Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 17ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ ΙΖ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

David's victory over Goliath reveals the Lord's saving power and brings the shepherd into Israel's center.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 17 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. This chapter is one of the most celebrated and text-critically significant passages in all of Samuel-Kingdoms, because the Old Greek (preserved especially in Codex Vaticanus, B) is dramatically SHORTER than the Masoretic Text (MT). The present (short, Old-Greek) form contains thirty-two verses, numbered 1–11, 32–40, 42–49, 51–54 to align with the MT versification — that is, it LACKS vv. 12–31, v. 41, and v. 50 entirely. The great 'minus' of vv. 12–31 omits the second introduction of David (David as son of Jesse the Ephrathite, his being sent with provisions to his brothers, his dialogue about Goliath's reward and Saul's daughter, Eliab's rebuke, and David's being brought before Saul); in the short form David simply speaks to Saul at v. 32 as though already present (cf. 16:14–23, where he is Saul's armor-bearer and lyre-player). The minus at v. 41 omits the Philistine's slow advance behind his shield-bearer, and the famous minus at v. 50 omits the summarizing notice 'So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in David's hand' — in the short Greek the stone strikes Goliath (v. 49) and then David runs and dispatches him with Goliath's own sword (v. 51), with no intervening v. 50 summary. The longer MT-aligned material is supplied in some Greek witnesses (e.g., the Lucianic/Antiochene text and the Hexaplaric tradition, marked with asterisks), but B and the Old Latin attest the short form. Scholars are divided: many (following Wellhausen, and more recently the editors associated with the 'two literary editions' hypothesis — Lust, Tov, McCarter in part) hold that the short Greek reflects an earlier, shorter Hebrew Vorlage and that the MT pluses are a secondary literary expansion conflating a second David-Goliath tradition; others (e.g., Barthélemy in part, and defenders of MT priority) argue the Greek translator or his Vorlage abbreviated by haplography or deliberate harmonization. The phenomenon is the textbook case for the thesis that the books of Samuel circulated in more than one literary edition, and it bears directly on how the canonical David tradition was formed. Within the narrative itself, the Greek preserves the core duel: the armies in the Valley of Elah (vv. 1–3); Goliath of Gath, his height of 'four cubits and a span' (B's figure, against MT's 'six cubits'), his bronze armor and weaver's-beam spear, and his forty-day taunt (vv. 4–11); David's offer to Saul, his testimony of delivering the flock from lion and bear, and his refusal of Saul's armor in favor of five smooth stones and a sling (vv. 32–40); the exchange of insults and David's confession that he comes ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου σαβαωθ ('in the name of the LORD of hosts', vv. 42–47); and the slung stone, the beheading with the giant's own sword, and the Philistine rout (vv. 48–54). The recurring designation of Goliath simply as ὁ ἀλλόφυλος ('the foreigner / Philistine') renders Hebrew הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי; σαβαωθ transliterates צְבָאוֹת ('hosts'); and the names Σαουλ, Δαυιδ, Γολιαθ are left indeclinable transliterations throughout.

1

καὶ συνάγουσιν ἀλλόφυλοι τὰς παρεμβολὰς αὐτῶν εἰς πόλεμον καὶ συνάγονται εἰς Σοκχωθ τῆς Ιουδαίας καὶ παρεμβάλλουσιν ἀνὰ μέσον Σοκχωθ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον Αζηκα ἐν Εφερμεμ

And the Philistines gather their camps for war, and they assemble at Sokchoth of Judea, and they encamp between Sokchoth and Azeka, in Ephermem.

Scene-setting narrative opening (main line)καὶ συνάγουσιν
The chapter opens with the Hebraizing καί-parataxis typical of LXX narrative; the historic presents συνάγουσιν / συνάγονται / παρεμβάλλουσιν render Hebrew wayyiqtol or participial muster-language with vivid immediacy. The geographical precision (Sokchoth, Azeka, Ephermem) locates the confrontation in the Shephelah, the contested borderland between Philistia and Judah.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνάγουσινgatherPres Act Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateσυνάγω: 'gather / assemble / muster'; renders אָסַף / קָבַץ; the historic present opens the narrative with cinematic immediacy; the same verb recurs in the passive (συνάγονται) of the same subject's converging.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistines / foreignersNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος ('of another tribe / foreigner'): the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines'); the term frames the enemy as the quintessential outsider; throughout the chapter Goliath is referred to simply as ὁ ἀλλόφυλος, 'the foreigner.'
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὰςcamps / armiesAccusativedirect object→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army / battle-array'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the plural here denotes the several encampments / divisions of the Philistine forces drawn together for the campaign.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for war')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose: 'for war').
πόλεμονwar / battleAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose)→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; εἰς πόλεμον ('for war') is a stock LXX military idiom marking the muster's hostile intent.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνάγονταιthey assemblePres Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (historic present, mid./pass.)→ verbal action or stateσυνάγω (mid./pass.): the middle/passive 'gather themselves / are gathered'; the shift from active συνάγουσιν (they muster their camps) to συνάγονται (they themselves converge) traces the army from mobilization to arrival at Sokchoth.
εἰςat / topreposition + accusative (place to which)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (place to which).
ΣοκχωθSokchoth (Socoh)accusative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣοκχωθ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative of place (indeclinable place-name).
τῆςofGenitivearticle (with Ιουδαίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιουδαίαςof JudeaGenitivegenitive of place (qualifying Sokchoth: 'of Judea')→ relational specificationΙουδαίας: meaning 'of Judea'; it serves as genitive of place (qualifying Sokchoth: 'of Judea').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεμβάλλουσινthey encampPres Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateπαρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / pitch camp / draw up'; cognate with παρεμβολή; renders חָנָה; the verb fixes the army's position between the two named towns.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: in the fixed LXX idiom ἀνὰ μέσον … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον ('between … and between …') it renders Hebrew בֵּין … וּבֵין, a calque marking the position located between two points.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between')→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; the substantival neuter μέσον in ἀνὰ μέσον forms the standard Hebraistic 'between' construction.
ΣοκχωθSokchothobject of ἀνὰ μέσον (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣοκχωθ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ἀνὰ μέσον (indeclinable place-name).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the 'between … and' idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (second member of ἀνὰ μέσον … ἀνὰ μέσον)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ: meaning 'between'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (second member of ἀνὰ μέσον … ἀνὰ μέσον).
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative (idiom 'between')→ object specificationμέσον: meaning 'midst'; it serves as accusative (idiom 'between').
ΑζηκαAzekaobject of ἀνὰ μέσον (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑζηκα: transliteration of Hebrew עֲזֵקָה (Azekah), a fortified town in the Shephelah; indeclinable; together with Sokchoth it fixes the battle-site in the Valley of Elah.
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ΕφερμεμEphermemdative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΕφερμεμ: a transliteration corresponding to Hebrew אֶפֶס דַּמִּים (Ephes-dammim, cf. MT here), the precise spot of the encampment; indeclinable; the Greek form reflects an unvocalized or differently divided Vorlage.
2

καὶ Σαουλ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες Ισραηλ συνάγονται καὶ παρεμβάλλουσιν ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι αὐτοὶ παρατάσσονται εἰς πόλεμον ἐξ ἐναντίας ἀλλοφύλων

And Saul and the men of Israel assemble and encamp in the valley; they themselves draw up in battle line for war over against the Philistines.

Parallel muster (Israelite counterpart to v.1)καὶ Σαουλ
v.2 mirrors v.1 clause for clause (συνάγονται / παρεμβάλλουσιν), staging the symmetrical confrontation: as the Philistines gather and encamp, so do Saul and Israel. The emphatic αὐτοί ('they themselves') and ἐξ ἐναντίας ('over against') establish the face-off that the duel will resolve.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable personal name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁאוּל ('asked for'); indeclinable in the LXX (kind 'x', no case); Israel's first king, here the commander whose paralysis (v.11) foils against David's faith.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (coordinate with Σαουλ)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man / fighting-man'; renders אִישׁ; οἱ ἄνδρες Ισραηλ ('the men of Israel') is a stock LXX designation for the able-bodied muster of the nation's army.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of ἄνδρες (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable throughout the LXX (kind 'x', no case); functions here adnominally ('the men of Israel') though morphologically invariant.
συνάγονταιthey assemblePres Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateσυνάγω (mid./pass.): the same verb used of the Philistines in v.1, here applied to Israel — the verbal echo underscores the deliberate symmetry of the two assembling armies.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεμβάλλουσινthey encampPres Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateπαρεμβάλλω: 'encamp'; the verbal repetition from v.1 again binds the two armies in parallel, now with Israel taking up position in the valley.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλάδιvalleyDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceκοιλάς: 'valley / hollow'; renders עֵמֶק; the Valley of Elah (cf. MT 'valley of the terebinth') is the broad depression between the opposing hills; the term sets up the spatial drama of v.3.
αὐτοὶthey themselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (subject emphasis)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the nominative plural αὐτοί is intensive ('they themselves'), foregrounding the Israelite army's own deployment as it draws up for battle.
παρατάσσονταιthey draw up in linePres Mid Indic 3 Pl · παρατάσσωmain verb (historic present, middle)→ verbal action or stateπαρατάσσω (mid.): 'draw up in battle array / deploy'; renders עָרַךְ (מִלְחָמָה); cognate with παράταξις ('battle-line'); the middle voice presents the army arranging itself for combat.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose)→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; εἰς πόλεμον repeats the phrase from v.1, completing the symmetry of the two armies arrayed 'for war.'
ἐξover againstpreposition (in idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'opposite')→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'over against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (in idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας: 'opposite').
ἐναντίαςoppositeGenitivegenitive in idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας ('over against')→ relational specificationἐναντίος: 'opposite / facing'; the idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας (+ gen.) renders מִמּוּל / לִקְרַאת ('over against / facing'); it fixes the two lines confronting each other across the valley.
ἀλλοφύλωνthe PhilistinesGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ ἐναντίας→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: here genitive plural as object of ἐξ ἐναντίας ('over against the Philistines'); the recurring term keeps the enemy's foreignness in view.
3

καὶ ἀλλόφυλοι ἵστανται ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους ἐνταῦθα καὶ Ισραηλ ἵσταται ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους ἐνταῦθα καὶ ὁ αὐλὼν ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν

And the Philistines stand on the mountain on this side, and Israel stands on the mountain on that side, and the ravine was between them.

Spatial tableau (the standoff across the ravine)καὶ ἀλλόφυλοι ἵστανται
v.3 freezes the scene into a static tableau: two armies posted on opposing heights with the ravine (ὁ αὐλών) between. The doubled ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους ἐνταῦθα ('on the mountain here … on the mountain there') renders the Hebrew אֶל הָהָר מִזֶּה … אֶל הָהָר מִזֶּה, and the closing ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν echoes v.1, framing the deadlock that single combat alone can break.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: the Philistines posted on one height; the term again underlines their foreignness in the standoff.
ἵστανταιstandPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (historic present, stative)→ verbal action or stateἵστημι (mid.): 'stand / take a stand'; renders עָמַד; the present here is stative, fixing the army in a held position; paired with the singular ἵσταται for Israel.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position)→ relational specificationὄρος: 'mountain / hill'; renders הַר; the two hills flanking the valley give each army the high ground, intensifying the stalemate.
ἐνταῦθαhere / on this sideadverb of place (deictic)→ adverbial qualificationἐνταῦθα: 'here / on this side'; the deictic adverb, doubled across the verse ('here … there'), renders the contrastive מִזֶּה … מִזֶּה and stages the two armies on opposite slopes.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the Israelite half)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable name, construed as collective sg.)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; here construed as a collective singular subject (hence the singular verb ἵσταται), 'Israel stands.'
ἵσταταιstandsPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (historic present, singular with collective Ισραηλ)→ verbal action or stateἵστημι (mid., sg.): the singular matches the collective Ισραηλ; the deliberate shift from plural ἵστανται (Philistines) to singular ἵσταται (Israel) reflects the grammatical treatment of Israel as one body.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί→ relational specificationὄρους: meaning 'mountain'; it serves as genitive object of ἐπί.
ἐνταῦθαthere / on that sideadverb of place (deictic, second member)→ adverbial qualificationἐνταῦθα: meaning 'there'; it shapes time, manner, location, or discourse flow in the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the ravine clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with αὐλών)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐλὼνravine / valleyNominativesubject of the (verbless) locative clause→ participant prominenceαὐλών: 'ravine / hollow / glen'; renders הַגַּיְא ('the gorge'); distinct from the broad κοιλάς ('valley') of v.2, the αὐλών is the narrow watercourse separating the two armies — the very wadi from which David will gather his stones (v.40).
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ: meaning 'between'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον).
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ object specificationμέσος: the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν ('between them') echoes v.1, closing the tableau with the ravine fixed as the no-man's-land between the armies.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον.
4

καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἀνὴρ δυνατὸς ἐκ τῆς παρατάξεως τῶν ἀλλοφύλων Γολιαθ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ἐκ Γεθ ὕψος αὐτοῦ τεσσάρων πήχεων καὶ σπιθαμῆς

And there went out a mighty man from the battle-line of the Philistines, Goliath by name, from Gath; his height was four cubits and a span.

