The Bible is full of stories of seemingly impossible odds that are overcome through faith and courage. One of the best examples of this is the story of David and Goliath, found in 1 Samuel 17.
This famous tale of an underdog’s victory has inspired many people for centuries, and it has left us with some incredible verses that can offer hope and strength in moments of difficulty.
Let’s take a look at some David and Goliath Bible verses and what we can learn from them.
What Is the Main Message of David and Goliath?
The main message of David and Goliath is that with courage and faith, it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve victory, even when the odds seem impossible. It encourages us to have faith in ourselves and to never give up in the face of adversity.
What Bible Verse Is the Story of David and Goliath?
The story of David and Goliath can be found in 1 Samuel 17
1 Samuel 17:1-51
1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
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.
9 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.
12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the first born, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;
18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.
26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
Also Read: 30 Anchor Bible Verses to Help You Weather Life’s Storms
David and Goliath Bible Verses Explained
David’s Courage and Faith in God
David’s courage and faith in God is a significant component to the story of David and Goliath. Despite being an inexperienced young shepherd, when faced with the giant Philistine warrior, David was fearless and trusted that God was with him.
Despite his fear and doubts from those around him, David chose to put his faith in God, allowing Him to guide him into battle. He never wavered from this decision or faltered from his faith. His trust in God gave him the strength to triumph over overwhelming obstacles.
1 Samuel 17:37
David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would seize it by its hair, strike it and kill it.
2 Samuel 22:33
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
Psalm 18:29
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
David’s Victory over Goliath
Despite all odds being stacked against him, David bravely used simple stones to overcome this great challenge through faith and confidence in God.
This allowed him to be victorious, earning everlasting glory for himself along with providing comfort that difficulties can be overcome as long as you believe in yourself.
1 Samuel 17:50
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
1 Samuel 17:57
As soon as David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 17:46
This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.
1 Samuel 17:48
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.
1 Samuel 17:51
David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with it.
The Power of God’s Deliverance
The story of David and Goliath is a powerful testament to the power of God’s deliverance. Through faith in Him, even one as small and insignificant as David was able to overcome an enemy as formidable and powerful as Goliath.
It showcases God’s ability to provide strength in areas we may believe are weaknesses with the proper faith, courage, determination, and obedience.
As such, it is a reminder of His power when times seem bleakest, that no mountain or obstacle can stand against Him who watches over us all. For nothing shall be impossible for those who trust in Him.
1 Samuel 17:50
“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.”
Psalm 34:7
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Psalm 37:39
“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.”
David’s Victory and Praise to God
David’s victory over Goliath was an amazing feat of strength and bravery, but he also showed his faith in God by giving praise to Him after the battle.
1 Samuel 17:50-51
“David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.”
2 Samuel 22:50
“Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.”
Psalm 18:49
“Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to your name.”
Psalm 9:1-2
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
Also Read: 36 Good Friday Bible Verses for Self-Reflection and Repentance
Word of Encouragement
The story of David and Goliath proves that even the smallest warrior can win against great odds if they have courage, heart, and never give up.
The moral is clear, by being brave in every battle we face or goal we strive for, no matter how insurmountable it may seem, we increase our chances of achieving success beyond what could ever be imagined.
Don’t let fear stop you from pursuing your goals; use it to empower yourself!