Lexical Summary Lachmi: Lachmi Original Word: לַחְמִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Lahmi From lechem; foodful; Lachmi, an Israelite; or rather probably a brief form (or perhaps erroneous transcription) for Beyth hal-Lachmiy -- Lahmi. See also Yashubiy Lechem. see HEBREW lechem see HEBREW Yashubiy Lechem see HEBREW Beyth hal-Lachmiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom lacham Definition a brother of Goliath NASB Translation Lahmi (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs לִחֲמִי proper name, masculine brother of Goliath of Gath (q. v.) slain by Elhanan, according to 1 Chronicles 20:5 לחמי את; ᵐ5 Ελεμεε, Λεεμει, Λοομι); original reading probably (as in "" 2 Samuel 21:19) בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי q. v. above. Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture Lahmi appears once: “And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam” (1 Chronicles 20:5, Berean Standard Bible). A parallel account in 2 Samuel 21:19 names the slain warrior but does not supply the brother’s name, an omission clarified by the Chronicler. Historical Context The event took place during the later years of King David’s reign, when Israel’s armies engaged the Philistines in a series of regional battles (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8). Though David had earlier defeated Goliath, Philistine strongholds persisted. Lahmi’s death forms part of the final push that broke Philistine military dominance and secured Israel’s borders. Identity and Family Lahmi is introduced solely as “the brother of Goliath the Gittite.” Both men are designated “Gittite,” indicating origin from Gath, one of the five chief Philistine cities famed for its formidable warriors of great stature (Joshua 11:22). The relationship underscores the existence of a warrior clan of “giants” (rapha, “Rephaim”) within Philistine ranks (2 Samuel 21:20). Military Significance 1. Validation of David’s Leadership: David’s earlier victory over Goliath set a pattern; Lahmi’s slaying by Elhanan confirms that the courage David modeled had become part of the nation’s military culture. Textual Considerations The seeming discrepancy between 2 Samuel 21:19 and 1 Chronicles 20:5 often raises questions. The most natural reading is that the Chronicler preserves the fuller detail, specifying that Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother, not Goliath himself. The Samuel text likely suffered from the accidental loss of the term “the brother of,” a well-documented type of scribal omission (homoioteleuton). Chronicles vindicates the accuracy of the historical memory, reaffirming that David alone slew Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50–54). Theological Themes 1. God Opposes the Proud: Like Goliath, Lahmi embodies Philistine pride. His fall reiterates God’s pattern of humbling the lofty (Proverbs 16:18). Name Significance The consonants of Lahmi’s name are identical with the Hebrew root for “bread.” Ironically, while Bethlehem—“House of Bread”—produced David and Elhanan, Gath produced a “bread-named” giant who fell to a man of Bethlehem. The narrative hints that true sustenance and victory come from the “bread of life” that God provides through His chosen line (John 6:35, typologically applied). Legacy in Redemption History By recording Lahmi’s death, Scripture showcases how God preserved David’s kingdom against recurring giants until the messianic promise could mature. Every subdued enemy foreshadows the ultimate conquest of all hostile powers by the Son of David (Luke 1:69–71; 1 Corinthians 15:25–26). Lessons for Ministry Today • God calls successive generations to confront the “giants” of their day with the same faith that inspired earlier saints. Forms and Transliterations לַחְמִי֙ לחמי lachMi laḥ·mî laḥmîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 20:5 HEB: ק) אֶת־ לַחְמִי֙ אֲחִי֙ גָּלְיָ֣ת NAS: killed Lahmi the brother KJV: slew Lahmi the brother INT: the son Jair Lahmi the brother of Goliath |
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