1 Samuel 17:23
New International Version
As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it.

New Living Translation
As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.

English Standard Version
As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.

Berean Standard Bible
And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.

New American Standard Bible
As he was speaking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard him.

NASB 1995
As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.

NASB 1977
As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.

Legacy Standard Bible
As he was speaking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them.

Amplified Bible
As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words again; and David heard him.

Christian Standard Bible
While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard.

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

Contemporary English Version
While David was talking with them, Goliath came out from the line of Philistines and started boasting as usual. David heard him.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
While he was talking to them, the Philistine champion, Goliath from Gath, came from the battle lines of the Philistines. He repeated his words, and David heard them.

Good News Translation
As he was talking with them, Goliath came forward and challenged the Israelites as he had done before. And David heard him.

International Standard Version
As he was speaking with them, the Philistine champion named Goliath from Gath came up from the Philistine battle lines and spoke his usual words, as David listened.

Majority Standard Bible
And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.

NET Bible
As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did, and David heard it.

New Heart English Bible
As he talked with them, look, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, from the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard them.

World English Bible
As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and said the same words; and David heard them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he is speaking with them, and behold, a man, the champion, is coming up, his name [is] Goliath the Philistine, from Gath, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and he speaks according to those words, and David hears;

Young's Literal Translation
And he is speaking with them, and lo, a man of the duellists is coming up, Goliath the Philistine is his name, of Gath, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and he speaketh according to those words, and David heareth;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he speaking with them, and behold, a man of the sons came up, Goliah of the rovers, his name, from Gath, from the ranks of the rovers: and he will speak according to these words, and David will hear.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as he talked with them, that baseborn man whose name was Goliath, the Philistine, of Geth, shewed himself coming up from the camp of the Philistines: and he spoke according to the same words, and David heard them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And while he was still speaking with them, there appeared the man of spurious descent, whose name was Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, ascending from the camp of the Philistines. And he was speaking in these same words, which David heard.

New American Bible
While he was talking with them, the Philistine champion, by name Goliath of Gath, came up from the ranks of the Philistines and spoke as before, and David listened.

New Revised Standard Version
As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And while he was talking with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spoke the same words; and David heard them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And while he was speaking with them, behold the giant went up, the Philistine Gulyath his name, from Gath, from the array of the Philistines and he spoke these words, and David heard
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words; and David heard them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Accepts the Challenge
22Then David left his supplies in the care of the quartermaster and ran to the battle line. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. 23And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard. 24When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear.…

Cross References
Numbers 13:33
We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

Joshua 11:21-22
At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities. / No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.

2 Samuel 21:19-22
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. / And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, / and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him. ...

1 Chronicles 20:4-8
Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued. / Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. / And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, ...

Deuteronomy 9:2
The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?”

Judges 14:6
and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.

Judges 15:14
When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.

2 Samuel 17:10
Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.

2 Samuel 23:20-21
And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. / He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

1 Chronicles 11:22-23
And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. / He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear.

Matthew 12:29
Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

Mark 3:27
Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

Luke 11:21-22
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure. / But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

Revelation 12:7-9
Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. / But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels. / And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.


Treasury of Scripture

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 spoke according to the same words: and David heard them.

according

1 Samuel 17:4-10
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span…

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Armies Army Champion David David's Duellists Heard Hearing Lines Philistine Philistines Ranks Shouted Speaking Stepped Talked Talking Usual Words
1 Samuel 17
1. The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle
4. Goliath challenges a combat
12. David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge
28. Eliab chides him
30. He is brought to Saul
32. shows the reason of his confidence
38. and slays the giant
55. Saul takes notice of David














And as he was speaking with them
This phrase sets the scene for a pivotal moment in the narrative. David, the youngest son of Jesse, is speaking with his brothers who are part of Saul's army. The Hebrew root for "speaking" (דָּבַר, dabar) often implies not just casual conversation but purposeful communication. David's presence and dialogue with his brothers highlight his role as a messenger and future leader. This moment foreshadows the divine orchestration of events, where God uses ordinary interactions to set the stage for extraordinary acts.

