1 Samuel 17:9
New International Version
If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.”

New Living Translation
If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!

English Standard Version
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”

Berean Standard Bible
If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and labor for us.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”

New American Standard Bible
If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”

NASB 1995
“If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”

NASB 1977
“If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”

Legacy Standard Bible
If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, then we will become your slaves; but if I prevail against him and strike him down, then you shall become our slaves and serve us.”

Amplified Bible
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”

Christian Standard Bible
If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”

American Standard Version
If he be able to fight with me, and 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.

Contemporary English Version
If he can kill me, our people will be your slaves. But if I kill him, your people will be our slaves.

English Revised Version
If he be able to fight with me, and 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If he can fight me and kill me, then we will be your slaves. But if I overpower him and kill him, then you will be our slaves and serve us."

Good News Translation
If he wins and kills me, we will be your slaves; but if I win and kill him, you will be our slaves.

International Standard Version
If he's able to fight me and strike me down, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and strike him down, then you will become our servants and serve us."

Majority Standard Bible
If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and labor for us.”

NET Bible
If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, we will become your servants. But if I prevail against him and strike him down, you will become our servants and will serve us."

New Heart English Bible
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then you will be our servants, and serve us."

Webster's Bible Translation
If he shall be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I shall prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

World English Bible
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
if he is able to fight with me, and has struck me, then we have been for servants to you; and if I prevail against him, and have struck him, then you have been for servants to us, and have served us.”

Young's Literal Translation
if he be able to fight with me, and have smitten me, then we have been to you for servants; and if I am able for him, and have smitten him, then ye have been to us for servants, and have served us.'

Smith's Literal Translation
If he shall be able to war with me and strike me, and we were to you for servants: and if I shall be able against him and strike him, and ye were to us for servants, and ye served us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be servants, and shall serve us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If he is able to fight with me and to strike me down, we will be your servants. But if I will prevail over him, and strike him down, you will be the servants, and you will serve us.”

New American Bible
If he beats me in combat and kills me, we will be your vassals; but if I beat him and kill him, you shall be our vassals and serve us.”

New Revised Standard Version
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If he is able to fight with me and will kill me, we shall be Servants to you, and if I defeat him and will kill him, you will be Servants to us and you will serve us!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If he be able to fight with me, and 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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if he shall be able to fight against me, and shall smite me, then will we be your servants: but if I should prevail and smite him, ye shall be our servants, and serve us.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Goliath's Challenge
8And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. 9If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and labor for us.” 10Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”…

Cross References
Judges 11:1-11
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. / And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.” / So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where worthless men gathered around him and traveled with him. ...

2 Samuel 21:15-22
Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted. / Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. / But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.” ...

1 Kings 18:21-24
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. / Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. / Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. ...

Numbers 13:31-33
But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!” / So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. / We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

Deuteronomy 20:8
Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”

Joshua 2:9-11
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. / For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction. / When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

2 Kings 18:19-25
The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? / You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me? / Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. ...

Isaiah 36:4-10
The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? / You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me? / Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. ...

1 Chronicles 20:4-8
Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued. / Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. / And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, ...

Psalm 27:1-3
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread? / When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell. / Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.

Psalm 144:1-2
Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. / He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. / After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. / The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ...

Matthew 12:29
Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

Luke 4:1-13
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, / where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry. / The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” ...

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”


Treasury of Scripture

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 you be our servants, and serve us.

and serve us

1 Samuel 11:1
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

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1 Samuel 17
1. The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle
4. Goliath challenges a combat
12. David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge
28. Eliab chides him
30. He is brought to Saul
32. shows the reason of his confidence
38. and slays the giant
55. Saul takes notice of David














If he is able
This phrase introduces a conditional challenge, emphasizing the uncertainty and risk involved. The Hebrew root for "able" is "yakol," which implies capability or power. In the context of ancient warfare, this was not just about physical strength but also divine favor. The Israelites believed that true ability came from God, and this challenge tests not just human strength but faith in divine support.

to fight with me
The word "fight" comes from the Hebrew "lacham," which means to engage in battle or struggle. This is not merely a physical confrontation but a spiritual and nationalistic one. Goliath's challenge is a direct affront to the God of Israel, making this battle a representation of the cosmic struggle between good and evil, faith and idolatry.

and kill me
The Hebrew word for "kill" is "muth," which signifies causing death. In the ancient Near Eastern context, killing an opponent in battle was seen as a demonstration of divine favor and personal valor. This phrase underscores the life-or-death stakes of the encounter, highlighting the seriousness of Goliath's challenge.

then we will be your servants
The term "servants" is derived from the Hebrew "avad," meaning to work or serve. This reflects the ancient practice of subjugating defeated peoples, turning them into vassals or slaves. The implication here is total submission, not just politically but spiritually, as the losing side would often be expected to adopt the gods of the victors.

but if I prevail against him
"Prevail" comes from the Hebrew "yakol," the same root as "able," indicating overcoming or succeeding. This repetition emphasizes the challenge's dual nature: both sides have the potential to claim victory, but only one will demonstrate true power and divine backing.

and kill him
Again, the word "kill" is "muth," reinforcing the lethal nature of this duel. The repetition of this term underscores the finality and seriousness of the challenge. It is a reminder of the high stakes involved, where the outcome will determine the fate of entire nations.

then you shall be our servants
This mirrors the earlier phrase, "we will be your servants," creating a parallel structure that highlights the reciprocal nature of the challenge. The use of "avad" again emphasizes the totality of the submission expected. It is a stark reminder of the consequences of defeat, both physically and spiritually.

and serve us
The phrase "serve us" reiterates the concept of servitude, derived from the same root "avad." This repetition serves to emphasize the complete domination and control that would result from victory. In the biblical context, serving another nation often meant adopting their cultural and religious practices, which for Israel, would mean forsaking their covenant with Yahweh.

(9) Then will we be your servants.--Each of the positions which the two opposing armies held was well-nigh impregnable; thus it seemed as though a single combat was the only way of deciding the present campaign: besides which, in those far back times such single combats between renowned chieftains of the opposing armies were not by any means uncommon. The reader of the Iliad will ever readily call to mind--in colloquies before the deadly duel--words not altogether unlike the haughty, boastful challenge of the giant Philistine. See, for instance, the speeches of Glaucus and Diomede in Book VI. of the Iliad: "Come hither," says Glaucus, "that you may quickly reach the goal of death."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he is able
יוּכַ֞ל (yū·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

to fight
לְהִלָּחֵ֤ם (lə·hil·lā·ḥêm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

me
אִתִּי֙ (’it·tî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

and kill me,
וְהִכָּ֔נִי (wə·hik·kā·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

then we will be
וְהָיִ֥ינוּ (wə·hā·yî·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

your
לָכֶ֖ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

servants.
לַעֲבָדִ֑ים (la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I
אֲנִ֤י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

prevail
אֽוּכַל־ (’ū·ḵal-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

against him
לוֹ֙ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

and kill him,
וְהִכִּיתִ֔יו (wə·hik·kî·ṯîw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

then you shall be
וִהְיִ֤יתֶם (wih·yî·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

our
לָ֙נוּ֙ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

servants
לַעֲבָדִ֔ים (la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

and labor
וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם (wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

for us.”
אֹתָֽנוּ׃ (’ō·ṯā·nū)
Direct object marker | first person common plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case


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OT History: 1 Samuel 17:9 If he be able to fight (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:8
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