1 Samuel 17:9 Meaning and Explanation
“If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Goliath proposes that the single combat decide which nation will serve the other.
What Does 1 Samuel 17:9 Mean?
Goliath spells out the terms: let one champion decide the war. If Israel's man wins, the Philistines will serve them; if Goliath wins, Israel will serve the Philistines. The stakes of the whole conflict now rest on one fight.
It is a wager built entirely on human odds, and by those odds Israel cannot win. Yet the Lord loves to enter contests the world has already decided. What looks like a guaranteed loss becomes the very arena where His power is displayed, so that the outcome can be credited to no arm of flesh.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 17:9
What does 1 Samuel 17:9 mean?
Goliath proposes that the single combat decide which nation will serve the other.