1 Samuel 17:4 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A Philistine champion named Goliath of Gath, of extraordinary height, comes forward.
What Does 1 Samuel 17:4 Mean?
Out from the Philistine ranks steps a single warrior, Goliath of Gath, whose towering height is measured at six cubits and a span. He is a champion in the old sense, a man sent to settle the war by single combat so that armies need not clash.
Goliath embodies every power that looms too large to face. He is the obstacle that makes brave men weak in the knees. Yet Scripture sets him before us not to crush our hope but to magnify the One who will undo him. The greater the giant, the clearer it becomes that the victory belongs to God.
1 Samuel 17:4 in the Original Language
gibbor (גִּבּוֹר), 'champion' -- a mighty man, here the warrior who fights between the lines on his army's behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 17:4
What does 1 Samuel 17:4 mean?
A Philistine champion named Goliath of Gath, of extraordinary height, comes forward.