Introduction of the antagonist (narrative advance)καὶ ἐξῆλθεν
The aorist ἐξῆλθεν breaks the static present-tense tableau of vv.1–3, propelling the narrative forward as the champion steps out. The naming formula Γολιαθ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ('Goliath by name') renders the Hebrew שְׁמוֹ. The stature figure τεσσάρων πήχεων καὶ σπιθαμῆς ('four cubits and a span') is the reading of Codex Vaticanus and the Old Latin, markedly shorter than MT's 'six cubits and a span' — a text-critical crux often taken to make the Greek giant about 6'9" rather than the MT's ~9'9".
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (narrative aorist)→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; renders יָצָא; the aorist marks the decisive narrative pivot — the static standoff is broken when the champion advances into the no-man's-land.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the indefinite 'a man, a mighty one' introduces the antagonist before naming him, building suspense.
δυνατὸςmightyNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'powerful / mighty / champion'; renders אִישׁ הַבֵּנַיִם ('the man of the space-between', i.e. the duelist) loosely, or גִּבּוֹר; the term recurs at v.51 (ὁ δυνατὸς αὐτῶν, 'their champion') framing Goliath's death as the fall of the Philistines' might.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξεωςbattle-lineGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source)→ relational specificationπαράταξις: 'battle-array / line of battle'; cognate with παρατάσσω (v.2); renders מַעֲרָכָה; the champion emerges 'from the battle-line of the Philistines'; the word recurs as the object of Goliath's reproach (τὴν παράταξιν Ισραηλ, vv.8,10).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'of the Philistines')→ relational specificationἀλλοφύλων: meaning 'Philistines'; it serves as genitive (possessive: 'of the Philistines').
ΓολιαθGoliathsubject in apposition (indeclinable personal name)→ participant identificationΓολιαθ: transliteration of Hebrew גָּלְיָת; indeclinable in the LXX (kind 'x', no case); the name appears here and (spelled Γολιαδ) at v.42; elsewhere in the chapter he is simply ὁ ἀλλόφυλος, 'the foreigner.'
ὄνομαnameNominativenominative in naming-formula ('by name')→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; the construction Γολιαθ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ('Goliath [was the] name to him') is a Hebraism rendering וּשְׁמוֹ ('and his name'); the dative αὐτῷ marks possession.
αὐτῷto him / hisDativedative of possession (in naming-formula)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession (in naming-formula).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin).
ΓεθGathgenitive of origin (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓεθ: transliteration of Hebrew גַּת (Gath), one of the five Philistine cities; indeclinable; 'from Gath' marks Goliath as a Gittite, the city later associated with surviving giants (cf. 2 Sam 21:19–22).
ὕψοςheightNominativesubject of (verbless) measurement clause→ participant prominenceὕψος: 'height / stature'; renders גֹּבַהּ; the verbless clause 'his height [was] four cubits and a span' supplies the giant's defining feature.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τεσσάρωνfourGenitivegenitive of measure (numeral with πήχεων)→ relational specificationτέσσαρες: 'four'; the genitive of measure τεσσάρων πήχεων ('of four cubits') gives the giant's height; Codex Vaticanus and the Old Latin read 'four,' against MT and some Greek witnesses 'six' — a celebrated text-critical divergence.
πήχεωνcubitsGenitivegenitive of measure (unit of length)→ relational specificationπῆχυς (gen. pl. πήχεων): 'cubit' (forearm-length, ~45 cm); renders אַמָּה; the unit of stature measurement; four cubits and a span yields roughly two metres in the Greek tradition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the fractional measure)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σπιθαμῆςa spanGenitivegenitive of measure (added unit)→ relational specificationσπιθαμή: 'span' (the distance from thumb to little finger, ~22 cm, half a cubit); renders זֶרֶת; appended to the cubit-count to specify the exact stature: 'four cubits and a span.'
5

καὶ περικεφαλαία ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ θώρακα ἁλυσιδωτὸν αὐτὸς ἐνδεδυκώς καὶ ὁ σταθμὸς τοῦ θώρακος αὐτοῦ πέντε χιλιάδες σίκλων χαλκοῦ καὶ σιδήρου

And a helmet was on his head, and he was clad in a corselet of mail; and the weight of his corselet was five thousand shekels of bronze and iron.

Descriptive catalogue of armor (begins the arming-scene, vv.5–7)καὶ περικεφαλαία
vv.5–7 form an inventory of Goliath's armament that functions as an epic 'arming-scene' (cf. Homer); the verbless and participial clauses pile up the bronze and iron to overwhelm the reader before the duel. The enormous σταθμός ('weight') of five thousand shekels (~57 kg) magnifies the giant's strength and the impossibility of the human odds against him.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (continuing the description)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περικεφαλαίαhelmetNominativesubject of (verbless) clause→ participant prominenceπερικεφαλαία: 'helmet' (lit. 'thing around the head'); renders כּוֹבַע; the same word names the helmet through which David's stone will sink at v.49, and the helmet Saul puts on David at v.38 — a deliberate verbal thread.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλῆςheadGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position)→ relational specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the head protected here by the helmet is the very head David will strike (v.49) and sever (v.51), and carry to Jerusalem (v.54).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θώρακαcorselet / breastplateAccusativedirect object of ἐνδεδυκώς→ object specificationθώραξ: 'corselet / breastplate / coat of armor'; renders שִׁרְיוֹן; the accusative is governed by the perfect participle ἐνδεδυκώς ('having put on'); its weight is specified below.
ἁλυσιδωτὸνof chain-mailAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θώρακα)→ object specificationἁλυσιδωτός: 'made of chain / scaled / of mail' (from ἅλυσις, 'chain'); renders קַשְׂקַשִּׂים ('scales'); describes the interlocking scale-armor — a rare and vivid technical term.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject pronoun (with periphrastic participle)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'he himself'; the nominative subject of the periphrastic construction αὐτὸς ἐνδεδυκώς ('he was clad'), focalizing the giant in his armor.
ἐνδεδυκώςhaving clothed himselfPerf Act Part Nom Masc Sg · ἐνδύωperfect participle (periphrastic predicate with implied ἦν: 'was clad')→ verbal action or stateἐνδύω (perf. act. part.): 'put on / clothe oneself'; renders לָבַשׁ; the perfect participle conveys a settled state — Goliath stands fully and permanently armored; the same verb (ἐνέδυσεν) describes Saul arming David at v.38, an ironic echo.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the weight clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with σταθμός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σταθμὸςweightNominativesubject of (verbless) clause→ participant prominenceσταθμός: 'weight / standard weight'; renders מִשְׁקָל; the stated weight (five thousand shekels) is a measure of the giant's sheer physical mass and the burden no ordinary soldier could bear.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θώρακοςcorseletGenitivegenitive of relationship ('weight of the corselet')→ relational specificationθώραξ (gen. θώρακος): repeats the armor-term from above, now as the thing weighed.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
πέντεfiveindeclinable numeral (with χιλιάδες)→ measure or countπέντε: 'five'; indeclinable numeral; modifies χιλιάδες ('thousands') — note the resonance with David's five smooth stones (v.40), a numerical irony pitting five thousand shekels of armor against five pebbles.
χιλιάδεςthousandsNominativepredicate noun (weight figure: 'five thousand')→ participant prominenceχιλιάς: 'thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; πέντε χιλιάδες σίκλων ('five thousand shekels') quantifies the colossal weight of the armor.
σίκλωνshekelsGenitivegenitive of measure (unit of weight)→ relational specificationσίκλος: 'shekel' (a unit of weight, ~11.4 g); transliterates/renders שֶׁקֶל; five thousand shekels yields roughly 57 kg of bronze and iron.
χαλκοῦof bronzeGenitivegenitive of material→ relational specificationχαλκός: 'bronze / copper'; renders נְחֹשֶׁת; the dominant metal of Goliath's panoply (helmet, greaves, shield), emblematic of Philistine metallurgical superiority.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σιδήρουof ironGenitivegenitive of material (coordinate with χαλκοῦ)→ relational specificationσίδηρος: 'iron'; renders בַּרְזֶל; iron weaponry was a Philistine technological advantage in this period (cf. 13:19–22, where Israel lacks smiths); its mention heightens the disparity of the duel.
6

καὶ κνημῖδες χαλκαῖ ἐπάνω τῶν σκελῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀσπὶς χαλκῆ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὤμων αὐτοῦ

And bronze greaves were upon his legs, and a bronze shield between his shoulders.

Continuation of the armor catalogueκαὶ κνημῖδες χαλκαῖ
Two more verbless clauses extend the bronze inventory from head and torso (v.5) to legs and shoulders; the threefold χαλκ- (χαλκοῦ, χαλκαῖ, χαλκῆ) drums the metallic motif, presenting Goliath as a walking fortress of bronze.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κνημῖδεςgreavesNominativesubject of (verbless) clause→ participant prominenceκνημίς (pl. κνημῖδες): 'greave / shin-guard'; renders מִצְחָה (here 'greaves of bronze on his legs'); the leg-armor completes the head-to-foot protection.
χαλκαῖbronzeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying κνημῖδες)→ participant prominenceχαλκοῦς (fem. χαλκῆ/χαλκαῖ): 'made of bronze'; the second occurrence of the bronze-motif, agreeing with κνημῖδες.
ἐπάνωuponimproper preposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνω: 'upon / above / over'; an improper preposition taking the genitive; renders עַל; locates the greaves on the legs.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκελῶνlegsGenitivegenitive object of ἐπάνω→ relational specificationσκέλος (pl. σκελῶν): 'leg'; renders רֶגֶל; the legs are the last part of the body shielded in bronze.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀσπὶςshieldNominativesubject of (verbless) clause→ participant prominenceἀσπίς: 'shield' (here the small round shield or javelin slung between the shoulders); renders כִּידוֹן ('scimitar / javelin') in MT — the Greek understands the slung weapon as a shield; carried 'between his shoulders' when not in use.
χαλκῆbronzeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀσπίς)→ participant prominenceχαλκοῦς (fem. χαλκῆ): the third bronze item in two verses, completing the relentless bronze motif.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ: meaning 'between'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον).
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ object specificationμέσος: the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὤμων ('between the shoulders') locates the slung weapon on the back.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὤμωνshouldersGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον→ relational specificationὦμος (pl. ὤμων): 'shoulder'; renders כָּתֵף; the position of the slung shield/javelin between the shoulders.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
7

καὶ ὁ κοντὸς τοῦ δόρατος αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ μέσακλον ὑφαινόντων καὶ ἡ λόγχη αὐτοῦ ἑξακοσίων σίκλων σιδήρου καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ ὅπλα αὐτοῦ προεπορεύετο αὐτοῦ

And the shaft of his spear was like a weavers' beam, and his spear-head was six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him.

Conclusion of the armor catalogue + retinueκαὶ ὁ κοντὸς
The catalogue climaxes with the offensive weapon — a spear whose shaft is 'like a weavers' beam' (the proverbial image of monstrous size) and whose iron head weighs six hundred shekels — and closes with the detail of the shield-bearer marching ahead, the only figure to share the no-man's-land with the giant. The shift to the imperfect προεπορεύετο ('used to go before') marks habitual, repeated procession, anticipating the forty-day taunt (v.16, absent here, but cf. v.10).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with κοντός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοντὸςshaft / poleNominativesubject of (verbless) clause→ participant prominenceκοντός: 'pole / shaft / spear-staff'; renders עֵץ (the 'wood' of the spear) / קָנֶה; the shaft of the spear, distinguished from its iron head (λόγχη).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δόρατοςspearGenitivegenitive of relationship ('shaft of the spear')→ relational specificationδόρυ (gen. δόρατος): 'spear'; renders חֲנִית; the same word figures in David's speech contrasting the giant's spear with the name of the LORD (vv.45,47).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὡσεὶlike / ascomparative particle (introducing simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡσεί: 'like / as / about'; renders כְּ; introduces the proverbial simile comparing the spear-shaft to a weavers' beam.
μέσακλονweaver's beamAccusativeaccusative of comparison (object of ὡσεί)→ object specificationμέσακλον / μέσαβον: 'weaver's beam / the heddle-bar of a loom'; renders מְנוֹר אֹרְגִים ('weavers' beam'); a stock image of immense thickness — the spear-shaft is as thick as the great wooden bar of a loom.
ὑφαινόντωνof weaversPres Act Part Gen Masc Pl · ὑφαίνωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of those who weave')→ verbal action or stateὑφαίνω (pres. act. part.): 'weave'; the substantival genitive plural ὑφαινόντων ('of weavers') completes the simile 'the beam of weavers'; parsed as a participle (kind 'v') though functioning substantivally.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with λόγχη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγχηspear-headNominativesubject of (verbless) clause→ participant prominenceλόγχη: 'spear-point / lance-head'; renders לַהֶבֶת ('the blade / flame') of the spear; distinguished from the κοντός (shaft); its iron weight is given next.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἑξακοσίωνsix hundredGenitivegenitive of measure (numeral with σίκλων)→ relational specificationἑξακόσιοι: 'six hundred'; the genitive of measure ἑξακοσίων σίκλων ('six hundred shekels', ~6.8 kg) quantifies the iron spear-head — a weapon no ordinary man could wield.
σίκλωνshekelsGenitivegenitive of measure (unit of weight)→ relational specificationσίκλος: 'shekel'; the unit of weight repeated from v.5; the spear-head's six hundred shekels of iron complete the catalogue of overwhelming armament.
σιδήρουof ironGenitivegenitive of material→ relational specificationσίδηρος: 'iron'; the spear-head's material; iron weaponry again signals Philistine technological dominance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the retinue)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
the oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle αἴρων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἴρωνbearer / one carryingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · αἴρωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the one bearing')→ verbal action or stateαἴρω (pres. act. part.): 'lift / carry / bear'; the substantival ὁ αἴρων τὰ ὅπλα ('the one carrying the weapons') renders נֹשֵׂא הַצִּנָּה ('shield-bearer'); the giant is so heavily armed he needs an attendant to carry his gear.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ὅπλα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅπλαweapons / armsAccusativedirect object of αἴρων→ object specificationὅπλον (pl. ὅπλα): 'weapon / armor / equipment'; renders צִנָּה ('large shield') / כֵּלִים; the gear borne by the shield-bearer.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
προεπορεύετοwent beforeImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · προπορεύομαιmain verb (imperfect of customary procession)→ verbal action or stateπροπορεύομαι: 'go before / march in front'; the imperfect προεπορεύετο depicts the shield-bearer's habitual procession ahead of the giant, day after day during the forty-day standoff.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object (of the verb of going-before: 'before him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object (of the verb of going-before: 'before him').
8

καὶ ἔστη καὶ ἀνεβόησεν εἰς τὴν παράταξιν Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί ἐκπορεύεσθε παρατάξασθαι πολέμῳ ἐξ ἐναντίας ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγώ εἰμι ἀλλόφυλος καὶ ὑμεῖς Εβραῖοι τοῦ Σαουλ ἐκλέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς ἄνδρα καὶ καταβήτω πρός με

And he stood and cried out to the battle-line of Israel and said to them, 'Why do you come out to array yourselves for battle over against us? Am I not a Philistine, and you Hebrews of Saul? Choose for yourselves a man, and let him come down to me.'

Goliath's challenge (direct speech begins)καὶ ἔστη καὶ ἀνεβόησεν
Two aorists (ἔστη, ἀνεβόησεν) launch the giant's challenge; the rhetorical questions (τί ἐκπορεύεσθε; οὐκ … εἰμι;) and the imperatives (ἐκλέξασθε, καταβήτω) issue the formal terms of single combat (μονομαχία). The contemptuous Εβραῖοι τοῦ Σαουλ ('Hebrews of Saul') reduces Israel to mere vassals of their king, framing the duel as Philistine versus Saul's clients.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστηstoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (narrative aorist)→ verbal action or stateἵστημι (aor. act.): 'stand / take a stand'; the intransitive aorist ἔστη ('he took his stand') positions the giant for his daily challenge.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεβόησενcried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβοάωmain verb (narrative aorist)→ verbal action or stateἀναβοάω: 'cry out / shout aloud'; renders קָרָא; the loud public shout across the valley befits a formal challenge to single combat.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the shout)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the shout).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παράταξιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παράταξινbattle-lineAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (target of the shout)→ object specificationπαράταξις: 'battle-array'; the term recurs as the object of his reproach (v.10) and of David's indignation (v.36, 'the armies of the living God').
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of παράταξιν (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of παράταξιν (indeclinable name).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces the giant's direct discourse, the formal terms of the duel.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative of address)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative of address).
τίwhyinterrogative pronoun (adverbial: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς/τί: here the neuter τί used adverbially ('why?'); renders לָמָּה; opens the taunting rhetorical question.
ἐκπορεύεσθεdo you come outPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐκπορεύομαιmain verb of the question→ verbal action or stateἐκπορεύομαι: 'go/come out'; renders יָצָא; the present tenses the repeated daily mustering of Israel that never issues in a fight.
παρατάξασθαιto array yourselvesAor Mid Inf · παρατάσσωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐκπορεύεσθε)→ verbal action or stateπαρατάσσω (aor. mid. inf.): 'draw up in battle order'; the purpose infinitive ('to deploy for battle') cognate with παράταξις; the giant mocks the futility of their daily formation.
πολέμῳfor battleDativedative (of purpose/manner with παρατάξασθαι)→ sphere or referenceπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the dative πολέμῳ ('for battle') specifies the aim of the deployment.
ἐξover againstpreposition (idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'over against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας).
ἐναντίαςoppositeGenitivegenitive in idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας ('against')→ relational specificationἐναντίος: 'opposite'; the idiom ἐξ ἐναντίας ἡμῶν ('over against us') echoes v.2, now placed in the giant's mouth.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ ἐναντίας→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐξ ἐναντίας.
οὐκnotnegative particle (in question expecting 'yes')→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ(κ): the negative in the rhetorical question οὐκ ἐγώ εἰμι ἀλλόφυλος ('am I not a Philistine?') expects an affirmative answer, asserting the giant's status as the Philistine champion.
ἐγώINominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' foregrounds the giant's boast of being the Philistine champion against Saul's clients.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in rhetorical question)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the boast 'am I not a Philistine?'
ἀλλόφυλοςa PhilistineNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'foreigner / Philistine'; the giant claims the title proudly — the very ethnonym David will turn against him as ὁ ἀπερίτμητος ('the uncircumcised one', v.36).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject pronoun (in elliptical clause: 'and you [are] Hebrews')→ participant referenceὑμεῖς: the plural 'you' set against ἐγώ; the contrast 'I a Philistine / you Hebrews of Saul' frames the asymmetry the giant exploits.
ΕβραῖοιHebrewsNominativepredicate nominative (in elliptical clause)→ participant prominenceἙβραῖος: 'Hebrew'; renders עִבְרִים; on Philistine lips a slightly contemptuous outsider's label for Israel (cf. 4:6,9; 14:11), here compounded by τοῦ Σαουλ ('of Saul') reducing them to a king's retainers.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with Σαουλ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαουλSaulgenitival modifier of Εβραῖοι (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; 'Hebrews of Saul' belittles Israel as mere clients of their king, not a people of their God — an irony David will overturn at v.45.
ἐκλέξασθεchooseAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · ἐκλέγομαιmain verb (imperative: terms of the duel)→ verbal action or stateἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select'; renders בָּרָה; the giant commands Israel to select a champion — ironically, the LORD has already 'chosen' David (cf. 16:8–12, where the same verb-field of divine election runs).
ἑαυτοῖςfor yourselvesDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage)→ participant reference or interestἑαυτοῦ: the reflexive 'for yourselves' stresses that the choice is Israel's own — and so the outcome will be on their own heads.
ἄνδραa manAccusativedirect object of ἐκλέξασθε→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the single champion demanded; the giant assumes none of Saul's 'men' (v.2) can be such an ἀνήρ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταβήτωlet him come downAor Act Impv 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (third-person imperative)→ verbal action or stateκαταβαίνω: 'go down / come down'; renders יָרַד; the champion is to 'come down' from the Israelite hill into the ravine — the very descent David will make.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
9

καὶ ἐὰν δυνηθῇ πρὸς ἐμὲ πολεμῆσαι καὶ ἐὰν πατάξῃ με καὶ ἐσόμεθα ὑμῖν εἰς δούλους ἐὰν δὲ ἐγὼ δυνηθῶ καὶ πατάξω αὐτόν ἔσεσθε ἡμῖν εἰς δούλους καὶ δουλεύσετε ἡμῖν

And if he is able to fight against me, and if he strikes me down, then we will become your slaves; but if I am able and strike him down, you will be our slaves and serve us.

Terms of the wager (conditional pair within the challenge)καὶ ἐὰν δυνηθῇ
The challenge is cast as a balanced double conditional (ἐὰν … ἐὰν δέ), wagering the servitude of an entire people on a single duel. The mirrored verbs δυνηθῇ/δυνηθῶ and πατάξῃ/πατάξω, and the chiastic εἰς δούλους … εἰς δούλους, make the stakes explicit: representative combat decides national subjugation. The added δουλεύσετε ἡμῖν ('and you will serve us') drives the threat home.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative/coordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the first protasis with the subjunctive (future-more-vivid condition); renders אִם; sets the terms of the wager.
δυνηθῇhe is ableAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · δύναμαιverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ verbal action or stateδύναμαι (aor. pass. subj.): 'be able / have power'; renders יָכֹל; the giant frames the duel as a test of capacity, paired with his own δυνηθῶ below.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (opposition)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (opposition).
ἐμὲmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (emphatic form)→ participant referenceἐμὲ: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (emphatic form).
πολεμῆσαιto fightAor Act Inf · πολεμέωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνηθῇ)→ verbal action or stateπολεμέω (aor. inf.): 'wage war / fight'; renders נִלְחַם; the complementary infinitive completes 'be able to fight'; the same verb is David's offer at v.32 (πολεμήσει).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the paired protases)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατάξῃhe strikes downAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω (aor. subj.): 'strike / smite / kill'; renders נָכָה; the key combat-verb of the chapter, recurring for David's killing of lion and bear (v.35) and of the giant (vv.36,46,49,50-context).
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶthenapodotic καί (introducing the apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here the apodotic καί ('then'), a Hebraism (וְ of the apodosis) marking the consequence of the condition.
ἐσόμεθαwe will becomeFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut. ἐσόμεθα): 'be / become'; with εἰς δούλους ('for slaves') it forms the Hebraism הָיָה לְ ('become as'); the giant stakes his own people's freedom on the duel.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative of advantage ('your slaves')→ participant reference or interestὑμῖν: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage ('your slaves').
εἰςfor / aspreposition + accusative (Hebraism εἰς + predicate)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: in the construction ἔσομαι εἰς ('become as') it renders Hebrew לְ of the predicate; a frequent LXX Hebraism.
δούλουςslavesAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς)→ object specificationδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; renders עֶבֶד; the stake of the wager — national enslavement; the same word names David as ὁ δοῦλός σου ('your servant') before Saul (vv.32,34,36), a humbler self-designation.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (the reverse condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; marks the antithetical second half of the wager (the giant's victory).
ἐγὼINominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' opposes ἐγώ to the Israelite champion, voicing the giant's confidence.
δυνηθῶI am ableAor Pass Subj 1 Sg · δύναμαιverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ verbal action or stateδύναμαι (aor. pass. subj.): the first-person counterpart of δυνηθῇ above, mirroring the two outcomes of the duel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατάξωI strike downAor Act Subj 1 Sg · πατάσσωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω (aor. subj. 1 sg.): 'strike down'; the first-person mirror of πατάξῃ; ironically it is David who will πατάξω (v.36) the giant.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἔσεσθεyou will beFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut. ἔσεσθε): the second-person counterpart of ἐσόμεθα, naming Israel's servitude as the reverse stake.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative of advantage ('our slaves')→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'to us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage ('our slaves').
εἰςfor / aspreposition + accusative (Hebraism εἰς + predicate)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (Hebraism εἰς + predicate).
δούλουςslavesAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς)→ object specificationδοῦλος: 'slave'; the chiastic repetition (εἰς δούλους … εἰς δούλους) seals the symmetry of the wager.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δουλεύσετεyou will serveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (intensifying the apodosis)→ verbal action or stateδουλεύω: 'be a slave / serve'; cognate with δοῦλος; the added clause 'and you will serve us' drives home the threat of total subjugation.
ἡμῖνusDativedative object of δουλεύσετε→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of δουλεύσετε.
10

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀλλόφυλος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ὠνείδισα τὴν παράταξιν Ισραηλ σήμερον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ δότε μοι ἄνδρα καὶ μονομαχήσομεν ἀμφότεροι

And the Philistine said, 'Behold, I have reproached the battle-line of Israel this day; give me a man, and we two will fight in single combat.'

Restatement / intensification of the challengeκαὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀλλόφυλος
The renewed speech (καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀλλόφυλος) reframes the challenge as an act of ὠνείδισα ('I have reproached / defied') — the verb that will fuel David's indignation (vv.36,45). The hapax-like μονομαχήσομεν ('we will fight in single combat') names the duel formally, and ἀμφότεροι ('both of us') isolates the two champions from the armies.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces the renewed, intensified challenge.
theNominativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοςPhilistineNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner / Philistine'; from here on Goliath is referred to almost exclusively by this title, not his name.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (attention-marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a deictic attention-marker foregrounding the boast that follows.
ἐγὼINominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' magnifies the giant's personal defiance of Israel.
ὠνείδισαI have reproachedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὀνειδίζωmain verb (the boast)→ verbal action or stateὀνειδίζω: 'reproach / taunt / defy'; renders חֵרֵף; the theological keyword of the chapter — to 'reproach the battle-line of Israel' is, as David sees it, to reproach 'the armies of the living God' (v.36) and the LORD himself (vv.45); the noun ὄνειδος ('reproach') follows at v.36.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παράταξιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παράταξινbattle-lineAccusativedirect object of ὠνείδισα→ object specificationπαράταξις: 'battle-array'; the object of the reproach; David will redefine it as the παράταξις θεοῦ ζῶντος ('battle-line of the living God', v.36).
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of παράταξιν (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of παράταξιν (indeclinable name).
σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; reinforced by the pleonastic ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ; the temporal emphasis recurs in David's reply (vv.46) as the day of the LORD's victory.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ταύτῃ)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ('on this day') is a Hebraistic pleonasm reinforcing σήμερον (בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה).
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ participant reference or interestοὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative fixes the reproach to the present, climactic day of the standoff.
δότεgiveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (aor. impv.): 'give'; renders נָתַן; the demand 'give me a man' restates the challenge of v.8 in blunter form.
μοιmeDativeindirect object (dative)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative).
ἄνδραa manAccusativedirect object of δότε→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the demanded single champion; the giant cannot imagine that a παιδάριον ('boy', v.33) will answer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μονομαχήσομενwe will fight in single combatFut Act Indic 1 Pl · μονομαχέωmain verb (future of the proposed duel)→ verbal action or stateμονομαχέω: 'fight in single combat / duel' (from μόνος + μάχομαι); a precise Greek term for the representative duel, naming the literary form of the whole episode.
ἀμφότεροιboth of us / the two togetherNominativeappositional subject ('we both')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both / the two'; isolates the two champions from the armies — the outcome of the whole war hangs on these two alone.
11

καὶ ἤκουσεν Σαουλ καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ ἀλλοφύλου ταῦτα καὶ ἐξέστησαν καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα

And Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, and they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Narrative response: Israel's terror (closes section B)καὶ ἤκουσεν Σαουλ
v.11 supplies the reaction that the duel-challenge demands: not a champion but collective terror. The pairing ἐξέστησαν … ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα ('were dismayed … greatly afraid') sets the dark foil against which David's faith (vv.32–37) will shine. In the short Greek, the narrative leaps directly from this terror to David's speech at v.32 (vv.12–31 being absent).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (singular with compound subject)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; renders שָׁמַע; the singular verb precedes the compound subject (Σαουλ καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ), normal Greek and Hebrew syntax.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; the king named first, his fear leading the people's — a pointed contrast to the warrior-king he was once expected to be.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; πᾶς Ισραηλ ('all Israel') universalizes the terror — no one, not even the king, answers the challenge.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable name, with πᾶς)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name, with πᾶς).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ῥήματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥήματαwordsAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσεν→ object specificationῥῆμα (pl. ῥήματα): 'word / saying / matter'; renders דָּבָר; the giant's taunting 'words' that paralyze Israel — the same noun-field David will counter with the 'name' of the LORD (v.45).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλουPhilistineGenitivegenitive of source ('words of the Philistine')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: genitive 'of the foreigner'; the source of the dread-inducing words.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥήματα)→ object specificationοὗτος: 'these'; ταῦτα ('these words') points back to the whole challenge of vv.8–10.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέστησανthey were dismayedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξίστημιmain verb (collective reaction)→ verbal action or stateἐξίστημι (intrans. aor.): 'be amazed / be beside oneself / be dismayed'; renders חָתַת ('be shattered / dismayed'); denotes the unnerving of Israel's resolve before the giant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφοβήθησανthey were afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (collective reaction)→ verbal action or stateφοβέομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; the standard LXX fear-verb; paired with ἐξέστησαν it doubles the note of paralysis.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the fear to its maximum — the foil for David's fearlessness.
32

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Σαουλ μὴ δὴ συμπεσέτω ἡ καρδία τοῦ κυρίου μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ὁ δοῦλός σου πορεύσεται καὶ πολεμήσει μετὰ τοῦ ἀλλοφύλου τούτου

And David said to Saul, 'Let not my lord's heart collapse on his account; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.'

Major narrative leap: David volunteers (opens section C)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Σαουλ
Because the short Greek omits vv.12–31, David appears here abruptly, already in Saul's presence, addressing the king as one of his court (consistent with 16:14–23, where David is Saul's armor-bearer and lyrist). The prohibition μὴ … συμπεσέτω ('let not [the heart] fall') answers the collective ἐξέστησαν of v.11, and the humble self-designation ὁ δοῦλός σου ('your servant') against τοῦ κυρίου μου ('my lord') strikes the deferential register David maintains before Saul.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces David's first words in the chapter; in the short Greek this is his entrance, with no prior introduction (vv.12–31 absent).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable personal name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX (kind 'x', no case); the protagonist, here appearing without the genealogical introduction the MT supplies at 17:12.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΣαουλSaulaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable name).
μὴnotnegative particle (prohibitive, with imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of prohibition; with the third-person aorist imperative συμπεσέτω it forms a prohibition ('let not … fall').
δὴnow / prayentreaty particle (softening)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: an emphatic/entreaty particle, here softening the prohibition into a respectful plea ('let not, I pray'); renders the cohortative/precative נָא.
συμπεσέτωlet it collapseAor Act Impv 3 Sg · συμπίπτωmain verb (third-person prohibitive imperative)→ verbal action or stateσυμπίπτω: 'fall together / collapse / fail'; the idiom 'let not the heart fall/collapse' renders אַל יִפֹּל לֵב ('let no heart fail'); David urges that courage not give way before the giant.
theNominativearticle (with καρδία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of συμπεσέτω→ participant prominenceκαρδία: 'heart' (seat of courage and will); renders לֵב; the heart that must not 'fall' is the locus of resolve in the face of fear.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with κυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουlord / masterGenitivegenitive of possession ('my lord's heart')→ relational specificationκύριος: HERE NOT the Tetragrammaton but the human honorific 'my lord' (κυρίου μου = אֲדֹנִי), David's deferential address to King Saul; the courtly idiom contrasts with David's use of κύριος for YHWH at vv.37,45–47.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κυρίου)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κυρίου).
ἐπ᾿on / on account ofpreposition + accusative (cause/reference)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here 'upon / on account of'; ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ('on his account', i.e. because of the giant) gives the cause of the failing heart.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (referring to the giant)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (referring to the giant).
theNominativearticle (with δοῦλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject ('your servant')→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; ὁ δοῦλός σου ('your servant') is David's self-effacing court-idiom (עַבְדְּךָ); ironically the same word the giant used for the stake of national slavery (v.9).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δοῦλος)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δοῦλος).
πορεύσεταιwill goFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (David's offer)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; David speaks of himself in the third person ('your servant will go'), a deferential idiom; Saul echoes it in his blessing πορεύου (v.37).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πολεμήσειwill fightFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πολεμέωmain verb (David's offer continued)→ verbal action or stateπολεμέω: 'wage war / fight'; the same verb the giant used (πολεμῆσαι, v.9); David accepts the duel the king's army has declined.
μετὰwith / againstpreposition + genitive (combat 'with')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; in combat contexts 'fight with' = 'fight against'; a Hebraism (נִלְחַם עִם).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλουPhilistineGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the opponent David volunteers to face.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with ἀλλοφύλου)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; τούτου ('this Philistine') deictically points to the present challenger.
33

καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Δαυιδ οὐ μὴ δυνήσῃ πορευθῆναι πρὸς τὸν ἀλλόφυλον τοῦ πολεμεῖν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ὅτι παιδάριον εἶ σύ καὶ αὐτὸς ἀνὴρ πολεμιστὴς ἐκ νεότητος αὐτοῦ

And Saul said to David, 'You will surely not be able to go against the Philistine to fight with him, for you are a boy, and he a man of war from his youth.'

Saul's objection (dialogue exchange)καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Δαυιδ
Saul's emphatic denial (οὐ μὴ δυνήσῃ, double negative + future) pits David's youth (παιδάριον, 'mere boy') against Goliath's lifelong soldiery (ἀνὴρ πολεμιστὴς ἐκ νεότητος). The contrast παιδάριον / ἀνήρ replays the giant's own scorn (v.42) and frames the impossibility that David's testimony (vv.34–37) will overturn by appeal to the LORD, not to strength.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces Saul's reply.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable name).
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή forms the emphatic negation οὐ μή ('certainly not'); Saul flatly rejects David's offer.
μὴnotnegative particle (οὐ μή: strong denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the second member of the emphatic οὐ μή construction.
δυνήσῃyou will be ableFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (with οὐ μή)→ verbal action or stateδύναμαι: 'be able'; the same capacity-verb the giant used (vv.9); Saul denies David has it — a denial David rebuts by relocating the source of ability in the LORD (v.37).
πορευθῆναιto goAor Pass Inf · πορεύομαιcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσῃ)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. inf.): 'go'; the complementary infinitive of δυνήσῃ; echoes David's πορεύσεται (v.32).
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (opposition)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (opposition).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλονPhilistineAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the opponent Saul deems beyond David.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολεμεῖνto fightPres Act Inf · πολεμέωarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ + inf.)→ verbal action or stateπολεμέω (pres. inf.): 'fight'; the articular infinitive τοῦ πολεμεῖν ('in order to fight') expresses purpose, a common LXX rendering of the Hebrew לְ + infinitive construct.
μετ᾿with / againstpreposition + genitive (combat 'with')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with' = 'against' in combat context (cf. v.32).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces Saul's reason — the disparity of youth and experience.
παιδάριονa boy / ladNominativepredicate nominative ('you are a boy')→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'little boy / youth / lad' (diminutive of παῖς); renders נַעַר; Saul's belittling estimate of David, echoed by the giant at v.42 (αὐτὸς ἦν παιδάριον).
εἶyou arePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of Saul's verdict 'you are a boy.'
σύyouNominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic 'you' set against αὐτός ('he') below, sharpening the contrast of boy versus warrior.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adversative force: 'whereas')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject pronoun (emphatic, contrastive)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'he himself'; the contrastive pronoun, opposing the giant to David.
ἀνὴρa manNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the full-grown 'man of war' against the παιδάριον.
πολεμιστὴςwarriorNominativepredicate noun (in apposition: 'a man, a warrior')→ participant prominenceπολεμιστής: 'warrior / man of war'; renders אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה; cognate with πολεμέω; underlines Goliath's professional soldiery against David's inexperience.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (temporal origin)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (temporal origin).
νεότητοςyouthGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (temporal: 'from his youth')→ relational specificationνεότης: 'youth / young manhood'; renders נְעוּרִים; 'a man of war from his youth' stresses Goliath's lifelong combat experience — the very thing David counters not with experience but with the LORD's deliverance (v.37).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with νεότητος)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with νεότητος).
34

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Σαουλ ποιμαίνων ἦν ὁ δοῦλός σου τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ποιμνίῳ καὶ ὅταν ἤρχετο ὁ λέων καὶ ἡ ἄρκος καὶ ἐλάμβανεν πρόβατον ἐκ τῆς ἀγέλης

And David said to Saul, 'Your servant was shepherding for his father in the flock, and whenever the lion or the bear would come and take a sheep from the herd,'

David's testimony begins (the lion-and-bear precedent)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Σαουλ
David answers the objection not by claiming military prowess but by narrating his shepherd's experience as evidence of the LORD's deliverance. The periphrastic ποιμαίνων ἦν ('was shepherding') and the iterative ὅταν ἤρχετο … ἐλάμβανεν ('whenever … would come and take') set up the habitual scenario that vv.35–36 will resolve into a paradigm: as with lion and bear, so with the uncircumcised Philistine.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces David's testimony.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΣαουλSaulaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable name).
ποιμαίνωνshepherdingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · ποιμαίνωparticiple (periphrastic with ἦν: 'was shepherding')→ verbal action or stateποιμαίνω (pres. part.): 'shepherd / tend a flock'; renders רָעָה; the periphrastic ποιμαίνων ἦν stresses David's settled vocation — the shepherd-king motif central to his characterization (cf. 16:11; Ps 78:70–72).
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (periphrastic with ποιμαίνων)→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf.): forms the periphrastic imperfect 'was shepherding' with ποιμαίνων, expressing ongoing past activity.
theNominativearticle (with δοῦλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject ('your servant')→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; David again refers to himself as ὁ δοῦλός σου ('your servant'), the deferential idiom of vv.32,36.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δοῦλος)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δοῦλος).
τῷfor theDativearticle (with πατρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὶfatherDativedative of advantage ('for his father')→ sphere or referenceπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; David tended the flock 'for his father' (Jesse, unnamed here since the short Greek omits the genealogy of vv.12–31).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατρί)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατρί).
ἐνin / withpreposition + dative (locative/sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/sphere).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ποιμνίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιμνίῳflockDativedative of place/sphere ('in the flock')→ sphere or referenceποίμνιον: 'flock'; cognate with ποιμαίνω; renders צֹאן; the sphere of David's shepherding.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the iterative scenario)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτανwhenevertemporal conjunction (iterative, + indicative here)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅταν: 'whenever'; here with the imperfect indicative (ἤρχετο) it expresses repeated past occurrence ('whenever … would come'), an iterative construction.
ἤρχετοwould comeImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of iterative temporal clause→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (impf.): 'come'; the iterative imperfect with ὅταν describes the recurrent predation of lion and bear on the flock.
theNominativearticle (with λέων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέωνlionNominativesubject of ἤρχετο→ participant prominenceλέων: 'lion'; renders אֲרִי; the first of the two predators that prefigure the giant (cf. v.36, 'as one of these').
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction (joining the two predators)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with ἄρκος)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρκοςbearNominativesubject of ἤρχετο (coordinate with λέων)→ participant prominenceἄρκος (= ἄρκτος): 'bear'; renders דֹּב; the second predator; the lion-and-bear pair is a stock image of mortal danger (cf. Amos 5:19; Prov 28:15).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάμβανενwould takeImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of iterative clause→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (impf.): 'take / seize'; the iterative imperfect continues the recurrent scenario — the predator carrying off a sheep.
πρόβατονa sheepAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανεν→ object specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep'; renders שֶׂה; the prey snatched from the flock, which David then rescues.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἀγέλης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγέληςherd / flockGenitivegenitive of source ('from the herd')→ relational specificationἀγέλη: 'herd / drove'; the flock from which the predator seizes a sheep; near-synonym of ποίμνιον above.
35

καὶ ἐξεπορευόμην ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπάταξα αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξέσπασα ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰ ἐπανίστατο ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ καὶ ἐκράτησα τοῦ φάρυγγος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπάταξα καὶ ἐθανάτωσα αὐτόν

then I would go out after it and strike it and tear [the sheep] from its mouth; and if it rose up against me, I would seize its throat and strike it and kill it.

David's testimony continued (the rescue and kill)καὶ ἐξεπορευόμην
The chain of aorists (ἐπάταξα, ἐξέσπασα, ἐκράτησα, ἐπάταξα, ἐθανάτωσα) within the iterative frame narrates David's habitual rescue: pursuit, strike, deliverance of the sheep, and — if the beast turned on him — its killing. The verbs πατάσσω ('strike') and θανατόω ('kill') prefigure exactly what David will do to Goliath (vv.49–51).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξεπορευόμηνI would go outImpf Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐκπορεύομαιmain verb (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἐκπορεύομαι (impf.): 'go out'; the iterative imperfect 'I would go out after it' describes David's habitual response to the predator.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (pursuit)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; renders אַחֲרֵי; marks the pursuit of the fleeing beast.
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ὀπίσω.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξαI struckAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (aorist within iterative frame)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω (aor.): 'strike / smite'; the key combat-verb; David's striking of the predator prefigures his striking of the giant (vv.36,49).
αὐτὸνitAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέσπασαI tore outAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκσπάωmain verb (aorist)→ verbal action or stateἐκσπάω: 'pull/tear out'; renders הִצִּיל (rescue) here as 'snatch out'; David rescues the sheep 'from its mouth' — the shepherd-deliverer image.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with στόματος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματοςmouthGenitivegenitive of source ('from its mouth')→ relational specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; the sheep is wrenched 'from the mouth' of the lion/bear — a vivid image of rescue from the jaws of death.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (with στόματος)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with στόματος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the conditional)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; with the imperfect ἐπανίστατο it forms a past iterative-conditional ('and if [ever] it rose against me').
ἐπανίστατοit rose upImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπανίστημιverb of protasis (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἐπανίστημι (mid.): 'rise up against / attack'; renders קוּם עַל; describes the beast turning on its pursuer.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ἐμέmeAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (emphatic form)→ participant referenceἐμέ: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (emphatic form).
καὶthenapodotic καί (introducing apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic 'then', a Hebraism marking the consequence in the conditional.
ἐκράτησαI seizedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · κρατέωmain verb of apodosis (aorist)→ verbal action or stateκρατέω: 'seize / take hold of / master'; renders חָזַק; David grasps the beast 'by the throat' — bare-handed mastery that magnifies the LORD's deliverance.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with φάρυγγος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φάρυγγοςthroatGenitivegenitive object of κρατέω (verb of grasping takes genitive)→ relational specificationφάρυγξ (gen. φάρυγγος): 'throat / gullet'; renders זָקָן ('beard/jaw') or the throat; κρατέω takes the genitive of the part grasped — 'I seized it by the throat.'
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (with φάρυγγος)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with φάρυγγος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξαI struckAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (aorist)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω (aor.): 'strike'; repeated to mark the death-stroke; the verb that will fell the giant (v.49).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθανάτωσαI killedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (aorist)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders הֵמִית; the climactic kill of the predator — the same verb of David's dispatching the giant (v.51).
αὐτόνitAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
36

καὶ τὴν ἄρκον ἔτυπτεν ὁ δοῦλός σου καὶ τὸν λέοντα καὶ ἔσται ὁ ἀλλόφυλος ὁ ἀπερίτμητος ὡς ἓν τούτων οὐχὶ πορεύσομαι καὶ πατάξω αὐτὸν καὶ ἀφελῶ σήμερον ὄνειδος ἐξ Ισραηλ διότι τίς ὁ ἀπερίτμητος οὗτος ὃς ὠνείδισεν παράταξιν θεοῦ ζῶντος

Your servant used to strike both the bear and the lion, and the uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of these. Shall I not go and strike him and take away today the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised one who has reproached the battle-line of the living God?

The argument from precedent (climax of David's testimony)καὶ τὴν ἄρκον ἔτυπτεν
David draws the conclusion: the giant will be 'as one of these' beasts. The decisive theological turn is the redescription of the enemy as ὁ ἀπερίτμητος ('the uncircumcised one') and of the army he taunted as παράταξιν θεοῦ ζῶντος ('the battle-line of the living God'). The reproach (ὄνειδος / ὠνείδισεν) is thus not against men but against God, which is why David, not the terrified king, must answer it.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄρκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρκονbearAccusativedirect object of ἔτυπτεν (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationἄρκος: 'bear'; here accusative ἄρκον, fronted before the verb for emphasis ('the bear your servant used to strike').
ἔτυπτενused to strikeImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · τύπτωmain verb (customary imperfect)→ verbal action or stateτύπτω (impf.): 'strike / beat'; the customary imperfect 'your servant used to strike' summarizes the repeated victories of vv.34–35; a near-synonym of πατάσσω.
theNominativearticle (with δοῦλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject ('your servant')→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; David's third self-designation as ὁ δοῦλός σου in his speech (vv.32,34,36).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δοῦλος)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δοῦλος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λέοντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέονταlionAccusativedirect object of ἔτυπτεν (coordinate with ἄρκον)→ object specificationλέων (acc. λέοντα): 'lion'; the second beast David habitually struck; the lion-and-bear pair now becomes the measure of the giant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (drawing the conclusion)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the inference)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; the confident inference 'the uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of these [beasts]' — David reasons from precedent to prophecy.
theNominativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοςPhilistineNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; now qualified by ὁ ἀπερίτμητος ('the uncircumcised'), framing the duel as covenant people versus covenantless outsider.
theNominativearticle (with ἀπερίτμητος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπερίτμητοςuncircumcisedNominativeattributive adjective (with ἀλλόφυλος)→ participant prominenceἀπερίτμητος: 'uncircumcised'; renders עָרֵל; the theologically loaded epithet marks Goliath as outside the covenant of Abraham — his lack of the covenant sign is, for David, the guarantee of his fall.
ὡςascomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the comparison 'as one of these [beasts].'
ἓνoneNominativepredicate (numeral: 'as one')→ measure or countεἷς (neut. ἕν): 'one'; ὡς ἓν τούτων ('as one of these') reduces the dreaded giant to the level of the lion and bear David has already conquered.
τούτωνof theseGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἕν)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'these'; the partitive τούτων refers to the lion and bear of vv.34–35.
οὐχὶshall I not?interrogative negative (expecting 'yes')→ clausal contributionοὐχί: strengthened form of οὐ; introducing a rhetorical question ('shall I not go and strike him?') that expects an affirmative — David's resolve framed as self-evident.
πορεύσομαιI will goFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (in rhetorical question)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go'; David's resolve to advance, echoing his offer of v.32.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατάξωstrikeFut Act Indic 1 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (in rhetorical question)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω (fut.): 'strike'; the very verb the giant boasted of (πατάξω, v.9), now David's confident future — and fulfilled at v.49.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφελῶI will take awayFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb (purpose/result of the strike)→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω: 'take away / remove'; renders הֵסִיר; David will 'take away the reproach from Israel' — and ironically ἀφεῖλεν the giant's head with the same verb at v.51.
σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; David's 'today' answers the giant's defiant 'today' of v.10, claiming this very day for the LORD's victory (cf. vv.46).
ὄνειδοςreproach / disgraceAccusativedirect object of ἀφελῶ→ object specificationὄνειδος: 'reproach / disgrace'; cognate with ὀνειδίζω (vv.10,36,45); the noun names the shame the giant's taunt has heaped on Israel, which David will remove.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of separation (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of separation (indeclinable name).
διότιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδιότι: 'because / for'; introduces the theological ground of David's resolve — the identity of the one reproached.
τίςwho?Nominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of rhetorical question)→ participant referenceτίς: 'who?'; the contemptuous 'who is this uncircumcised one?' diminishes the giant by setting him against the living God he has dared to reproach.
theNominativearticle (with ἀπερίτμητος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπερίτμητοςuncircumcised oneNominativesubstantival adjective (predicate of τίς)→ participant prominenceἀπερίτμητος: 'the uncircumcised'; repeated from above, the epithet is the hinge of David's argument — a covenantless outsider has no standing against the LORD's people.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (with ἀπερίτμητος)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the dismissive deictic 'this uncircumcised one.'
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ὠνείδισεν)→ participant referenceὃς: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (subject of ὠνείδισεν).
ὠνείδισενhas reproachedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀνειδίζωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateὀνειδίζω (aor.): 'reproach / defy'; the same verb the giant used of himself (ὠνείδισα, v.10); David turns the boast into an indictment — the reproach falls on God, not merely on Israel.
παράταξινbattle-lineAccusativedirect object of ὠνείδισεν→ object specificationπαράταξις: 'battle-array'; now qualified as 'of the living God,' transforming the human army into the LORD's own ranks.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession (with παράταξιν)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the genitive 'of God' redefines the stakes — to defy Israel's army is to defy God.
ζῶντοςlivingPres Act Part Gen Masc Sg · ζάωattributive participle (with θεοῦ)→ verbal action or stateζάω (pres. part.): 'live'; the participle θεοῦ ζῶντος ('of the living God') renders אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים; the contrast between the LORD who lives and the giant's lifeless 'gods' (v.43) is the theological core of the chapter.
37

