Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 10th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

New Life Version

1 Samuel 17:7

The long part of his spear was like a cross-piece used on a cloth-maker. The iron head of his spear weighed as much as 600 pieces of silver. A man walked before him to carry his shield.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armor-Bearer;   Beam;   Iron;   Shekel;   Spear;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Shields;   Spears;   Stories for Children;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Iron;   Philistines, the;   Shields;   Spear;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Goliath;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Philistia, philistines;   Shekel;   Weapons;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Beam;   Iron;   Shield;   Weaving, Weavers;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Arms;   Iron (2);   Jaare-Oregim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Loom;   Mediator;   Minerals and Metals;   Philistines, the;   Samuel, Books of;   Weights and Measures;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Armour, Arms;   Arts and Crafts;   David;   Giant;   Samuel, Books of;   Spinning and Weaving;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Goliath ;   Weaver, Weaving;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Goliath;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Armor;   Arms;   Goliath;   Handicraft;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Arms, Armor;   Handicraft;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Armies;   Arms;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Armor;   Armor-Bearer;   Beam;   Goliath;   Head;   Iron (1);   Philistines;   Weaving;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Arms - armor;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Copper;   Iron;   Shield;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him.
Hebrew Names Version
The staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went before him.
King James Version
And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
Lexham English Bible
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam and the point of his spear weighed six hundred iron shekels. His shield bearer was walking in front of him.
English Standard Version
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.
New Century Version
The wooden part of his larger spear was like a weaver's rod, and its blade weighed about fifteen pounds. The officer who carried his shield walked in front of him.
New English Translation
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer was walking before him.
Amplified Bible
The [wooden] shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam; the blade-head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And a shield-bearer walked in front of him.
New American Standard Bible
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-carrier walked in front of him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the shaft of his speare was like a weauers beame: and his speare head weyed sixe hundreth shekels of yron: and one bearing a shielde went before him.
Legacy Standard Bible
And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.
Contemporary English Version
and his spear was so big that the iron spearhead alone weighed more than fifteen pounds. A soldier always walked in front of Goliath to carry his shield.
Complete Jewish Bible
The shaft of his spear was as big as a weaver's beam, and the iron spearhead weighed fifteen pounds. His shield-bearer went ahead of him.
Darby Translation
And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and the shield-bearer went before him.
Easy-to-Read Version
The wooden part of his spear was as big as a weaver's rod. The spear's blade weighed 15 pounds. Goliath's helper walked in front of him, carrying Goliath's shield.
George Lamsa Translation
And the staff of his spear was like a weavers beam, and his spears head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shieldbearer went before him.
Good News Translation
His spear was as thick as the bar on a weaver's loom, and its iron head weighed about fifteen pounds. A soldier walked in front of him carrying his shield.
Literal Translation
And the wood of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and the blade of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And the shield bearer went before him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and the shaft of his speare was like a weuers lome, and the yron of his speare had sixe hundreth Sicles of yron, and his wapen bearer wente before him.
American Standard Version
And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went before him.
Bible in Basic English
The stem of his spear was as long as a cloth-worker's rod, and its head was made of six hundred shekels' weight of iron: and one went before him with his body-cover.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the shaft of his speare was lyke a weauers beame, and his speare head wayed sixe hundred sicles of iron: And one bearing a shielde went before him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him.
King James Version (1611)
And the staffe of his speare was like a weauers beame, and his speares head weighed sixe hundred shekels of yron: and one bearing a shield, went before him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the spear’s head was formed of six hundred shekels of iron; and his armour-bearer went before him.
English Revised Version
And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield–bearer went before him.
Berean Standard Bible
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. In addition, his shield bearer went before him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe `the schaft of his spere was as the beem of webbis; forsothe thilke yrun of his spere hadde sixe hundrid siclis of yrun; and his squier yede bifor hym.
Young's Literal Translation
and the wood of his spear [is] like a beam of weavers', and the flame of his spear [is] six hundred shekels of iron, and the bearer of the buckler is going before him.
Update Bible Version
And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went before him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the staff of his spear [was] like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
World English Bible
The staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went before him.
New King James Version
Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.
New Living Translation
The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver's beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
New Revised Standard
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, the shaft of his spear, was like a weaver's beam, and, the flashing head of his spear, was six hundred shekels of iron, - and, his shield-bearer, was coming on before him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred sicles of iron: and his armourbearer went before him.
Revised Standard Version
And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.

