Bible/1 Samuel/17

1 Samuel 17:42

17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

KJV

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When the Philistine looked around, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and had a good looking face.

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

17:43 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.

What does 1 Samuel 17:42 mean?

1 Samuel 17:42 is a verse in the book of 1 Samuel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy), נָבַט (nâbaṭ), רָאָה (râʼâh). It connects to 13 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
when
the
PhilistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיPᵉlishtîy/pel-ish-tee'/H6430a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
looked
about,נָבַטnâbaṭ/naw-bat'/H5027to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care
and
sawרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
David,דָּוִדDâvid/daw-veed'/H1732David, the youngest son of Jesse
he
disdainedבָּזָהbâzâh/baw-zaw'/H959to disesteem
him:
for
he
was
but
a
youth,נַעַרnaʻar/nah'-ar/H5288(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
and
ruddy,אַדְמֹנִיʼadmônîy/ad-mo-nee'/H132reddish (of the hair or the complexion)
and
of
a
fairיָפֶהyâpheh/yaw-feh'/H3303beautiful (literally or figuratively)
countenance.מַרְאֶהmarʼeh/mar-eh'/H4758a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision

Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:42

HENRY_FULL · 1 Samuel 17:42
Those that desired a king like all the nations fancied that, when they had one, they should look very great and considerable; but in this chapter we find it proved much otherwise. While Samuel was joined in commission with Saul things went well, ch. xi. 7 . But, now that Saul began to reign alone, all went to decay, and Samuel's words began to be fulfilled: "You shall be consumed, both you and your king;" for never was the state of Israel further gone in a consumption than in this chapter. I. Saul appears here a very silly prince. 1. Infatuated in his counsels, ver. 1-3 . 2. Invaded by his neighbours, ver. 4, 5 . 3. Deserted by his soldiers, ver. 6, 7 . 4. Disordered in his own spirit, and sacrificing in confusion, ver. 8-10 . 5. Chidden by Samuel, ver. 11-13 . 6. Rejected of God from being king, ver. 14 . II. The people appear here a very miserable people. 1. Disheartened and dispersed, ver. 6, 7 . 2. Diminished, ver. 15, 16 . 3. Plundered, ver. 17, 18 . 4. Disarmed, ver. 19-23 . This they got by casting off God's government, and making themselves like the nations: all their glory departed from them.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Joshua 18:28

And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

Judges 19:12

And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.

1 Samuel 8:11

And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

1 Samuel 10:26

And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

1 Samuel 14:5

The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. forefront: Heb. tooth

1 Samuel 14:31

And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

1 Samuel 14:52

And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

1 Samuel 15:34

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

1 Samuel 17:5

And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. armed: Heb. clothed

1 Samuel 17:23

And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

2 Samuel 21:6

Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them. whom: or, chosen of the LORD

Isaiah 10:28

He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:

Isaiah 10:29

They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Samuel 17:42.

1 Samuel 16:12

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. of a: Heb. fair of eyes

Genesis 12:14

And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

Judges 13:5

For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Samuel 17:42 say?

1 Samuel 17:42 (King James Version) reads: "And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance."

Is 1 Samuel 17:42 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Samuel 17:42 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Samuel.

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As you read 1 Samuel 17:42, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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