behold, the champion named Goliath
The word "behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is a call to attention, urging the reader to focus on the significance of what follows. Goliath is described as a "champion" (אִישׁ הַבֵּנַיִם, ish ha-benayim), a term that denotes a warrior who stands between two armies, representing the might and challenge of the Philistines. Goliath's name itself, meaning "exile" or "sojourner," may symbolize the spiritual and physical opposition Israel faces. This introduction of Goliath sets up the classic confrontation between good and evil, faith and fear.

the Philistine from Gath
Gath was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, known for its formidable warriors. Archaeological findings suggest Gath was a significant urban center, reinforcing the historical credibility of the narrative. The Philistines were a constant threat to Israel, representing the pagan cultures that opposed the worship of Yahweh. Goliath, as a Philistine, embodies this opposition, challenging not just Israel's military might but their faith in God.

was coming up from the battle line
The imagery of Goliath "coming up" (עָלָה, alah) from the battle line suggests a menacing advance, a physical and psychological intimidation. The battle line represents the boundary between conflict and peace, fear and faith. Goliath's approach is a direct challenge to Israel's courage and trust in God. This movement signifies the encroaching threat of evil that seeks to dominate and demoralize God's people.

shouting his usual defiance
Goliath's "shouting" (קָרָא, qara) is more than just noise; it is a proclamation of defiance and blasphemy against the God of Israel. His "usual defiance" indicates a repeated, arrogant challenge, underscoring the persistent nature of evil. This defiance is not just against Israel but against God Himself, setting the stage for a divine intervention. The narrative emphasizes the futility of human pride against divine power.

and David heard it
The simple act of David "hearing" (שָׁמַע, shama) is profound. In Hebrew culture, hearing implies understanding and readiness to act. David's response to Goliath's defiance is pivotal; it marks the beginning of his journey from shepherd to king. This moment signifies the awakening of David's divine calling, as he perceives the spiritual battle at hand. David's hearing contrasts with the fear of the Israelite army, highlighting his faith and courage.

(23) The Philistine of Gath.--There is a difficulty connected with the Philistine giant's name, for we read in 2Samuel 21:19 how that Goliath of Gath, the giant, "the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam," was slain by Elhanan, the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, after David had been made king. It is possible that Goliath was a general designation of these monstrous descendants of the ancient Anakim in Gath; but Ewald suggests that the name Goliath really only belongs to the giant slain by Elhanan, some years after the exploit of the youthful son of Jesse, and that it was transferred in error to the "champion" whom David slew (who is, moreover, generally called simply "the Philistine") when his proper name had been lost.

Verses 23, 24. - The champion, the Philistine of Oath, Goliath by name. The Hebrew is, "The champion (see on ver. 4), Goliath the Philistine his name, of Gath," probably the very words of the original record. Out of the armies, or ranks. This is a very probable correction of the Kri, made by restoring a letter which has apparently dropped out. The word in the written text might mean "the open space between the two armies;" but it occurs nowhere else, and this space was chiefly occupied by the ravine. The men of Israel... fled from him. I.e. they drew back in haste from the edge of the ravine, which Goliath could no more have crossed, encased in armour weighing two and a half hundred-weight, than a knight could have done in the middle ages. In ver. 40 we read that it was out of this ravine that David selected his pebbles, and, being encumbered with no armour, it was easy for him to climb up the other side and attack his heavily armed opponent.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And as he
וְה֣וּא ׀ (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was speaking
מְדַבֵּ֣ר (mə·ḏab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

with them,
עִמָּ֗ם (‘im·mām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

suddenly
וְהִנֵּ֣ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the champion
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

named
שְׁמ֤וֹ (šə·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

Goliath,
גָּלְיָת֩ (gā·lə·yāṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1555: Goliath -- a Philistine giant

the Philistine
הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֨י (hap·pə·liš·tî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

from Gath,
מִגַּת֙ (mig·gaṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1661: Gath -- 'wine press', a Philistine city

came forward
עוֹלֶ֞ה (‘ō·w·leh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from the Philistines
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

and shouted
וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

his usual words,
כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים (kad·də·ḇā·rîm)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

which
הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

David
דָּוִֽד׃ (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

also heard.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע (way·yiš·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently


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OT History: 1 Samuel 17:23 As he talked with them behold there (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:22
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