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1 Samuel 17:36

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 17:36 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thy 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thy 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.
1 Samuel 17:36 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
33And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
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.
38And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.
39And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, etc.] At different times, and several of them at one time or another; whenever any of them came into the flock, he used to lay hold on them and kill them, with all the ease imaginable. The Jews suppose this phrase denotes many of them f375. And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them; as he was like them in nature, savage, cruel and unclean, so he would be in his end, killed as they; of this David was fully persuaded and assured in mind having an impulse from the Spirit of God, by which he was certified of it: seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God; so that as he justly deserved to die, he made no doubt of it it would be…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“this: Sa1 17:26; Eze 32:19, Eze 32:27-32; Rom 2:28, Rom 2:29 seeing: Sa1 17:10; Isa 10:15, Isa 36:8-10, Isa 36:15, Isa 36:18, Isa 37:22, Isa 37:23, Isa 37:28, Isa 37:29; Zac 2:8, Zac 12:3; Act 5:38, Act 5:39, Act 9:4, Act 9:5, Act 12:1, Act 12:2, Act 12:22, Act 12:23 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 17:37”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 17 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification