1 Samuel 17:38
New International Version
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.

New Living Translation
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.

English Standard Version
Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor.

King James Bible
And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

New King James Version
So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul clothed David with his military attire and put a bronze helmet on his head, and outfitted him with armor.

NASB 1995
Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.

NASB 1977
Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul clothed David with his robes and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.

Amplified Bible
Then Saul dressed David in his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and put a coat of mail (armor) on him.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor.

American Standard Version
And 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.

Contemporary English Version
Saul had his own military clothes and armor put on David, and he gave David a bronze helmet to wear.

English Revised Version
And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul put his battle tunic on David; he put a bronze helmet on David's head and dressed him in armor.

Good News Translation
He gave his own armor to David for him to wear: a bronze helmet, which he put on David's head, and a coat of armor.

International Standard Version
Saul put his garments on David, set a bronze helmet on his head, and put armor on him.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor.

NET Bible
Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire and put a bronze helmet on his head. He also put body armor on him.

New Heart English Bible
And he dressed David in a uniform with a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with a coat of armor.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

World English Bible
Saul dressed David with his clothing. He put a helmet of bronze on his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul clothes David with his long robe, and has put a helmet of bronze on his head, and clothes him with a coat of mail.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul clotheth David with his long robe, and hath put a helmet of brass on his head, and doth clothe him with a coat of mail.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will put his garments upon David, and give a helmet of brass upon his head, and put on him a coat of mail.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul clothed David with his garments, and put a helmet of brass upon his head, and armed him with a coat of mail.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul clothed David with his garments. And he placed a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clothed him with a breastplate.

New American Bible
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic, putting a bronze helmet on his head and arming him with a coat of mail.

New Revised Standard Version
Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Saul armed David with his own armor and put a helmet of brass upon his head; and armed him with a coat of mail.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul clothed David in his armor and put a helmet of brass on his head and clothed him with a breastplate
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul clothed David with a military coat, and put his brazen helmet on his head.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Slays Goliath
38Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor. 39David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them. “I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So David took them off.…

Cross References
Ephesians 6:11-17
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. / Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. ...

2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

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.

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2 Samuel 22:40
You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.

Psalm 18:39
You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.

Judges 6:34
So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.

1 Kings 22:34
However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”

2 Chronicles 26:14
Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.

2 Kings 3:21
Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border.


Treasury of Scripture

And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass on his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

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.

Jump to Previous
Apparel Armed Armor Brass Bronze Clad Clothed Clotheth Clothing Coat Corselet David Dress Dressed Head Head-Dress Helmet Mail Metal Robe Saul Tunic War
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Apparel Armed Armor Brass Bronze Clad Clothed Clotheth Clothing Coat Corselet David Dress Dressed Head Head-Dress Helmet Mail Metal Robe Saul Tunic War
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














Then Saul
The mention of Saul here is significant as it highlights the authority and position of the first king of Israel. Saul, chosen by God but later rejected due to disobedience, represents the human inclination to rely on worldly power and appearances. His actions in this verse reflect a reliance on conventional methods of warfare, which contrasts with David's faith-based approach. Historically, Saul's reign was marked by a struggle between human authority and divine will, a theme that resonates throughout the narrative of 1 Samuel.

clothed David
The act of clothing David is symbolic of an attempt to impose the king's identity and methods onto the young shepherd. In Hebrew culture, clothing often represented one's status and role. By clothing David, Saul is trying to equip him with the tools of a warrior, yet this act also foreshadows the inadequacy of human solutions in the face of divine plans. David's later rejection of this armor underscores the theme that God equips those He calls in His own way, not necessarily through human means.

in his own tunic
The tunic, a basic garment worn by men of the time, signifies Saul's personal approach to battle. It is noteworthy that Saul offers his own tunic, indicating a personal investment in David's success. However, this also highlights the limitations of Saul's understanding of God's power. The tunic, while a symbol of Saul's identity, is not suitable for David, who is called to fight in the strength of the Lord rather than in the trappings of human authority.

put a bronze helmet on his head
The bronze helmet is a piece of military equipment that signifies protection and preparedness for battle. Bronze, a durable metal, was commonly used in ancient warfare. This detail emphasizes the conventional wisdom of the time, which equated physical armor with security. However, the narrative challenges this notion by showing that true protection comes from God. The helmet, while protective, is ultimately unnecessary for David, who relies on spiritual rather than physical armor.

and dressed him in armor
The armor represents the full array of human defenses and strategies. In the context of ancient Israel, armor was a symbol of strength and military might. Yet, this verse sets the stage for a profound lesson: God's ways are not man's ways. David's eventual decision to shed the armor illustrates a pivotal biblical truth—that faith and reliance on God surpass all human efforts and preparations. This moment foreshadows the victory that comes not through might, but through faith and divine intervention.

(38) And Saul armed David with his armour.--But the king was determined to omit no earthly means of securing victory to his young champion, and we read how he made him try on his own various pieces of fighting array, doubtless the best-tempered and costliest that the camp of Israel possessed. The word rendered "his armour" literally signifies his garments, that is, the dress worn beneath the mail. Upon this was buckled on the heavy metal armour suit, with the great fighting sword and the royal helm. It is not necessary to suppose David was at all of the same proportions as Saul, for much of the dress could have been speedily adjusted to the requirements of one slighter and shorter than the king; besides, the result shows they were, in spite of alteration, far too heavy and cumbersome. "I cannot go with these," simply said the brave boy, his purpose, however, of meeting the Philistine giant quite unshaken, though he found his comparatively weak person unable to bear the weight of the king's panoply or to wield his arms.

Verses 38-40. - Saul armed David with his armour. Rather, "Saul clad David in his war dress." The word does not mean arms, either offensive or defensive; for in 1 Samuel 4:12, where it is rendered "clothes," we read of its being rent. It occurs again in 1 Samuel 18:4, and is there rendered "garments." Strictly it was the soldier's coat, worn under his armour, and girt close to the body by the sword belt. It does not follow that David was as tall as Saul because he thus put on his military coat; for it would be adjusted to the body by the belt, and its length was not a matter of much consequence. When, then, it is said that David girded his sword upon his armour, it means upon this coat, though the corselet of mail would also be worn over it. He assayed to go. I.e. he made an attempt at going, took a short walk thus arrayed, making trial all the while of his equipments; and he found them so cumbrous that he felt that he would have no chance against the Philistine except as a light-armed soldier. The agility of his movements would then make him a match for one so heavily overweighted as Goliath. Wearing, therefore, only his shepherd's dress, armed only with a sling, David descended into the ravine which separated the two armies, chose there five pebbles, and, clambering up the other side, advanced towards the Philistine. For brook the Hebrew has "torrent bed." Condor speaks of a torrent flowing through the ravine (see on ver. 2). COMBAT OF DAVID AND GOLIATH (vers. 41-54).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Saul
שָׁא֤וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

clothed
וַיַּלְבֵּ֨שׁ (way·yal·bêš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

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

in his own tunic,
מַדָּ֔יו (mad·dāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4055: Extent, height, a measure, a vesture, a carpet

put
וְנָתַ֛ן (wə·nā·ṯan)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

a bronze
נְחֹ֖שֶׁת (nə·ḥō·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5178: Copper, something made of that metal, coin, a fetter, base

helmet
ק֥וֹבַע (qō·w·ḇa‘)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6959: A helmet

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his head,
רֹאשׁ֑וֹ (rō·šōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

and dressed
וַיַּלְבֵּ֥שׁ (way·yal·bêš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

him
אֹת֖וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

in armor.
שִׁרְיֽוֹן׃ (šir·yō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8302: Body armor


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OT History: 1 Samuel 17:38 Saul clad David with his clothing (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:37
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