenant community and, more importantly, as one who has “defied the armies of the living God.” That phrase, Elo·him chay·yim, sets Yahweh apart from the dead idols of the Philistines and becomes the theological center of David’s courage. The literary context shows David as the unexpected deliverer, a pattern that will echo throughout Israel’s history.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for the main body of 1 Samuel 17:34, 37. The Hebrew text (Masoretic) is consistent across manuscripts. The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) shows a briefer version of the chapter overall, but within these verses the differences are minor: the Septuagint at verse 36 has David asking, “Shall I not go and smite him, and take away the reproach from Israel this day?” rather than the declarative statement in the Hebrew. This variant does not affect the passage’s meaning but underscores David’s rhetorical style. The Cambridge Bible notes this Septuagint reading without endorsing it as original.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this passage has been celebrated as a model of faith applied to daily life. Early Christian writers saw David as a type of Christ, the shepherd who defeats the enemy of God’s people. Augustine and later medieval interpreters read the lion and bear as figures of sin and death that Christ overcomes. During the Reformation, commentators such as Luther and Calvin used David’s example to teach that believers must remember God’s past mercies as fuel for present confidence. In hymns and devotional literature, the line “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear” has been quoted as a pattern for personal testimony. Modern evangelicals often use these verses to encourage faith that looks back at answered prayers before stepping into new battles.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Remembered victories (vv. 34, 36a): David points to specific past experiences with a lion and a bear, tangible proof that God can use a shepherd against overwhelming foes.
- Transferred confidence (vv. 36b, 37a): David reasons from the lesser to the greater. If God delivered from wild beasts, He will deliver from the Philistine who defies His army.
- Endorsed faith (v. 37b): Saul, the fearful king, blesses David: “Go! Yahweh will be with you.” David’s faith becomes contagious.
Five-point outline
- The shepherd’s resume: David doesn’t boast of natural skill; he recounts what God has done through him.
- The nature of the enemy: The Philistine is “uncircumcised” and has defied the “living God”, the battle belongs to the Lord.
- Faith’s logic: If God delivered from lion and bear, He can deliver from Goliath (lesser to greater).
- Doctrine of God: David twice uses “Yahweh” (the covenant name) and calls Him “living,” contrasting with dead idols.
- The king’s blessing: Saul, who had been paralyzed by fear, now sends David forth with a benediction.
Illustration hooks
- A stack of small victories: A student who aced basic math problems can approach a difficult exam with the same confidence, not in memory, but in the skills that were proven. David carried the memory of God’s past help, not just his own.
- Keeping trophies of grace: In many homes, photographs, journals, or mementos remind families of God’s faithfulness in a crisis. David essentially produces a mental photo of the lion and bear as evidence.
- From practice to the game: An athlete who trains hard in practice trusts that those skills will work under pressure. David’s shepherd work was his practice ground for giant-destroying faith.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I trust God for a big challenge when I feel small or untrained?
- Does God care about the “small” battles of daily life, or only the big ones?
- Why does David mention that the Philistine has “defied the armies of the living God”? What does that say about how we pray for God’s honor?
Leading a Discussion
This passage strips away illusions: David was not a seasoned warrior, and he knew it. Yet he did not let Saul’s logic silence him. Instead, he reached back into his own story, a shepherd’s story, and pulled out two examples of God’s faithfulness. As you discuss, consider what “lions and bears” you have seen God overcome in your own life, and how those memories can fuel faith for the giants you face today.
Discussion questions
- What specific dangers did David face as a shepherd? Why does he choose to describe these encounters in detail?
- How does David’s view of Goliath differ from the view of Saul and the army (see also v. 26)? What does he see that they miss?
- In verse 36, David calls Goliath “this uncircumcised Philistine.” What does that phrase reveal about David’s priorities, his focus on God’s honor over personal safety?
- How does David connect past deliverance with future hope in verse 37? What does the repeated word “hand” (or “paw”) tell us about his faith?
- Saul goes from skeptical (v. 33) to supportive (v. 37). What changed? How does one person’s faith affect others?
- Can you think of a time when remembering a past answer to prayer gave you courage for a present challenge? Share without pressure.
- What “lion or bear” situations might God be using right now to prepare you for something bigger?
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)
| Judges 14:5 | Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and his mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion roared at him. |
| Judges 14:6 | Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat with his bare hands, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done. |
| II Samuel 23:20 | Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a time of snow. |
| Psalms 91:13 | You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. |
| Daniel 6:22 | My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me, because innocence was found in me before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” |
| Amos 3:12 | Yahweh says: “As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.” |
| Acts 28:4 | When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” |
| Acts 28:6 | But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. |
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 extracts six specific reasons from David's speech that together form a logical case for courage: proven strength against wild beasts, the enemy being godless, the battle belonging to the Lord, his own trust in divine protection, and the conclusion that God who delivered him before will do so again. Saul's approval shows these grounds were reasonable.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the account does not settle whether the lion and bear attacked together or on separate occasions, though he suggests a plausible order where David killed one after the other. He also notes that "his beard" refers to the throat or under jaw, since neither animal has a literal beard.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights the real danger of Syrian bears in ancient Palestine, noting they were feared more than lions. David's claim that he struck down both animals shows his courage. The phrase the paw literally means the hand, signifying power, and the assurance the Lord be with thee is a confident statement, not a prayer.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that the lion and bear in David's account attacked at separate times, not together, and the Hebrew can be read as "a lion or a bear." David's confidence against Goliath rests entirely on this proven divine deliverance, which persuades even Saul to send him off with a blessing.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights David's humility: instead of boasting about his bravery like most young men would, David credits God for his victories over the lion and bear. This piety stirs Saul's heart, convincing him to entrust the kingdom's fate to such a God-dependent champion.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads the encounter as a direct clash between two opposing worldviews: the theocracy, represented by David's humble trust in the living God, and the antitheocracy, embodied in Goliath's pride in earthly might. David's victory exposes the emptiness of human arrogance and shows that the battle belongs to the Lord alone.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to David's tact in saying "Let no man's heart fail" rather than singling out Saul, which would have dishonored the king. This young shepherd, fresh from the fields, shows more courage than all of Israel's seasoned warriors and boldly steps forward to encourage them.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a sharp contrast between David's earlier fights and this one. The lion and bear threatened only David and his sheep, so he defended them. But Goliath is an enemy of God and God's people, so David fights for their honor.