1 Samuel 17:34-37 Meaning: How Past Faith Shapes Future Courage
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.”
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.
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.
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.'
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.
Meaning in one sentence
David's past victory over lion and bear gave him confidence that God would also deliver him from Goliath.
Context
David stands before King Saul, a young shepherd volunteering to fight the Philistine champion Goliath. Saul objects, David is just a boy, and Goliath has been a warrior all his life. Instead of arguing, David tells a story. He describes the ordinary work of keeping his father's sheep, and the moments when a lion or a bear attacked the flock. He did not run; he fought and rescued the lamb, with God's help striking down both animals. Then he makes the connection: the same God who delivered him from those dangers will deliver him from Goliath. Saul hears the quiet confidence in David's voice and sends him off with a blessing.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this passage. First is natsal, often translated 'delivered' or 'rescued.' It means to snatch away from danger, to pull someone out of the jaws of death. David uses it twice: once for what God did with the lion and bear, and once for what he trusts God will do with Goliath. The same verb binds past and future together.
Second is yad, the word for 'hand' or 'paw.' David says God delivered him from the yad of the lion and the yad of the bear, and he will deliver him from the yad of this Philistine. The very same word. Goliath's strength is no different in God's sight than a wild animal's.
Third is arel, 'uncircumcised.' This is not merely an insult. It marks Goliath as outside the covenant people of the living God. David sees the real battlefield: not a man against a man, but a man who defies the armies of the living God facing the God who fights for Israel.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage as a model for faith that remembers. John Wesley noted that the lion and bear were only enemies to David and his sheep, but Goliath was an enemy to God and his people, so David's confidence was rooted in the cause, not just his own track record. The Cambridge Bible points out that Saul's response, 'Yahweh be with you,' is an assurance, not merely a prayer. Many commentators, from the Geneva Bible notes to Matthew Henry, highlight David's humility: he credits God for the victories rather than boasting in his own strength. Some have seen in David's shepherd-become-warrior a foreshadowing of Christ, the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep and defeats the ultimate enemy.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this passage and think David was simply a brave, talented young man who trusted his own fighting skills. In fact, David's argument is the opposite. He does not say, 'I killed a lion, so I can kill a giant.' He says, 'The Lord who delivered me from the lion and bear will deliver me from this Philistine.' The past victories are evidence of God's faithfulness, not his own ability. David's confidence is in God, not himself.
Living This Out
This week, you face something that feels like a giant. A conflict at work, a diagnosis, a relationship that seems hopeless. Before you decide you are not equipped, stop and remember the lions and bears of your own life. Those moments when God came through in smaller ways, a hard conversation that went better than expected, a financial strain that somehow eased, a temptation you did not think you could resist. Those are not just nice memories. They are the natsal moments, God's rescues. Write one down. Let it be the foundation for trusting him with what feels impossible now. You do not need a different God; you need to remember the one you already have.
Main takeaway: The God who rescued you in past battles is the same God who will meet you in the present one.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
David took care of sheep. When a lion or a bear tried to take a lamb, God helped David fight them. So when he saw the big giant Goliath, David knew God would help him again. God helps us when we are scared too.
For ages 9, 12
David didn't just tell a cool story about fighting a lion and a bear. He saw those fights as proof that God was with him. Everyone else looked at Goliath and saw a giant. David looked at Goliath and saw the same God who had already won smaller battles. You can do the same thing. Think of a time God helped you with something hard. That memory is a promise that he will help you with the next hard thing too.
Questions People Ask
Did David really kill a lion and a bear with his bare hands?
The text says he struck them and killed them, but it does not say he used no weapons. Shepherds carried a staff and a sling, and David likely used those. The point is not the method but the courage and the outcome, God gave him victory over dangerous predators.
Why does David call Goliath 'uncircumcised'?
In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign of being part of God's covenant people Israel. Goliath was a Philistine, an outsider. By calling him uncircumcised, David is saying Goliath has no relationship with the living God, so his defiance is not just against Israel but against God himself.
Was David being arrogant when he offered to fight Goliath?
Most commentators say no. David credits God for his past victories and expresses trust that God will deliver him again. He does not boast in his own strength. Saul himself was convinced and said, 'Go, and the Lord be with you.'
What does it mean that God is 'the living God'?
This phrase sets Israel's God apart from the lifeless idols of the surrounding nations. David is saying Goliath has insulted not just an army but the God who is alive, active, and able to act. The phrase appears throughout the Old Testament to declare God's real, present power.
How does this passage apply to ordinary Christians today?
David's example teaches us to remember God's past faithfulness when we face new challenges. He did not face Goliath based on theory but on real history with God. Christians today can look back at how God has helped them through trials and let those memories build trust for the future.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study