1 Samuel 17:9
7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
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.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- 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.”
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- If he be able to fight with me, and to smite me, then will we be your servants; but if I overcome and smite him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us.
- BLB
- 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⁺ will become our servants and serve us.”
- ÅB
- Hvis han kan stride med meg og feller meg, så skal vi være deres slaver; men hvis jeg får bukt med ham og feller ham, så skal dere være våre slaver og tjene oss.
- OTB
- Hvis han er i stand til å kjempe mot meg og beseire meg, så skal vi bli deres tjenere; men hvis jeg overvinner ham og dreper ham, så skal dere bli våre tjenere og tjene oss."
- B1930
- Hvis han kan stride med mig og feller mig, så skal vi være eders træler; men hvis jeg får bukt med ham og feller ham, så skal I være våre træler og tjene oss.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Samuel 11:1
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
Read in context