Contextual Overview

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. They were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah. They set up their tents between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and set up their tents in the valley of Elah. They came up dressed for battle to fight against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. 4 Then a strong fighter came out from the armies of the Philistines. His name was Goliath, from Gath. He was almost twice as tall as most men. 5 He had a head covering of brass, and wore brass battle-clothes that weighed as much as 5,000 silver pieces. 6 He wore brass leg-coverings, and had a brass spear on his shoulders. 7 The long part of his spear was like a cross-piece used on a cloth-maker. The iron head of his spear weighed as much as 600 pieces of silver. A man walked before him to carry his shield. 8 Goliath stood and called out to the army of Israel, saying, "Why have you come out dressed for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I fight him and kill him, then you must become our servants and work for us." 10 Again the Philistine said, "I stand against the army of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the staff: 2 Samuel 21:19, 1 Chronicles 11:23, 1 Chronicles 20:5

Cross-References

Genesis 15:18
The Lord made an agreement with Abram on that day. He said, "I have given this land to your children and to their children's children, from the river of Egypt as far as the big Euphrates River,
Genesis 17:5
No more will your name be Abram. But your name will be Abraham. For I will make you the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:6
Many will come from you. I will make nations of you. Kings will come from you.
Genesis 17:7
I will make My agreement between Me and you and your children after you through their whole lives for all time. I will be God to you and to your children's children after you.
Genesis 17:8
I will give to you and your children after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan for yourselves forever. And I will be their God."
Genesis 17:9
Then God said to Abraham, "You must keep My agreement, you and your children after you for all time.
Genesis 17:11
In this religious act the skin is cut off from the end of your sex part. This will be the special act of the agreement between Me and you.
Genesis 17:16
And I will bring good to her. I will give you a son by her. I will bring good to her. And she will be the mother of nations. Kings of many people will come from her."
Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed. He said to himself, "Will a child be born to a man who is 100 years old?
Genesis 28:13
And he saw the Lord standing above them. He said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your children after you the land where you are lying.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam,.... The wooden part of it, held in the hand; this for thickness was like the beam in the weaver's loom, about which the warp, or else the web, is rolled; and it is conjectured that, in proportion to the stature of Goliath, his spear must be twenty six feet long, since Hector's in Homer m was eleven cubits, or sixteen feet and a half:

and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; the iron part of the spear, the point of it, which has its name in Hebrew from a flame of fire, because when brandished it looks shining and flaming; and being the weight of six hundred shekels, amounted to eighteen pounds and three quarters of avoirdupois weight, and the whole spear is supposed to weigh thirty seven pounds and a half; and the whole of this man's armour is thought to weigh two hundred and seventy two pounds, thirteen ounces n; which was a prodigious weight for a man to carry, and go into battle with; and one may well wonder how he could be able with such a weight about him to move and lay about in an engagement; though this is nothing in comparison of the weight some men have carried. Pliny o tells us that he saw one Athanatus come into the theatre clothed with a leaden breastplate of five hundred pounds weight, and shod with buskins of the same weight:

and one bearing a shield went before him; which when engaged in battle he held in his own hand, and his sword in the other; the former was reckoned at thirty pounds, and the latter at four pounds, one ounce; though one would think he had no occasion for a shield, being so well covered with armour all over; so that the carrying of it before him might be only a matter of form and state. His spear is the only piece of armour that was of iron, all the rest were of brass; and Hesiod p, writing of the brazen age, says, their arms and their houses were all of brass, for then there was no iron; and so Lucretius q affirms that the use of brass was before iron; but both are mentioned together, :-, hence Mars is called χαλχεος αρης r.

m Iliad. 18. n Hostius, ut supra. o Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 20. p Opera & Dies, l. 1. ver. 147, 148. q "De rerum natura". l. 5. & "prior aeris erat", &c. r Homer. Iliad. 5. ver. 704, 859, 864. Pindar. Olymp. Ode 10.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Spear’s-head - literally, “the flame of his spear,” the metal part which flashed like a flame.

Six hundred shekels - i. e., between seventeen and eighteen pounds avoirdupois.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 17:7. The staff on his spear was like a weaver's beam — Either like that on which the warp is rolled, or that on which the cloth is rolled. We know not how thick this was, because there were several sorts of looms, and the sizes of the beams very dissimilar. Our woollen, linen, cotton, and silk looms are all different in the size of their beams; and I have seen several that I should not suppose too thick, though they might be too short, for Goliath's spear.

His spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron] That is, his spear's head was of iron, and it weighed six hundred shekels; this, according to the former computation, would amount to eighteen pounds twelve ounces.

And one bearing a shield — הצנה hatstsinnah, from צן tsan, pointed or penetrating, if it do not mean some kind of a lance, must mean a shield, with what is called the umbo, a sharp protuberance, in the middle, with which they could as effectually annoy their enemies as defend themselves. Many of the old Highland targets were made with a projecting dagger in the centre. Taking the proportions of things unknown to those known, the armour of Goliath is supposed to have weighed not less than two hundred and seventy-two pounds thirteen ounces! Plutarch informs us that the ordinary weight of a soldier's panoply, or complete armour, was one talent, or sixty pounds; and that one Alcimus, in the army of Demetrius, was considered as a prodigy, because his panoply weighed two talents, or one hundred and twenty pounds.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile