1 Samuel 17:21 kjva — For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

King James Version with Apocrypha

"For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army."

— 1 Samuel 17:21, King James Version with Apocrypha

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1 Samuel 17:21 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 17 — Context

18

And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

19

Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20

And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

21

For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

22

And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

23

And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

24

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

1 Samuel 17:21 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 17:21 say?
1 Samuel 17:21 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.”
Where is 1 Samuel 17:21 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 17:21 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17, verse 21.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 17:21.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 17:21 in?
1 Samuel 17:21 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 17:21?
1 Samuel 17:21 reads (KJVA): “For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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