And David said: it may be more natural in some languages to say “And David continued.” Good News Translation simply omits these words as unnecessary in English, since there is no change in speaker.

The paw: the Hebrew noun is the same as “hand.” But in this context it may be possible to translate “from the claws” (Contemporary English Version). Or this may be taken as a metaphorical use of the word “hand,” in which case translators may say “from [the power of] the lion.” And later in the verse from the hand of this Philistine would become “from [the power of] this Philistine.”

The imperative verb Go means that Saul gives David permission to go ahead and fight Goliath. But a literal translation may be taken as meaning “Go away” in some languages. In those languages Contemporary English Version provides a better model, “All right … go ahead and fight him.”

The LORD be with you: this was a conventional greeting and farewell in the ancient Middle East, but it carried more meaning than the corresponding liturgical expression does in modern languages. In this context Saul seems to be requesting God’s presence with David as he undertakes the dangerous mission of confronting the Philistine enemy. Compare 20.13 and Ruth 2.4, where the same formula is used.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Clothed: literally “caused to put on.” It may be misleading to say “Saul dressed David” (New International Version), since he probably did not perform the action himself. Contemporary English Version says “Saul had his own military clothes … put on David.”

With his armor: that is, with Saul’s own armor. The Hebrew word rendered armor usually refers to a garment made of cloth. It may have been a tunic worn under the coat of mail. Revised English Bible and New American Bible call this “his own tunic.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “in his own garment.” The same word occurs in 18.4.

On the expression a helmet … on his head, see verse 5 above. And on the word bronze, compare verses 5 and 6.

A coat of mail: see verse 5 above.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Girded his sword: since the pronoun may be misunderstood, it may be better to say “Saul’s sword” as in Good News Translation. And the verb girded is somewhat archaic. New Revised Standard Version has replaced it with “strapped.” Some other renderings are “fastened” (Revised English Bible) and “buckled” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Tried in vain to go: some languages may have to restructure considerably in order to convey the idea of doing something in vain. The words in vain are not actually a part of the Hebrew text but are supplied by Revised Standard Version because they are implied by the context. The idea is that David attempted to move around or to walk, but was unable to do so. He was probably not completely immobile but simply unable to move freely and normally.

For I am not used to them: gives David’s reason for his inability to move about with ease. It is a repetition of what the writer has already said. In other languages this idea will have to be expressed quite differently. Some may use a habitual form of the verb, “I do not [habitually] wear these things.” Others may say something like “It is not my usual custom to wear such things.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

His staff: some languages may have a specific word for a stick used when herding animals. In other languages it will be helpful to indicate, as in Good News Translation, that this was his “shepherd’s stick.” This stick, along with the shepherd’s bag and his sling, were things that David was accustomed to. He used them every day when tending the sheep.

Brook: see the comments on this word in 15.5. Here New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, and New American Bible render the term “the wadi,” while New Jerusalem Bible says “the river bed.” The five stones picked up would have been made smooth as a result of being in the stream over a long period of time.

Shepherd’s bag or wallet: the word rendered wallet occurs only here in the Old Testament. The more familiar Hebrew word rendered shepherd’s bag may have been added to the text later to explain to the Hebrew reader the meaning of the rare word wallet. New Jerusalem Bible shows that these two words refer to the same object by placing the second in apposition: “in his shepherd’s bag, in his pouch.” Revised English Bible is similar: “in a shepherd’s bag which served as his pouch.” A different interpretation of the relationship between these two words is found in New American Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which say “in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag.”

The sling that David used was probably in the form of a leather pouch with strings on each end. It was swung over the head and then the strings on one end were released, propelling the stone in the direction of the target. It will therefore be inaccurate to use a word that refers to a more modern “slingshot,” consisting of a forked stick to which pieces of rubber are attached. The words his sling was in his hand mean that he was ready for action.

The Philistine: see the comments on verse 16.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The verbs looked and saw, like the two verbs in the previous verse, may at first sound redundant. But they also heighten the dramatic effect of the story. Goliath could hardly believe what he saw at first glance. When he had a chance to see clearly who was coming toward him, he reacted with contempt.

The verb here translated disdained is elsewhere rendered by the English verb “despise” (2.30 and 10.27). The idea is that of considering worthless or regarding with contempt. It is possible to translate “made fun of” (Contemporary English Version) or “despised” (Moffatt).

The conjunction for introduces the reason for Goliath’s contempt for David. He did not consider the attractive young boy a worthy opponent.

Ruddy and comely in appearance: see the comments on 16.12.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Sticks: the reference is to David’s shepherd’s staff mentioned in verse 40.

A dog: in the Old Testament dogs were not seen as favorably as in certain cultures today. To refer to someone as a dog was a very serious insult (see also the references to dogs in 24.14 and 2 Sam 16.9). If a person calls himself or herself a dog, this is a way of showing self-humiliation. But Goliath’s question really means that he thinks David is insulting him. He thought that, when David came toward him with a stick in hand, he was not taking Goliath seriously. So he was deeply offended.

Cursed David by his gods: the pronoun his refers to Goliath. Though Good News Translation and Revised English Bible say “god” in the singular, the Hebrew should probably be rendered with a plural, as in Revised Standard Version (also New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Some other possible models for this part of the verse are “He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods” (Contemporary English Version) or “he used his gods’ names to curse David” (New Century Version). The English word curse often means “to use vulgar and offensive words.” In this context, however, the meaning is that Goliath called upon his gods, asking them to do harm to David.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The context may require a more colorful rendering of the ordinary verb said. Some may prefer “shouted” (Contemporary English Version) or “cried out” where Good News Translation has “challenged.” La Bible du Semeur, on the other hand, translates “he added,” since this is really a continuation of what Goliath started to say in verse 43.

Come to me: this may be translated “Keep on coming” or “Come close” (Knox) in some languages, since the text has already indicated that David was approaching Goliath (verse 40).

Your flesh: this refers to the physical part of a person as opposed to the spiritual. It may be translated “your body” as in Good News Translation and New Century Version or simply by the pronoun “you” (Contemporary English Version). Some languages may even say “I will give what is left of you to the animals and birds.”

Birds of the air … the beasts of the field: the Hebrew does not state explicitly why Goliath would give David’s dead body to the birds and animals. Good News Translation makes this explicit, “to eat.” Good News Translation also omits of the air and of the field as redundant and unnatural. This threat of Goliath echoes the words of Deut 28.26.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

In the context of the ongoing dialogue with Goliath, the common verb said may be better rendered “responded” (Bible en français courant), “retorted” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “answered” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible).

A spear … a javelin: these are the same Hebrew words as found in verses 6-7 above. David contrasts these ordinary weapons with the spiritual weapon he possesses, the presence of the LORD.

The LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel: see the comments on 1.3.

Whom you have defied: the relative pronoun in Hebrew may be translated whom, with reference to God (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, and New Jerusalem Bible), or “which” (Good News Translation and Revised English Bible), with reference to the Israelite army.

In some languages it may be better to restructure David’s response along the following lines:

• You are approaching me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But you have defied the God of the army of Israel. So I am approaching you in the name of our God, the LORD Almighty.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .