1 Samuel 17 · Verse 42

1 Samuel 17:42

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.
1 Samuel 17:42, King James Version

1 Samuel 17:42 in other translations

BSBWhen the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome.
WEBWhen the Philistine looked around and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and had a good looking face.
ASVAnd when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair countenance.
YLTand the Philistine looketh attentively, and seeth David, and despiseth him, for he was a youth, and ruddy, with a fair appearance.
DARBYAnd when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was a youth, and ruddy, and besides of a beautiful countenance.
BBEAnd when the Philistine, taking note, saw David, he had a poor opinion of him: for he was only a boy, red-haired and good-looking.
WebsterAnd when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

What does 1 Samuel 17:42 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 17:42-47
42-47. the Philistine said ... said David to the Philistine--When the two champions met, they generally made each of them a speech, and sometimes recited some verses, filled with allusions and epithets of the most opprobrious kind, hurling contempt and defiance at one another. This kind of abusive dialogue is common among the Arab combatants still. David's speech, however, presents a striking contrast to the usual strain of these invectives. It was full of pious trust, and to God he ascribed all the glory of the triumph he anticipated.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 42 He disdained him - He held him in contempt; he saw that he was young, and from his ruddy complexion supposed him to be effeminate.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:40-47

The security and presumption of fools destroy them. Nothing can excel the humility, faith, and piety which appear in David's words. He expressed his assured expectation of success; he gloried in his mean appearance and arms, that the victory might be ascribed to the Lord alone.

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 17:40-47 →

1 Samuel 17:42 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּבֵּ֧טvai.ya.Betand he lookedH5027
הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛יha.pe.lish.Tithe PhilistineH6430
וַיִּרְאֶ֥הvai.yir.'Ehand he sawH7200
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
דָּוִ֖דda.VidDavidH1732
וַיִּבְזֵ֑הוּvai.yiv.Ze.huand he despised himH959
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
הָיָ֣הha.Yahhe wasH1961
נַ֔עַרNa.'ara youthH5288
וְאַדְמֹנִ֖יve.'ad.mo.Niand redH132
עִם\־'im-withH5973
יְפֵ֥הye.Pehhandsome ofH3303
מַרְאֶֽה\׃mar.'EhappearanceH4758

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 17:42

  • 1 Samuel 16:12

    And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

  • 1 Samuel 17:33

    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.

  • Psalms 123:3-4

    Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:27-29

    In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

  • Proverbs 16:18

    Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

  • Nehemiah 4:2-4

    And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

  • 2 Kings 18:23-24

    Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

  • 1 Kings 20:18

    And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
disdained.
1Ki 20:18; 2Ki 18:23,24; Ne 4:2-4; Ps 123:3,4; 2Co 11:27-29
a youth.
33; 16:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 17:41

    And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

  • 1 Samuel 17:42

    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.

  • 1 Samuel 17:43

    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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:42 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como el Filisteo miró y vió á David túvole en poco; porque era mancebo, y rubio, y de hermoso parecer.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le Philistin regarda et vit David, et le méprisa; car c’était un jeune homme au teint rosé, et beau de visage.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als der Philister hinschaute und David sah, verachtete er ihn; denn er war ein Jüngling und rötlich, dazu schön von Ansehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque inspexisset Philisthæus, et vidisset David, despexit eum. Erat enim adolescens, rufus, et pulcher aspectu.