1 Samuel 17:47
“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Standing before Goliath on the battlefield in the valley of Elah, with both armies watching, David answered the giant's threats. Verse 45 declared whose name he came in; verse 47 declares the lesson the victory will teach. Moments later David struck Goliath down with a single stone, and the Philistines fled.
What Does 1 Samuel 17:47 Mean?
This verse delivers the heart of David's message: the battle belongs to the Lord, and He does not need human weapons to win it. David has just told Goliath he comes in the name of the Lord; now he announces the purpose of the coming victory -- so that "all this assembly shall know" who truly saves. The duel is about to become a public lesson in the power of God. Israel had been paralyzed by counting swords and measuring spears, but David lifts their eyes to the One whose strength is not bound by such things.
"The battle is the LORD’s" is a phrase that has steadied believers ever since. It does not mean human effort is pointless -- David still ran toward Goliath and let his stone fly. It means the outcome rests in God's hands, not in superior firepower. David expected the Lord to act, and he expected the watching crowd to recognize the Lord's hand when He did. The deliverance God works is meant to teach, to turn fearful hearts back to faith, and to display that salvation comes from Him. David's whole approach reframes the conflict: this is not a contest between a boy and a giant, but a demonstration that the living God saves His people.
In the Original Language
The Hebrew verb yasha means to save, deliver, or rescue, and is the root behind the name Joshua and the name Jesus. The word for battle, milchamah, denotes warfare or combat -- here declared to belong wholly to the Lord.
Cross References
“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
- 2 Chronicles 20:15
“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.”
- Psalm 33:16
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
- Zechariah 4:6
Application
Whatever giant you face, remember that the outcome is in God's hands, not in your resources. Do your part with courage, then entrust the result to the Lord, who saves in ways the world cannot predict.