κύριος ὃς ἐξείλατό με ἐκ χειρὸς τοῦ λέοντος καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς τῆς ἄρκου αὐτὸς ἐξελεῖταί με ἐκ χειρὸς τοῦ ἀλλοφύλου τοῦ ἀπεριτμήτου τούτου καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Δαυιδ πορεύου καὶ ἔσται κύριος μετὰ σοῦ

The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, he will rescue me from the hand of this uncircumcised Philistine. And Saul said to David, 'Go, and the LORD shall be with you.'

David's confession of faith + Saul's commission (turning point)κύριος ὃς ἐξείλατό με
David's confession is the theological apex of section C: the relative clause names the LORD's past deliverances (ἐξείλατο, aorist) as ground for the future one (ἐξελεῖταί, future), the emphatic αὐτός focalizing the LORD as the true agent. Saul yields with a blessing-commission (πορεύου … ἔσται κύριος μετὰ σοῦ), unwittingly pronouncing the formula that guarantees the victory.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (resumed by αὐτός)→ participant prominenceκύριος: HERE the Tetragrammaton (יהוה); the divine name heads David's confession, naming the LORD as the deliverer who has acted and will act — the antithesis of the giant's defiance of the 'living God' (v.36).
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐξείλατο)→ participant referenceὃς: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (subject of ἐξείλατο).
ἐξείλατόrescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωverb of relative clause (past deliverance)→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (mid.): 'take out / deliver / rescue'; renders הִצִּיל; the LORD's past rescues from lion and bear are the warrant for the future rescue; the verb recurs in the future below.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρὸςhand / pawGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand / paw / power'; renders יָד; ἐκ χειρός ('from the hand/power of') is a stock LXX idiom for deliverance from an enemy's grip; threefold here (lion, bear, Philistine).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λέοντος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέοντοςlionGenitivegenitive of possession ('of the lion')→ relational specificationλέων (gen. λέοντος): 'lion'; the first of the three powers from which the LORD delivers.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρὸςhand / pawGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationχειρὸς: meaning 'hand'; it serves as genitive object of ἐκ.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with ἄρκου)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρκουbearGenitivegenitive of possession ('of the bear')→ relational specificationἄρκος (gen. ἄρκου): 'bear'; the second power; the lion-and-bear pair, conquered in vv.34–35, now witnesses to the LORD's deliverance.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (resuming κύριος as subject)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the intensive 'he himself' resumes κύριος after the relative clause, focalizing the LORD as the sole agent of the coming deliverance.
ἐξελεῖταίwill rescueFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (the confident prediction)→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (fut. mid.): 'deliver / rescue'; the future matches the aorist ἐξείλατο, drawing past deliverance forward into confident expectation — the logic of David's faith.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationχείρ: the third 'hand' — that of the Philistine; the LORD who rescued from beasts will rescue from the man.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλουPhilistineGenitivegenitive of possession ('of the Philistine')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the third hostile power, ranked with the beasts.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀπεριτμήτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπεριτμήτουuncircumcisedGenitiveattributive adjective (with ἀλλοφύλου)→ relational specificationἀπερίτμητος: 'uncircumcised'; the covenant-epithet repeated from v.36, marking the Philistine as outside the LORD's people.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with ἀλλοφύλου)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; deictically points to the present challenger.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming narration)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces Saul's commissioning word.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable name).
πορεύουgoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative of commission)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (pres. impv.): 'go'; Saul's leave-granting 'go' echoes David's πορεύσεται (v.32); the king relinquishes the duel to the shepherd.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (blessing-formula)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut.): 'be'; the formula 'the LORD shall be with you' (ἔσται κύριος μετὰ σοῦ) is the classic OT accompaniment-blessing (cf. 16:18; Judg 6:12), guaranteeing the success of the one sent.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton (יהוה); in Saul's blessing the LORD whom David has confessed (v.37a) is invoked as the one who will accompany him to victory.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
38

καὶ ἐνέδυσεν Σαουλ τὸν Δαυιδ μανδύαν καὶ περικεφαλαίαν χαλκῆν περὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ

And Saul clothed David with a tunic and a bronze helmet about his head.

The arming of David (ironic counter-scene to vv.5–7)καὶ ἐνέδυσεν Σαουλ τὸν Δαυιδ
Saul's arming of David (ἐνέδυσεν, the same verb as Goliath's self-arming ἐνδεδυκώς, v.5) sets up the ironic reversal of v.39: David cannot move in royal armor and discards it, choosing the shepherd's sling instead. The περικεφαλαία χαλκῆ ('bronze helmet') deliberately echoes Goliath's bronze panoply, underscoring that David will conquer without it.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνέδυσενclothedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐνδύωmain verb (transitive: 'clothed [him]')→ verbal action or stateἐνδύω (aor. act., transitive): 'clothe / put [armor] on someone'; renders הִלְבִּישׁ; the same verb that described Goliath's self-arming (ἐνδεδυκώς, v.5) — Saul tries to make David a second armored man, but the experiment fails.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Δαυιδ, marking him as object)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τόν before the indeclinable Δαυιδ marks the name as accusative object ('David'), a common LXX device for case-marking indeclinable names.
ΔαυιδDaviddirect object (indeclinable name, marked acc. by τόν)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; here the object of ἐνέδυσεν, case shown only by the article τόν.
μανδύανtunic / cloakAccusativeaccusative of the thing put on (double accusative with ἐνέδυσεν)→ object specificationμανδύας: 'tunic / military cloak / coat'; a loanword; renders מַד ('garment, armor-coat'); the second accusative of the double-accusative construction 'he clothed David [with] a tunic'; recurs at v.39.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περικεφαλαίανhelmetAccusativeaccusative of the thing put on (coordinate with μανδύαν)→ object specificationπερικεφαλαία: 'helmet'; the same word as Goliath's helmet (v.5) and the helmet David's stone will pierce (v.49); the bronze headgear Saul places on David.
χαλκῆνbronzeAccusativeattributive adjective (with περικεφαλαίαν)→ object specificationχαλκοῦς (fem. χαλκῆν): 'of bronze'; the metallic motif of vv.5–6 transferred to David's borrowed gear, which he will reject.
περὶabout / aroundpreposition + accusative (position around)→ spatial or relational framingπερί + acc.: 'around'; 'about his head' locates the helmet.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativeaccusative object of περί (position)→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; the head David's borrowed helmet would protect — set against the giant's head that David will sever (v.51).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλήν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλήν).
39

καὶ ἔζωσεν τὸν Δαυιδ τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπάνω τοῦ μανδύου αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκοπίασεν περιπατήσας ἅπαξ καὶ δίς καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Σαουλ οὐ μὴ δύνωμαι πορευθῆναι ἐν τούτοις ὅτι οὐ πεπείραμαι καὶ ἀφαιροῦσιν αὐτὰ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ

And he girded David with his own sword over his tunic, and David grew weary after walking once and twice; and David said to Saul, 'I cannot go in these, for I am not used to them.' And they took them off him.

The rejected armor (the experiment fails)καὶ ἔζωσεν τὸν Δαυιδ
The arming-experiment collapses: David, weary after a step or two (ἅπαξ καὶ δίς), declares the untested armor unusable (οὐ πεπείραμαι, 'I have not been tried in them'). The stripping-off (ἀφαιροῦσιν) clears the way for the shepherd's own equipment (v.40) — the narrative theology that the LORD saves 'not by sword and spear' (v.47) is here dramatized in David's body.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔζωσενgirdedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ζώννυμιmain verb (transitive: 'girded [him]')→ verbal action or stateζώννυμι (aor.): 'gird / belt on'; renders חָגַר; Saul belts his own sword on David — the royal weapon David will not use, choosing instead to take the giant's sword (v.51).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (marking Δαυιδ as object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddirect object (indeclinable name, marked acc. by τόν)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object (indeclinable name, marked acc. by τόν).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ῥομφαίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥομφαίανswordAccusativeaccusative of the thing girded on→ object specificationῥομφαία: 'sword / broadsword'; renders חֶרֶב; Saul's sword belted on David; the same word for the sword David contrasts with the LORD's name (vv.45,47) and the giant's own sword he wields at v.51.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Saul's sword)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Saul's sword).
ἐπάνωoverimproper preposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνω: 'over / above'; the sword belted 'over his tunic.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with μανδύου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μανδύουtunicGenitivegenitive object of ἐπάνω→ relational specificationμανδύας (gen. μανδύου): 'tunic / coat'; the garment of v.38, over which the sword is belted.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μανδύου)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μανδύου).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοπίασενgrew wearyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κοπιάωmain verb→ verbal action or stateκοπιάω: 'toil / grow weary'; David's weariness after a step or two shows the armor's uselessness for him — a man trained not in iron but in the open field.
περιπατήσαςhaving walkedAor Act Part Nom Masc Sg · περιπατέωcircumstantial participle (temporal: 'after walking')→ verbal action or stateπεριπατέω (aor. part.): 'walk about'; the participle 'having walked once and twice' specifies how briefly David tested the armor before tiring.
ἅπαξonceadverb of frequency→ clausal contributionἅπαξ: 'once'; with δίς ('twice') forms the idiom ἅπαξ καὶ δίς ('once and twice' = 'a step or two'), stressing how quickly the armor exhausted him.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δίςtwiceadverb of frequency→ clausal contributionδίς: 'twice'; completes the idiom ἅπαξ καὶ δίς.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces David's refusal of the armor.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΣαουλSaulaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable name).
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: strong denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή forms emphatic negation; David firmly declines.
μὴnotnegative particle (οὐ μή)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: second member of οὐ μή.
δύνωμαιI am ablePres Mid Subj 1 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (subjunctive in emphatic denial)→ verbal action or stateδύναμαι (pres. subj.): 'be able'; the capacity-verb again (cf. vv.9,33,37): David cannot walk in the armor — the very inability that throws him back on the LORD's power.
πορευθῆναιto goAor Pass Inf · πορεύομαιcomplementary infinitive (with δύνωμαι)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. inf.): 'go'; the complementary infinitive — David cannot 'go' into battle thus encumbered.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (instrument/state)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrument/state).
τούτοιςtheseDativedemonstrative pronoun (object of ἐν: 'in these [armor pieces]')→ participant reference or interestοὗτος: 'these'; the neuter/masc. dative plural refers to the borrowed armor — tunic, helmet, sword.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; gives David's reason — inexperience with the gear.
οὐnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεπείραμαιI am experienced / have been triedPerf Mid/Pass Indic 1 Sg · πειράωmain verb (perfect of settled state)→ verbal action or stateπειράω (perf. mid./pass.): 'try / test / be experienced'; οὐ πεπείραμαι ('I have not been tested/trained [in these]') gives the resultant state — David has no practiced skill in armor, only in the sling.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφαιροῦσινthey take offPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀφαιρέωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω: 'take away / remove'; the same verb David used of removing Israel's reproach (v.36) and will use of the giant's head (v.51); here the attendants strip the rejected armor.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object (the armor pieces)→ participant referenceαὐτὰ: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the armor pieces).
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό.
40

καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν βακτηρίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξελέξατο ἑαυτῷ πέντε λίθους λείους ἐκ τοῦ χειμάρρου καὶ ἔθετο αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ καδίῳ τῷ ποιμενικῷ τῷ ὄντι αὐτῷ εἰς συλλογὴν καὶ σφενδόνην αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ προσῆλθεν πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν ἀλλόφυλον

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in the shepherd's bag that he had for a pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he drew near to the Philistine man.

