1 samuel 17:4 - A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span went out.
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What does "1 samuel 17:4" mean?
This verse sets the stage for the famous David and Goliath story. Let's break it down:
"A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath..." This introduces Goliath as a warrior representing the Philistine army, a long-time enemy of the Israelites. Gath was a Philistine city known for its warriors. The term "champion" (Hebrew: ish habbenayim) signifies a representative warrior who would settle disputes through single combat.
"...whose height was six cubits and a span..." This describes Goliath's exceptional height. A cubit is the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, generally estimated to be around 18 inches. A span is the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is outstretched, usually about 9 inches. So, "six cubits and a span" would be approximately:
6 cubits x 18 inches/cubit = 108 inches
108 inches + 9 inches (span) = 117 inches
117 inches / 12 inches/foot = 9.75 feet
This would make Goliath roughly 9 feet 9 inches tall. It is important to note that some textual variants have slightly different measurements. It is accepted that he was exceptionally tall, no matter the exact height.
"...went out." This indicates that Goliath was coming forward to challenge the Israelites to a fight. He was presenting himself as the Philistine champion, ready to fight a representative of the Israelite army to decide the outcome of the battle.
In summary, the verse introduces Goliath as an exceptionally tall and fearsome warrior from the Philistine city of Gath. He is presented as a champion who steps forward to challenge the Israelites, setting the stage for the confrontation with David. This verse highlights the seemingly insurmountable odds that David would face, making his eventual victory all the more remarkable.
1 samuel 17:4 - A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span went out.
What does "1 samuel 17:4" mean?
This verse sets the stage for the famous David and Goliath story. Let's break it down:
"A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath..." This introduces Goliath as a warrior representing the Philistine army, a long-time enemy of the Israelites. Gath was a Philistine city known for its warriors. The term "champion" (Hebrew: ish habbenayim) signifies a representative warrior who would settle disputes through single combat.
"...whose height was six cubits and a span..." This describes Goliath's exceptional height. A cubit is the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, generally estimated to be around 18 inches. A span is the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is outstretched, usually about 9 inches. So, "six cubits and a span" would be approximately:
6 cubits x 18 inches/cubit = 108 inches
108 inches + 9 inches (span) = 117 inches
117 inches / 12 inches/foot = 9.75 feet
This would make Goliath roughly 9 feet 9 inches tall. It is important to note that some textual variants have slightly different measurements. It is accepted that he was exceptionally tall, no matter the exact height.
"...went out." This indicates that Goliath was coming forward to challenge the Israelites to a fight. He was presenting himself as the Philistine champion, ready to fight a representative of the Israelite army to decide the outcome of the battle.
In summary, the verse introduces Goliath as an exceptionally tall and fearsome warrior from the Philistine city of Gath. He is presented as a champion who steps forward to challenge the Israelites, setting the stage for the confrontation with David. This verse highlights the seemingly insurmountable odds that David would face, making his eventual victory all the more remarkable.