This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1 SAMUEL 17:46KJV
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1 Samuel 17:46 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 17:46 mean?

1 Samuel 17:46 records David boldly declaring to Goliath that the LORD will hand Goliath over to him that very day, allowing David to defeat him, cut off his head, and give the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and wild animals. David says this will show everyone that there is a God in Israel.

In this verse, David is speaking directly to Goliath on the battlefield, just before their famous fight. David, a young shepherd, is facing the giant warrior Goliath, who represents the Philistine army. David’s confidence is not in his own strength, but in the LORD (the God of Israel), and he makes it clear that the outcome will demonstrate God’s power to everyone watching.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 17:46

  • The word for "deliver" is סָגַר (sagar), often meaning "to hand over" or "to give into someone’s power." David is saying that God Himself will actively give Goliath into David’s control, not just allow it to happen.
  • The word for "LORD" is יְהוָה (YHWH, often pronounced Yahweh), the personal name of Israel’s God. This stresses that David is not talking about a generic deity, but the specific God who has a relationship with Israel.
  • The word for "know" is יָדַע (yada‘), which means more than just intellectual knowledge—it often carries the sense of recognizing or acknowledging something as true. David wants all people to recognize and acknowledge the reality of Israel’s God.
  • The word for "God" is אֱלֹהִים (’elohim), a general word for God, but here it is used to make clear that Israel’s God is the true God, in contrast to the Philistines’ gods.

Why 1 Samuel 17:46 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that David’s victory is about personal bravery or skill; David himself says the battle is about showing God’s power, not his own.
  • The verse highlights the public nature of what is happening—David wants "all the earth" to know about God, not just the Israelites or Philistines.
  • 1 Samuel 17:46 connects to the larger story by showing that David’s faith and understanding of God set him apart from others, even before he becomes king.