David's own equipment (closes section C)καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν βακτηρίαν
Against Goliath's catalogue of bronze and iron (vv.5–7), David's inventory is humble and pastoral: staff, five smooth stones from the wadi, a shepherd's bag, a sling. The five stones answer the giant's 'five thousand' shekels of armor (v.5). The chain of aorists (ἔλαβεν, ἐξελέξατο, ἔθετο, προσῆλθεν) moves David steadily toward the duel with the deliberate calm of a man at his trade.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor.): 'take'; David takes up his familiar shepherd's gear in place of the king's armor.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with βακτηρίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βακτηρίανstaffAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationβακτηρία: 'staff / rod'; renders מַקֵּל; the shepherd's staff (which Goliath mocks as a mere 'rod' at v.43); emblem of David's pastoral identity carried into battle.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with χειρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρὶhandDativedative of place ('in his hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the hand that holds the staff — and, at the verse's end, the sling.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελέξατοchoseAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιmain verb→ verbal action or stateἐκλέγομαι (aor. mid.): 'choose / select'; the same verb the giant used demanding Israel 'choose' a champion (ἐκλέξασθε, v.8); here David, the LORD's chosen, chooses his stones.
ἑαυτῷfor himselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage)→ participant reference or interestἑαυτοῦ: 'for himself'; the reflexive marks the deliberate, personal preparation.
πέντεfiveindeclinable numeral (with λίθους)→ measure or countπέντε: 'five'; the five smooth stones famously answer the giant's 'five thousand' shekels of armor (v.5) — five pebbles against a fortress of bronze.
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of ἐξελέξατο→ object specificationλίθος: 'stone'; renders אֶבֶן; the sling-stones, one of which (λίθον ἕνα, v.49) will fell the giant; the giant scorned David's coming 'with stones' (λίθοις, v.43).
λείουςsmoothAccusativeattributive adjective (with λίθους)→ object specificationλεῖος: 'smooth'; renders חַלֻּקֵי (smooth/water-worn); smooth river-stones fly true from a sling — a detail of the practiced slinger's craft.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with χειμάρρου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρουwadi / torrent-bedGenitivegenitive of source ('from the wadi')→ relational specificationχείμαρρος: 'wadi / winter-torrent / stream-bed'; renders נַחַל; the dry streambed in the ravine (cf. αὐλών, v.3) supplies the smooth stones — the very no-man's-land between the armies.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔθετοputAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb→ verbal action or stateτίθημι (aor. mid.): 'put / place'; David stows the stones in his shepherd's bag — practical readiness for the sling.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the stones)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the stones).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῷtheDativearticle (with καδίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καδίῳbag / pouchDativedative of place ('in the bag')→ sphere or referenceκάδιον: 'small jar / bag / pouch' (diminutive of κάδος); renders כְּלִי / יַלְקוּט ('shepherd's bag'); the same κάδιον David reaches into at v.49 to draw the fatal stone.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ποιμενικῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιμενικῷshepherd'sDativeattributive adjective (with καδίῳ)→ sphere or referenceποιμενικός: 'pertaining to a shepherd / shepherd's'; cognate with ποιμήν / ποιμαίνω; underscores once more that David fights with the tools of his pastoral calling.
τῷtheDativearticle (with the participle ὄντι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄντιthat was / beingPres Act Part Dat Neut Sg · εἰμίattributive participle (with καδίῳ: 'the bag that was to him')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (pres. part. dat.): 'being'; the attributive participle with the dative of possession (αὐτῷ) renders 'the bag that he had' — a Greek way of expressing the Hebrew 'that was his.'
αὐτῷto him / hisDativedative of possession (with ὄντι)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession (with ὄντι).
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
συλλογὴνgathering / collectingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose: 'for collecting')→ object specificationσυλλογή: 'collection / gathering'; here the bag's use 'for collecting' (i.e. as a receptacle); the phrase εἰς συλλογήν explains the bag's function as a pouch.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the sling clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σφενδόνηνslingAccusativesubject/object in the verbless sling-clause ('his sling [was] in his hand')→ object specificationσφενδόνη: 'sling'; renders קֶלַע; the shepherd's weapon, deadly accurate in trained hands; cognate with the verb ἐσφενδόνησεν ('he slung', v.49); the accusative here is loosely construed in the elliptical clause.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with σφενδόνην)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with σφενδόνην).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with χειρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρὶhandDativedative of place ('in his hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the sling ready in hand as David advances.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσῆλθενdrew nearAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb (advance to combat)→ verbal action or stateπροσέρχομαι (aor.): 'approach / draw near'; David advances toward the giant — the calm closing of the preparation, opening the duel of section D.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραmanAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; 'the Philistine man' — the antagonist David at last approaches.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλονPhilistineAccusativeattributive (with ἄνδρα: 'the Philistine man')→ object specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'foreign / Philistine'; in attributive position with ἄνδρα; note that the short Greek omits v.41 (the giant's slow advance behind his shield-bearer), so David's approach leads directly into the exchange of v.42.
42

καὶ εἶδεν Γολιαδ τὸν Δαυιδ καὶ ἠτίμασεν αὐτόν ὅτι αὐτὸς ἦν παιδάριον καὶ αὐτὸς πυρράκης μετὰ κάλλους ὀφθαλμῶν

And Goliath saw David and despised him, because he was a boy, and ruddy, with beauty of eyes.

Goliath's contempt (opens section D; v.41 absent)καὶ εἶδεν Γολιαδ τὸν Δαυιδ
With v.41 absent in the short Greek, the duel opens directly on Goliath's gaze and scorn (ἠτίμασεν). The narrator's description — παιδάριον ('a boy'), πυρράκης ('ruddy'), μετὰ κάλλους ὀφθαλμῶν ('with beauty of eyes') — recalls the portrait of David at his anointing (16:12), so that the very traits the giant despises are the marks of the LORD's chosen king. Goliath is here spelled Γολιαδ (a variant of Γολιαθ, v.4).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb→ verbal action or stateὁράω (aor. εἶδεν): 'see'; the giant's appraising look that turns to scorn; ironically David, too, will 'see' (and act) decisively (v.49).
ΓολιαδGoliathsubject (indeclinable name, variant spelling)→ participant identificationΓολιαδ: a variant spelling (with final delta) of Γολιαθ (v.4), the transliteration of גָּלְיָת; indeclinable (kind 'x', no case); one of only two places in the chapter where the giant is named rather than called ὁ ἀλλόφυλος.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (marking Δαυιδ as object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddirect object (indeclinable name, marked acc. by τόν)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object (indeclinable name, marked acc. by τόν).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠτίμασενdespisedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀτιμάζωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀτιμάζω: 'dishonor / despise / treat with contempt'; renders בָּזָה; the giant's scorn at David's youth — the antithesis of the honor (τιμή) the LORD will grant David in victory.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the grounds of the giant's contempt — David's youth and beauty.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject pronoun→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'he'; refers to David, the object of scorn.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf.): 'was'; the descriptive imperfect introduces the narrator's portrait of David.
παιδάριονa boyNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'boy / lad'; the same diminutive Saul used (v.33); the giant's contempt echoes the king's doubt, both of which David's faith overturns.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject pronoun (resumptive)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'he'; resumes David as subject of the further description.
πυρράκηςruddy / red-hairedNominativepredicate adjective→ participant prominenceπυρράκης: 'ruddy / reddish'; renders אַדְמוֹנִי; the same trait noted at David's anointing (16:12), marking him as the youthful, handsome chosen one — the very appearance the giant despises.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment/quality)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment/quality).
κάλλουςbeautyGenitivegenitive object of μετά (quality: 'with beauty')→ relational specificationκάλλος: 'beauty'; renders יְפֵה (with 'eyes'); the phrase μετὰ κάλλους ὀφθαλμῶν ('with beauty of eyes') again echoes 16:12 (καλὸς ὀφθαλμοῖς), framing David's comeliness as the mark of divine election.
ὀφθαλμῶνof eyesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with κάλλους)→ relational specificationὀφθαλμός (pl. ὀφθαλμῶν): 'eye'; the 'beauty of eyes' completes the portrait — the chosen king's appearance, despised by the giant who cannot see what the LORD sees.
43

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀλλόφυλος πρὸς Δαυιδ ὡσεὶ κύων ἐγώ εἰμι ὅτι σὺ ἔρχῃ ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ ἐν ῥάβδῳ καὶ λίθοις καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ οὐχί ἀλλ᾿ ἢ χείρω κυνός καὶ κατηράσατο ὁ ἀλλόφυλος τὸν Δαυιδ ἐν τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτοῦ

And the Philistine said to David, 'Am I like a dog, that you come against me with a staff and stones?' And David said, 'No, but worse than a dog.' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

Exchange of insults (the war of words)καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀλλόφυλος πρὸς Δαυιδ
The giant's rhetorical question (ὡσεὶ κύων ἐγώ εἰμι; 'am I a dog?') resents being approached with mere staff and stones; David's terse retort (οὐχί, ἀλλ᾿ ἢ χείρω κυνός, 'no, but worse than a dog') heaps insult on insult. The giant's curse 'by his gods' (ἐν τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτοῦ) sets his lifeless deities against the 'living God' (v.36) in whose name David will answer (v.45).
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces the giant's taunt.
theNominativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοςPhilistineNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the giant resumes his title-by-epithet after being briefly named (v.42).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable name).
ὡσεὶlike / ascomparative particle (in rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡσεί: 'as / like'; 'am I as a dog?' — the giant's outrage at being faced with a shepherd's stick rather than a sword.
κύωνdogNominativepredicate nominative (in the question)→ participant prominenceκύων: 'dog'; renders כֶּלֶב; in the ancient Near East a term of contempt; to be approached as one drives off a dog (with a stick) is the height of insult to the giant — which David promptly intensifies.
ἐγώINominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' voices the giant's wounded pride.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in rhetorical question)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the indignant question.
ὅτιthatconjunction (consecutive/causal: 'that')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here 'that / seeing that'; introduces the cause of the giant's affront.
σὺyouNominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you' — the contemptible boy who dares approach the giant.
ἔρχῃyou comePres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb of the ὅτι clause→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the same verb in David's reply (v.45, σὺ ἔρχῃ), where David turns the giant's words back on him.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ἐμὲmeAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ participant referenceἐμὲ: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'with'; a Hebraism (בְּ of means); the giant scorns David's 'staff and stones.'
ῥάβδῳstaff / rodDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceῥάβδος: 'rod / staff'; renders מַקֵּל; the giant reduces David's shepherd's βακτηρία (v.40) to a mere stick fit for beating dogs.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λίθοιςstonesDativedative of instrument (coordinate with ῥάβδῳ)→ sphere or referenceλίθος (dat. pl. λίθοις): 'stone'; the giant mocks the stones — one of which (v.49) will be his death; dramatic irony of the highest order.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces David's curt retort.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
οὐχίnonegative interjection (emphatic 'no')→ clausal contributionοὐχί: emphatic 'no'; David flatly contradicts the giant's self-estimate — not a dog, but something lower.
ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction (in idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; in the idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather') it introduces the sharper alternative.
than / ratherparticle (in idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ; also comparative with χείρω)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'than / or'; functions both in the idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather') and as the comparative particle with χείρω ('worse than').
χείρωworseNominativecomparative adjective (predicate: 'worse [than a dog]')→ participant prominenceχείρων (contracted χείρω): 'worse / inferior'; the comparative of κακός; David's retort 'worse than a dog' answers insult with greater insult, refusing to be cowed.
κυνόςthan a dogGenitivegenitive of comparison (with χείρω)→ relational specificationκύων (gen. κυνός): 'dog'; the genitive of comparison — the giant is, in David's mouth, not merely a dog but worse than one.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατηράσατοcursedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταράομαιmain verb→ verbal action or stateκαταράομαι: 'curse / invoke a curse upon'; renders קִלֵּל; the giant calls down a curse on David 'by his gods' — invoking powers that, against the living God, are nothing.
theNominativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοςPhilistineNominativesubject of κατηράσατο→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: meaning 'Philistine'; it serves as subject of κατηράσατο.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (marking Δαυιδ as object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddirect object (indeclinable name, marked acc. by τόν)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object (indeclinable name, marked acc. by τόν).
ἐνbypreposition + dative (means/by-the-name-of)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'by / in the name of'; instrumental, naming the powers invoked in the curse — a foil for David's coming 'in the name of the LORD' (v.45).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐν ('by his gods')→ sphere or referenceθεός (pl. θεοῖς): 'gods'; the giant's pagan deities — set in pointed contrast with θεοῦ ζῶντος ('the living God', v.36) and κυρίου σαβαωθ (v.45); the curse by dead gods is impotent before the LORD of hosts.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῖς).
44

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀλλόφυλος πρὸς Δαυιδ δεῦρο πρός με καὶ δώσω τὰς σάρκας σου τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τοῖς κτήνεσιν τῆς γῆς

And the Philistine said to David, 'Come here to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and to the beasts of the earth.'

Goliath's boast / threat (the last word of the giant)καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀλλόφυλος πρὸς Δαυιδ
The giant's final taunt threatens to give David's flesh to scavengers (τοῖς πετεινοῖς … καὶ τοῖς κτήνεσιν) — a boast David will turn back upon the Philistines verbatim in v.46 (τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς). The imperative δεῦρο ('come here') is the last command the giant ever gives.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces the giant's final threat.
theNominativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοςPhilistineNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the giant speaks for the last time.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable name).
δεῦροcome hereadverbial imperative ('come!')→ clausal contributionδεῦρο: 'here / come here!'; an adverb used as an imperative of summons; renders לֵךְ / בֹּא; the giant's contemptuous beckon.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the threat)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the threat)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (fut. δώσω): 'give'; the giant's 'I will give your flesh to the birds' — the very threat David reverses in v.46 (καὶ δώσω … τοῖς πετεινοῖς), where it is the Philistine corpses that feed the scavengers.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with σάρκας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σάρκαςfleshAccusativedirect object of δώσω→ object specificationσάρξ (pl. σάρκας): 'flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; the body the giant boasts he will leave for carrion — a fate that ironically awaits his own people (v.46).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with σάρκας)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with σάρκας).
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with πετεινοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πετεινοῖςbirdsDativeindirect object of δώσω ('to the birds')→ sphere or referenceπετεινόν (pl. πετεινοῖς): 'bird / flying creature'; renders עוֹף; the carrion-birds; the phrase 'birds of the sky' is a stock image of an unburied, disgraced corpse (cf. Deut 28:26).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οὐρανοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦsky / heavenGenitivegenitive of place ('of the sky')→ relational specificationοὐρανός: 'sky / heaven'; renders שָׁמַיִם; 'birds of the sky' completes the carrion-image.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with κτήνεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνεσινbeastsDativeindirect object of δώσω (coordinate with πετεινοῖς)→ sphere or referenceκτῆνος (pl. κτήνεσιν): 'beast / animal'; renders בְּהֵמָה; the wild beasts of the field as scavengers (David's reply at v.46 sharpens this to θηρίοις, 'wild beasts').
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearth / landGenitivegenitive of place ('of the earth')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / land'; renders אֶרֶץ; 'beasts of the earth' completes the threatened ignominy — the corpse devoured rather than buried.
45

καὶ εἰπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς τὸν ἀλλόφυλον σὺ ἔρχῃ πρός με ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν δόρατι καὶ ἐν ἀσπίδι κἀγὼ πορεύομαι πρὸς σὲ ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου σαβαωθ θεοῦ παρατάξεως Ισραηλ ἣν ὠνείδισας σήμερον

And David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with sword and with spear and with shield, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the battle-line of Israel, whom you have reproached this day.'

