And 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.
1 SAMUEL 17:35KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 17:35 mean?
1 Samuel 17:35 describes David telling how he protected his father’s sheep by chasing after a wild animal, striking it, and rescuing the sheep from its mouth. If the animal turned on him, David says he grabbed it by the beard, struck it again, and killed it.
David is speaking to King Saul, explaining his experience as a shepherd to show he is not afraid to face Goliath. The verse paints a vivid picture of David’s courage and quick action, showing that he has faced real danger before and has the skill and bravery to defend what is entrusted to him.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 17:35
- "out" (יָצָא, yatsa): This word means to go out or come forth. Here, it emphasizes David’s active pursuit of the predator, not just defending passively.
- "smote" (נָכָה, nakah): This word means to strike or hit, often with force. David is describing a real, physical confrontation, not just scaring the animal away.
- "delivered" (נָצַל, natsal): This word means to rescue or snatch away. David is saying he physically pulled the sheep out of the animal’s mouth, highlighting his determination and hands-on protection.
- "caught" (חָזַק, chazaq): This word means to seize or take hold of strongly. Grabbing the animal by the beard (the mane or jaw area) shows David’s boldness in getting up close to a dangerous animal.
Why 1 Samuel 17:35 matters
- This verse clears up any idea that David was inexperienced or naïve; he had already proven himself against real threats before facing Goliath.
- The details about grabbing the animal by the beard and striking it show David’s willingness to take risks and act decisively, not just rely on luck or distance.
- The story connects David’s past faithfulness in small things (protecting sheep) to his readiness for a much bigger challenge, which is a key theme in the wider passage.