1 Samuel · Chapter 17 · Strength
1 Samuel 17:47 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
For the day that asks more than you feel ready to give.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.”"
KJV · King James Version
"And all this assembly6951 shall know3045 that the LORD3068 saveth3467 not with sword2719 and spear2595: for the battle4421 is the LORD'S3068, and he will give5414 you into our hands3027."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses shall, lord, saveth, not, while the WEB renders these as may, yahweh, doesn, save. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
1 Samuel 17:47 in 1 Samuel 17
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is 1 Samuel 17:47 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of 1 Samuel 17. Read the full chapter →
- v.45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
- v.46 Today, Yahweh will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you, and take your head from off you. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines today to the birds of the sky, and to the wild animals of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
- v.47 and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
- v.48 When the Philistine arose, and walked and came near to meet David, David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
- v.49 David put his hand in his bag, took a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
Book background
About the Book of 1 Samuel
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Genre
- Historical narrative
- Author
- Samuel, Nathan, Gad (traditional compilation)
- Date written
- c. 930 BC
- Audience
- Early monarchic Israel
- Chapters
- 31
1 Samuel chronicles the rise of Israel's monarchy through three figures: Samuel the last judge, Saul the first king (who failed through disobedience), and David the shepherd anointed by God. Key narratives include David and Goliath, David sparing Saul's life twice, and the famous declaration that "the LORD looks on the heart" (16:7).
Setting: The transition from the judges to the monarchy; the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David.
Key themes: kingship · obedience · anointing · sovereignty · humility
Memorisation aid
How to memorise 1 Samuel 17:47
1 Samuel 17:47 contains 28 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear
ATATAM
- 2
for the battle is Yahweh’s
FTBIY
- 3
and he will give you into our hand.”
AHWGYI
Frequently asked
FAQ about 1 Samuel 17:47
What does 1 Samuel 17:47 say?
1 Samuel 17:47 reads: "and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.”" — from the Old Testament, 1 Samuel (Historical narrative). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is 1 Samuel 17:47 in?
1 Samuel 17:47 is in the book of 1 Samuel, traditionally attributed to Samuel, Nathan, Gad (traditional compilation) and written around c. 930 BC. 1 Samuel is historical narrative in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Early monarchic Israel. Best known for David and Goliath and "the LORD looks on the heart".
What is 1 Samuel 17:47 about?
1 Samuel 17:47 is primarily a Bible verse about Strength, with related themes including Faith. Within 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel chronicles the rise of Israel's monarchy through three figures: Samuel the last judge, Saul the first king (who failed through disobedience), and David the shepherd anointed by God. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between 1 Samuel 17:47 in WEB and KJV?
1 Samuel 17:47 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.”". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And all this assembly6951 shall know3045 that the LORD3068 saveth3467 not with sword2719 and spear2595: for the battle4421 is the LORD'S3068, and he will give5414 you into our hands3027.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is 1 Samuel 17:47?
1 Samuel 17:47 is 28 words in the WEB translation (147 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 8 seconds.
How can I memorise 1 Samuel 17:47?
To memorise 1 Samuel 17:47, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does 1 Samuel 17:47 matter in 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel chronicles the rise of Israel's monarchy through three figures: Samuel the last judge, Saul the first king (who failed through disobedience), and David the shepherd anointed by God. Key narratives include David and Goliath, David sparing Saul's life twice, and the famous declaration that "the LORD looks on the heart" (16:7). 1 Samuel 17:47 sits within this larger story — 1 Samuel as a whole emphasises kingship, obedience, anointing.
How can I apply 1 Samuel 17:47 today?
Many readers use 1 Samuel 17:47 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download 1 Samuel 17:47 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
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Isaiah 40:31
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Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.””
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Psalms 27:1
“By David. Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”
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Psalms 46:1
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2 Corinthians 12:9
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Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
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Deuteronomy 31:8
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“But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man look…”
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1 Samuel 1:27
“I prayed for this child; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.”
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