David's confession of faith (theological climax of the chapter)καὶ εἰπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς τὸν ἀλλόφυλον
This is the theological summit of 1 Kingdoms 17. David sets the giant's three weapons (ῥομφαίᾳ, δόρατι, ἀσπίδι) against the single name of κύριος σαβαωθ ('the LORD of hosts'). The antithesis σὺ ἔρχῃ … κἀγὼ πορεύομαι ('you come … but I come') answers the giant's own words (v.43). σαβαωθ transliterates צְבָאוֹת ('hosts/armies'), defining the LORD as commander of the very παράταξις the giant has reproached — so the duel is reframed as a contest over whose God is real.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor.): introduces David's confession; the form εἰπεν is printed here without the usual accent (εἶπεν) in the source text and is reproduced verbatim.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλονPhilistineAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the addressee of David's great confession.
σὺyouNominativesubject pronoun (emphatic, contrastive)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic 'you' opens the antithesis 'you … but I'; David takes the giant's own ἔρχῃ (v.43) and pivots it.
ἔρχῃcomePres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; deliberately echoes the giant's σὺ ἔρχῃ (v.43), now used to contrast their respective sources of power.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'with' (Hebraism, בְּ); introduces the giant's three weapons.
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword'; renders חֶרֶב; the first of the giant's three weapons; the LORD 'saves not by sword' (v.47).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrument).
δόρατιspearDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceδόρυ (dat. δόρατι): 'spear'; the second weapon; the weaver's-beam spear of v.7; likewise impotent against the LORD's name.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrument).
ἀσπίδιshieldDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceἀσπίς: 'shield'; the third weapon (cf. v.6); the trio sword-spear-shield sums up the giant's whole reliance on bronze and iron.
κἀγὼbut INominativesubject pronoun (crasis καὶ + ἐγώ; contrastive)→ participant referenceκἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ ('and I / but I'); the pivot of the antithesis — over against the giant's weapons stands David with the name of the LORD.
πορεύομαιcome / goPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; David's verb of v.32,36; here set against the giant's ἔρχῃ — different verbs for two utterly different sources of confidence.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (emphatic form)→ participant referenceσὲ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (emphatic form).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (in the name of)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in'; the phrase ἐν ὀνόματι ('in the name of') renders בְּשֵׁם; the decisive contrast to the giant's ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ — David's weapon is the LORD's name.
ὀνόματιnameDativedative (in the idiom ἐν ὀνόματι)→ sphere or referenceὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; to come 'in the name of the LORD of hosts' is to come with the LORD's own authority and presence — the antithesis of the giant's curse 'by his gods' (v.43).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (with ὀνόματι: 'the name of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton (יהוה); κυρίου σαβαωθ ('the LORD of hosts', יהוה צְבָאוֹת) is the great divine military title; David comes in the authority of the divine Warrior himself.
σαβαωθof hosts / Sabaothindeclinable epithet (with κυρίου)→ clausal contributionσαβαωθ: transliteration of Hebrew צְבָאוֹת ('hosts / armies'); indeclinable (kind 'x', no case); rather than translating with a Greek genitive (e.g. τῶν δυνάμεων), the LXX often simply transliterates; 'the LORD of hosts' names God as commander of the heavenly and earthly armies — the true παράταξις.
θεοῦthe GodGenitivegenitive in apposition (to κυρίου σαβαωθ)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; in apposition, 'the God of the battle-line of Israel' identifies the LORD of hosts with the God whose army the giant has dared to reproach.
παρατάξεωςbattle-lineGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεοῦ: 'God of the battle-line')→ relational specificationπαράταξις: 'battle-array'; the same word the giant reproached (vv.8,10,36); now its true commander is named — the God of Israel's ranks.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of παρατάξεως (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of παρατάξεως (indeclinable name).
ἣνwhich / whomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ὠνείδισας; antecedent παρατάξεως)→ participant referenceὅς (fem. acc. ἥν): the relative pronoun agrees with παράταξιν (fem.) as its antecedent — 'the battle-line which you reproached.'
ὠνείδισαςyou reproachedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὀνειδίζωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateὀνειδίζω (aor.): 'reproach / defy'; the keyword again (vv.10,36); David charges the giant directly: 'whom you have reproached' — the offense that seals his doom.
σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the giant's defiant 'today' (v.10) becomes the very day of his judgment (cf. vv.46).
46

καὶ ἀποκλείσει σε κύριος σήμερον εἰς τὴν χεῖρά μου καὶ ἀποκτενῶ σε καὶ ἀφελῶ τὴν κεφαλήν σου ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ δώσω τὰ κῶλά σου καὶ τὰ κῶλα παρεμβολῆς ἀλλοφύλων ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς καὶ γνώσεται πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ὅτι ἔστιν θεὸς ἐν Ισραηλ

And the LORD will deliver you up today into my hand, and I will kill you and take your head from you, and I will give your limbs and the limbs of the Philistine camp this day to the birds of the sky and to the wild beasts of the earth; and all the earth shall know that there is a God in Israel.

David's prophecy of victory (purpose: that all the earth may know)καὶ ἀποκλείσει σε κύριος
David prophesies the outcome in detail — the LORD's delivering-up (ἀποκλείσει), the killing, the beheading, the carrion-feast — and turns the giant's own threat (v.44) back on the Philistine camp. The chain of futures climaxes in the purpose clause γνώσεται πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ('all the earth shall know that there is a God in Israel'), universalizing the duel into a demonstration of the LORD's sole deity.
Word-by-word analysis· 52 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκλείσειwill deliver up / shut upFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκλείωmain verb (the prophecy)→ verbal action or stateἀποκλείω: 'shut up / hand over / deliver into [the power of]'; renders סִגֵּר ('deliver up'); the LORD will 'shut you up into my hand' — David ascribes the coming victory entirely to the LORD, not his own skill.
σεyouAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἀποκλείσει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton (יהוה); the LORD is the grammatical subject of the act of victory, David merely the instrument — the heart of the chapter's theology.
σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the day the LORD claims for victory, answering the giant's 'today' of defiance (v.10).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction/result)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction/result).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖράhandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('into my hand')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand / power'; 'into my hand' inverts the giant's 'hand' (v.37) — the LORD gives the enemy over to David's power.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with χεῖρα)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χεῖρα).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκτενῶI will killFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (David's act)→ verbal action or stateἀποκτείνω (fut. ἀποκτενῶ): 'kill'; renders הִכָּה / הֵמִית; David's prophesied killing of the giant, fulfilled at v.51 (ἐθανάτωσεν).
σεyouAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφελῶI will take awayFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb (David's act)→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω (fut. ἀφελῶ): 'take away / remove'; David will 'take away your head' — fulfilled at v.51 (ἀφεῖλεν τὴν κεφαλήν); the same verb of removing Israel's reproach (v.36).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλήνheadAccusativedirect object of ἀφελῶ→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; the giant's head — protected by bronze (v.5), pierced by the stone (v.49), severed (v.51), and carried to Jerusalem (v.54).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλήν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλήν).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (separation)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό (separation).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (reversal of the giant's threat)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι (fut. δώσω): 'give'; David turns the giant's own boast (δώσω … τοῖς πετεινοῖς, v.44) back upon the Philistine camp — the carrion-fate falls on the foreigners.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κῶλά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κῶλάlimbs / corpsesAccusativedirect object of δώσω→ object specificationκῶλον (pl. κῶλα): 'limb / member / (dead) body'; renders פֶּגֶר ('corpse'); the dismembered remains given to scavengers — David extends the giant's threat to the whole army.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with κῶλά)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κῶλά).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κῶλα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κῶλαlimbs / corpsesAccusativedirect object of δώσω (coordinate)→ object specificationκῶλον: the corpses of the Philistine camp; the threatened ignominy now multiplied to the whole army.
παρεμβολῆςof the campGenitivegenitive of relationship (with κῶλα)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army'; the Philistine encampment (cf. v.1); its 'limbs' (corpses) are consigned to the carrion-birds.
ἀλλοφύλωνof the PhilistinesGenitivegenitive (with παρεμβολῆς: 'camp of the Philistines')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'foreigner'; genitive plural 'of the Philistines.'
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ participant reference or interestοὗτος: 'this'; ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ('on this day') reinforces σήμερον — the day of the LORD's vindication.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the appointed day of victory.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with πετεινοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πετεινοῖςbirdsDativeindirect object of δώσω→ sphere or referenceπετεινόν: 'bird'; the carrion-birds — David repeats the giant's phrase (v.44) verbatim, now against the Philistines.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οὐρανοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦskyGenitivegenitive of place→ relational specificationοὐρανός: 'sky / heaven'; 'birds of the sky.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with θηρίοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θηρίοιςwild beastsDativeindirect object of δώσω (coordinate with πετεινοῖς)→ sphere or referenceθηρίον: 'wild beast'; David sharpens the giant's κτήνεσιν ('beasts', v.44) to θηρίοις ('wild beasts'), intensifying the threatened savagery upon the Philistine dead.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive of place→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / land'; 'wild beasts of the earth.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the purpose clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γνώσεταιshall knowFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (recognition-formula)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω (fut. γνώσεται): 'know / recognize'; renders יָדַע; the 'recognition formula' (cf. Exod 7:5; 14:4) — the LORD's acts aim at universal acknowledgment of his deity; here 'all the earth shall know.'
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (with γῆ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; πᾶσα ἡ γῆ ('all the earth') universalizes the duel's significance beyond Israel and Philistia.
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearthNominativesubject of γνώσεται→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth'; the whole world is the audience of the LORD's victory through David.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of universal recognition.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of the ὅτι clause (existential)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (ἔστιν, existential, accented): 'there is'; the existential 'there is a God in Israel' asserts the LORD's reality against the giant's lifeless 'gods' (v.43).
θεὸςa GodNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the climactic word of David's confession — there is a (true, living) God in Israel.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ΙσραηλIsraeldative of place (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of place (indeclinable name).
47

καὶ γνώσεται πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία αὕτη ὅτι οὐκ ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ δόρατι σῴζει κύριος ὅτι τοῦ κυρίου ὁ πόλεμος καὶ παραδώσει κύριος ὑμᾶς εἰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not by sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD's, and the LORD will deliver you into our hands.

Second recognition-formula (the theological thesis stated)καὶ γνώσεται πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία αὕτη
The second γνώσεται-clause narrows the audience from 'all the earth' (v.46) to 'all this assembly' (the gathered armies) and states the chapter's thesis baldly: οὐκ ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ δόρατι σῴζει κύριος ('the LORD saves not by sword and spear'). The terse τοῦ κυρίου ὁ πόλεμος ('the battle is the LORD's') is the theological key to all of Israel's holy-war tradition.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γνώσεταιshall knowFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (recognition-formula)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω (fut.): 'know'; the second recognition-formula, now addressed to the assembled armies — they too will learn the lesson of the duel.
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (with ἐκκλησία)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all this assembly' — the gathered hosts who witness the duel.
theNominativearticle (with ἐκκλησία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκκλησίαassemblyNominativesubject of γνώσεται→ participant prominenceἐκκλησία: 'assembly / congregation'; renders קָהָל; in this military context the gathered host of Israel (and, by extension, the witnessing Philistines); the same word that elsewhere denotes the covenant congregation.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (with ἐκκλησία)→ participant referenceοὗτος (fem. αὕτη): 'this'; the demonstrative fixes the assembly as the present, gathered armies.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the thesis the assembly will learn.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with the means-phrase)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ(κ): the negation governs the instrumental phrase 'not by sword and spear.'
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'by' (Hebraism); 'not by sword and spear' negates exactly the giant's reliance (v.45).
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword'; the human weapon the LORD does not need; the same word as Saul's sword (v.39) and the giant's (v.45).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δόρατιspearDativedative of instrument (coordinate with ῥομφαίᾳ)→ sphere or referenceδόρυ (dat. δόρατι): 'spear'; the second human weapon disclaimed; together sword-and-spear = all human military means.
σῴζειsavesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · σῴζωmain verb of the ὅτι clause→ verbal action or stateσῴζω: 'save / deliver / rescue'; renders יָשַׁע / הוֹשִׁיעַ; the gnomic present states the abiding truth — salvation is the LORD's work, not the product of weaponry.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of σῴζει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton (יהוה); the LORD alone is the subject of saving — the central confession of the chapter.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the ground of the thesis.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with κυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουthe LORD'sGenitivegenitive of possession (predicate: 'the battle is the LORD's')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; the predicate genitive 'the battle is the LORD's' (τοῦ κυρίου ὁ πόλεμος) is the watchword of holy war (cf. 2 Chr 20:15) — the outcome belongs to God.
theNominativearticle (with πόλεμος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεμοςbattle / warNominativesubject of the verbless predicate-clause→ participant prominenceπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; 'the battle is the LORD's' — the war the giant declared (v.1) belongs to God, who alone decides it.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παραδώσειwill deliverFut Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the prophecy widened to the army)→ verbal action or stateπαραδίδωμι (fut.): 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן (בְּיַד); the LORD will deliver the whole Philistine force 'into our hands' — the victory extends beyond the duel to the rout of vv.51–53.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of παραδώσει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; again the LORD is the agent of victory.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object (the Philistines, plural)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you'; the plural shifts from the single giant to the whole Philistine host — all of them given over.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction/result)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction/result).
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('into our hands')→ object specificationχείρ (acc. pl. χεῖρας): 'hand / power'; 'into our hands' — the LORD's delivering of the enemy into Israel's power, the standard idiom of victory.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χεῖρας)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χεῖρας).
48

καὶ ἀνέστη ὁ ἀλλόφυλος καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς συνάντησιν Δαυιδ

And the Philistine rose and went to meet David.

Transition to the combat (opens section E)καὶ ἀνέστη ὁ ἀλλόφυλος
The brief narrative bridge (two aorists, ἀνέστη … ἐπορεύθη) ends the war of words and launches the action. εἰς συνάντησιν ('to meet') is neutral — the giant advances to the encounter that will be his last; the speed of the verse contrasts with the long arming-catalogue of vv.5–7.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (intransitive)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (intrans. aor.): 'rise / stand up / set out'; renders קוּם; the giant rises to engage — his last action before death.
theNominativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοςPhilistineNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the giant advances to the combat.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go / proceed'; the giant 'went to meet' David — the verb David used of his own faith-driven advance (vv.32,45) now describes the giant's doomed approach.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet').
συνάντησινa meetingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom εἰς συνάντησιν: 'to meet')→ object specificationσυνάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; the idiom εἰς συνάντησιν (+ gen.) renders לִקְרַאת ('to meet'); a stock LXX phrase for advancing to an encounter, here the fatal one.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive-sense object of συνάντησιν (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; in the idiom εἰς συνάντησιν Δαυιδ ('to meet David') the name functions as the genitive object though morphologically invariant.
49

καὶ ἐξέτεινεν Δαυιδ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ κάδιον καὶ ἔλαβεν ἐκεῖθεν λίθον ἕνα καὶ ἐσφενδόνησεν καὶ ἐπάταξεν τὸν ἀλλόφυλον ἐπὶ τὸ μέτωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ διέδυ ὁ λίθος διὰ τῆς περικεφαλαίας εἰς τὸ μέτωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν

And David stretched out his hand into the bag and took from there one stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; and the stone sank through the helmet into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

The decisive blow (climax of the action)καὶ ἐξέτεινεν Δαυιδ τὴν χεῖρα
A rapid chain of aorists (ἐξέτεινεν, ἔλαβεν, ἐσφενδόνησεν, ἐπάταξεν, διέδυ, ἔπεσεν) narrates the whole victory in a single breathless verse. One stone (λίθον ἕνα) of the five is enough; it sinks through the bronze helmet (διὰ τῆς περικεφαλαίας) — the very armor catalogued in v.5 — into the forehead, and the giant falls face-down. Note that in the short Greek there is no v.50 summary ('so David prevailed... with a sling and a stone, and there was no sword in David's hand'); the narrative goes straight from this fall to David's dispatching the giant with the giant's own sword (v.51).
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέτεινενstretched outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκτείνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἐκτείνω (aor.): 'stretch out / extend'; renders שָׁלַח (יָד); David reaches into his bag — the swift, practiced motion of the slinger.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἐξέτεινεν→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the hand that held staff and sling (v.40) now reaches for the stone.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κάδιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κάδιονbag / pouchAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationκάδιον: 'bag / pouch'; the shepherd's bag of v.40 into which David put the five stones; he draws one out.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor.): 'take'; David takes a single stone — the economy of the act underscores that the LORD, not the arsenal, wins the battle.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source)→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; from the bag.
λίθονstoneAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationλίθος: 'stone'; one of the five smooth stones (v.40); the giant had scorned David's 'stones' (v.43) — now a single one fells him.
ἕναoneAccusativenumeral adjective (with λίθον)→ measure or countεἷς (acc. ἕνα): 'one'; the emphatic 'one stone' — out of five, only one is needed; the contrast with the giant's five thousand shekels of armor (v.5) is the chapter's central irony.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσφενδόνησενslungAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σφενδονάωmain verb→ verbal action or stateσφενδονάω: 'sling / hurl with a sling'; cognate with σφενδόνη ('sling', v.40); renders קָלַע; the single decisive shot of the practiced slinger.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω (aor.): 'strike / smite'; the chapter's key combat-verb (vv.9,35,36) reaches its fulfillment — David strikes the giant exactly as he foretold (v.36) and as he struck lion and bear (v.35).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλονPhilistineAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν→ object specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; struck down by the single stone.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position of the blow)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position of the blow).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with μέτωπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέτωπονforeheadAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (point of impact)→ object specificationμέτωπον: 'forehead / brow'; renders מֵצַח; the one exposed spot — the stone strikes precisely where the bronze helmet (v.5) fails to protect.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μέτωπον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μέτωπον).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέδυsank through / penetratedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαδύωmain verb→ verbal action or stateδιαδύω (aor. διέδυ): 'pass through / penetrate / sink in'; the stone 'sank through' — a vivid detail (absent in MT) stressing that the missile pierced the very bronze that should have shielded the giant.
theNominativearticle (with λίθος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθοςstoneNominativesubject of διέδυ→ participant prominenceλίθος: 'stone'; the single stone, now the grammatical subject of its own penetrating act — the humble pebble that conquers the bronze fortress.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (path through)→ spatial or relational framingδιὰ: meaning 'through'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (path through).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with περικεφαλαίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περικεφαλαίαςhelmetGenitivegenitive object of διά (path: 'through the helmet')→ relational specificationπερικεφαλαία: 'helmet'; the same bronze helmet of v.5 (and the one Saul put on David, v.38) — its failure here is the dramatic and theological point: bronze cannot save against the LORD's chosen.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with μέτωπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέτωπονforeheadAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination of the stone)→ object specificationμέτωπον: 'forehead'; the stone lodges in the forehead — the killing wound.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μέτωπον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μέτωπον).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπίπτω (aor. ἔπεσεν): 'fall'; renders נָפַל; the giant falls 'on his face to the ground' — the prostration of the conquered, perhaps with an ironic echo of idols falling before the LORD (cf. Dagon, 5:3–4).
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (manner of falling)→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; renders פָּנִים; 'on his face' — the giant falls forward, prostrate; the same posture as Dagon before the ark (5:3–4).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πρόσωπον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πρόσωπον).
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (place of falling)→ object specificationγῆ: 'ground / earth'; the giant lies face-down on the ground — felled by a single stone, ready for the beheading of v.51.
51

καὶ ἔδραμεν Δαυιδ καὶ ἐπέστη ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐθανάτωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀφεῖλεν τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶδον οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ὅτι τέθνηκεν ὁ δυνατὸς αὐτῶν καὶ ἔφυγον

And David ran and stood over him and took his sword and killed him and cut off his head. And the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, and they fled.

The dispatch and the rout begin (v.50 absent)καὶ ἔδραμεν Δαυιδ
Because the short Greek omits v.50, the narrative runs directly from the giant's fall (v.49) to David's running to dispatch him. David has no sword of his own (he refused Saul's, v.39), so he kills the giant with the giant's own sword (τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ) and beheads him — fulfilling his prophecy (v.46, ἀφελῶ τὴν κεφαλήν). The sight of their dead δυνατός ('champion', cf. v.4) routs the Philistines.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδραμενranAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τρέχωmain verb→ verbal action or stateτρέχω (aor. ἔδραμεν): 'run'; renders רוּץ; David runs to finish what the stone began — swift decisiveness.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστηstood overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐφίστημιmain verb (intransitive)→ verbal action or stateἐφίστημι (intrans. aor.): 'stand over / take a stand upon'; David stands over the fallen giant — the posture of the victor.
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor.): 'take'; David seizes the giant's own sword — having no sword of his own (he refused Saul's, v.39); the irony that the giant is killed by his own weapon.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ῥομφαίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥομφαίανswordAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationῥομφαία: 'sword'; the giant's own sword — David uses the enemy's weapon, underscoring that 'the LORD saves not by sword' (v.47) yet turns the foe's sword against him.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the giant's sword)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the giant's sword).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθανάτωσενkilledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb→ verbal action or stateθανατόω (aor.): 'put to death / kill'; the same verb of David's killing lion and bear (v.35) — the giant dies as 'one of these' (v.36), exactly as David foretold.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφεῖλενcut off / took awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω (aor. ἀφεῖλεν): 'take away / cut off'; fulfills David's prophecy ἀφελῶ τὴν κεφαλήν (v.46); the same verb of removing Israel's reproach (v.36) — the beheading literally lifts the disgrace.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativedirect object of ἀφεῖλεν→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; the giant's head, severed here and carried to Jerusalem at v.54 — the trophy of victory.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλήν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλήν).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδονsawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb→ verbal action or stateὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see'; the Philistines see their champion dead — the sight that breaks their nerve.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἀλλόφυλοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject of εἶδον→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'foreigner'; the Philistine host, now leaderless, witnesses the fall of its champion.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of seeing)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the perceived fact — the champion is dead.
τέθνηκενis dead / has diedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωverb of the ὅτι clause→ verbal action or stateθνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead / have died'; the perfect emphasizes the abiding state — the champion is now and irreversibly dead, and with him the Philistines' confidence.
theNominativearticle (with δυνατός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνατὸςchampion / mighty oneNominativesubject of τέθνηκεν→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty one / champion'; the same word that introduced the giant (ἀνὴρ δυνατός, v.4); his death as 'their champion' (ὁ δυνατὸς αὐτῶν) is the collapse of Philistine might.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with δυνατός)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δυνατός).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφυγονthey fledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φεύγωmain verb→ verbal action or stateφεύγω (aor. ἔφυγον): 'flee'; renders נוּס; the Philistine rout begins — the wager of v.9 reversed, the foreigners fleeing rather than enslaving.
52

καὶ ἀνίστανται ἄνδρες Ισραηλ καὶ Ιουδα καὶ ἠλάλαξαν καὶ κατεδίωξαν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν ἕως εἰσόδου Γεθ καὶ ἕως τῆς πύλης Ἀσκαλῶνος καὶ ἔπεσαν τραυματίαι τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ τῶν πυλῶν καὶ ἕως Γεθ καὶ ἕως Ακκαρων

And the men of Israel and Judah rose and raised the war-cry and pursued them as far as the entrance of Gath and to the gate of Ashkelon; and the slain of the Philistines fell along the road of the gates, and as far as Gath and as far as Ekron.

The Israelite pursuit (the rout in full)καὶ ἀνίστανται ἄνδρες Ισραηλ
The terrified army of v.11 now rises (ἀνίστανται, historic present) with a war-cry (ἠλάλαξαν) and pursues. The geography — Gath, Ashkelon, Ekron — traces the rout back into Philistine territory, the slain falling along the road. The reversal is complete: those who 'were greatly afraid' (v.11) now drive the enemy home.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνίστανταιrisePres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (mid., historic pres.): 'rise / stand up'; the historic present quickens the narrative as the once-paralyzed Israelites spring to the pursuit.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'men'; the fighting-men of Israel and Judah — the same muster of v.2, now emboldened.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of ἄνδρες (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of ἄνδρες (indeclinable name).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitival modifier of ἄνδρες (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Judah); indeclinable (kind 'x', no case); 'the men of Israel and Judah' anticipates the later division of the kingdom while here united in pursuit.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠλάλαξανraised the war-cryAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀλαλάζωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀλαλάζω (aor.): 'raise a war-cry / shout aloud'; renders הֵרִיעַ; the battle-shout of pursuit — the army's voice now raised in triumph where before there was only fear (v.11).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεδίωξανpursuedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταδιώκωmain verb→ verbal action or stateκαταδιώκω: 'pursue closely / chase down'; renders רָדַף; the intensive κατα- marks a relentless pursuit driving the enemy back to their cities.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (pursuit)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; 'after them' — in pursuit of the fleeing Philistines.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ὀπίσω.
ἕωςas far asimproper preposition + genitive (extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'as far as / until'; renders עַד; marks the extent of the pursuit to the Philistine cities.
εἰσόδουentranceGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationεἴσοδος: 'entrance / approach'; 'the entrance of Gath' marks the edge of Philistine territory reached in the chase.
ΓεθGathgenitival modifier of εἰσόδου (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓεθ: indeclinable; Goliath's own city (v.4); the pursuit drives the routed army back toward the champion's home.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςas far asimproper preposition + genitive (extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'as far as'; here it marks the relation signaled by improper preposition + genitive (extent).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πύλης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύληςgateGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationπύλη: 'gate'; renders שַׁעַר; the city-gate of Ashkelon, another extent of the pursuit.
Ἀσκαλῶνοςof AshkelonGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πύλης: 'gate of Ashkelon')→ relational specificationἈσκαλών (gen. Ἀσκαλῶνος): 'Ashkelon', one of the five Philistine cities; here declinable (third-declension), hence parsed with case; the coastal city marking the western reach of the rout.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπεσανfellAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπίπτω (aor. ἔπεσαν): 'fall'; the Philistine slain fall along the road — the same verb as the giant's fall (v.49), now multiplied across the army.
τραυματίαιslain / woundedNominativesubject of ἔπεσαν→ participant prominenceτραυματίας: 'wounded / slain (one)'; renders חָלָל; the casualties of the rout strewn along the way.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive (partitive/possessive: 'of the Philistines')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'foreigner'; the slain are the Philistines — David's prophecy of their corpses (v.46) is fulfilled.
ἐνon / alongpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ὁδῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷroad / wayDativedative of place ('along the road')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'road / way'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the route of the flight, lined with the fallen.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with πυλῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυλῶνgatesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ὁδῷ: 'road of the gates')→ relational specificationπύλη (gen. pl. πυλῶν): 'gate'; 'the road of the gates' — the way leading to the Philistine city-gates (cf. Shaaraim, MT).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςas far asimproper preposition + genitive (extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'as far as'; here it marks the relation signaled by improper preposition + genitive (extent).
ΓεθGathgenitival object of ἕως (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓεθ: indeclinable; the rout extends to Gath.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςas far asimproper preposition + genitive (extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'as far as'; here it marks the relation signaled by improper preposition + genitive (extent).
ΑκκαρωνEkrongenitival object of ἕως (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑκκαρων: transliteration of Hebrew עֶקְרוֹן (Ekron), the northernmost Philistine city; indeclinable; the pursuit reaches the full breadth of Philistia.
53

καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν ἄνδρες Ισραηλ ἐκκλίνοντες ὀπίσω τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ κατεπάτουν τὰς παρεμβολὰς αὐτῶν

And the men of Israel returned from pursuing the Philistines and trampled their camps.

Return and plunder (aftermath of the rout)καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν ἄνδρες Ισραηλ
The army returns from the chase and tramples (κατεπάτουν, imperfect of repeated action) the abandoned Philistine camps — the παρεμβολαί mustered at the chapter's opening (v.1) now overrun and plundered, framing the whole episode with the camp-motif.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστρεψανreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναστρέφωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀναστρέφω (aor.): 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the army turns back from the pursuit to plunder the camps.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'men'; the men of Israel returning victorious.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of ἄνδρες (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of ἄνδρες (indeclinable name).
ἐκκλίνοντεςturning aside / from pursuingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · ἐκκλίνωcircumstantial participle (manner/attendant circumstance)→ verbal action or stateἐκκλίνω (pres. part.): 'turn aside / turn away'; the participle 'turning aside (from) after the Philistines' describes the army breaking off the pursuit to return; ὀπίσω τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ('after the Philistines') marks what they turn back from.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (direction of the abandoned pursuit)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; 'after the Philistines' — the pursuit now broken off.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'foreigner'; the fleeing enemy the army ceases to chase.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεπάτουνtrampled / plunderedImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · καταπατέωmain verb (imperfect of repeated/extended action)→ verbal action or stateκαταπατέω (impf.): 'trample down / overrun'; renders שָׁסַס ('plunder') or בּוֹסס; the imperfect depicts the extended, thorough overrunning and despoiling of the abandoned Philistine camps.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὰςcampsAccusativedirect object of κατεπάτουν→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army'; the Philistine encampments first mustered at v.1 (τὰς παρεμβολὰς αὐτῶν) are now overrun — an inclusio framing the battle from muster to plunder.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with παρεμβολάς)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παρεμβολάς).
54

καὶ ἔλαβεν Δαυιδ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἀλλοφύλου καὶ ἤνεγκεν αὐτὴν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἔθηκεν ἐν τῷ σκηνώματι αὐτοῦ

And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put his weapons in his own tent.

Closing notice: the trophies (chapter conclusion)καὶ ἔλαβεν Δαυιδ τὴν κεφαλὴν
The chapter closes with David disposing of the spoils: the giant's head carried to Jerusalem (an anachronistic notice, since the city is not yet Israelite — a sign of the verse's place in the developing David tradition), and the giant's weapons (σκεύη) kept in David's own tent. The head and the weapons are the dual trophies of a victory that belonged, as David confessed, to the LORD (vv.46–47).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor.): 'take'; David takes the head as a trophy of the LORD's victory.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable name).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; the giant's severed head (v.51), now the victory-trophy carried to Jerusalem — the head once helmeted in bronze (v.5).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἀλλοφύλου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλουPhilistineGenitivegenitive of possession ('head of the Philistine')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'the foreigner'; the giant named only by his epithet to the very end.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤνεγκενbroughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φέρωmain verb→ verbal action or stateφέρω (aor. ἤνεγκεν): 'carry / bring'; David brings the head to Jerusalem — a notice often read as anticipating his later capture of the city (2 Sam 5), and a sign of the layered growth of the David tradition.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (the head)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the head).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemaccusative of destination (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלִַם; indeclinable (kind 'x', no case); at this point in the narrative not yet an Israelite city (cf. 2 Sam 5:6–9), so the notice is widely seen as anachronistic — a window onto the tradition's later shaping.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with σκεύη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύηweapons / equipmentAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκεν (fronted)→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'implement / weapon / equipment'; renders כֵּלִים; the giant's armor and weapons (cf. the catalogue of vv.5–7) kept as trophies; the sword is later said to be kept at the sanctuary at Nob (21:9).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the giant's weapons)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the giant's weapons).
ἔθηκενputAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb→ verbal action or stateτίθημι (aor. ἔθηκεν): 'put / place / set'; renders שׂוּם / נָתַן; Joab deliberately positions Uriah at the lethal spot — the verb of calculated placement makes his complicity explicit.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῷtheDativearticle (with σκηνώματι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνώματιtent / dwellingDativedative of place ('in his tent')→ sphere or referenceσκήνωμα: 'tent / dwelling / habitation'; renders אֹהֶל; David's own tent, where the trophies are kept — the chapter's final word locates the spoils with the new champion of Israel.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with σκηνώματι)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with σκηνώματι).