1 Samuel 17 in the early church

[LXX: 1 Kingdoms; Vulgate: 1 Kings]

80 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 Samuel 17, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 3 · 4 · 10 · 12 · 16 · 26 · 32 · 33 · 34 · 35 · 38 · 39 · 40 · 41 · 42 · 45 · 49 · 50 · 51

1 Samuel 17:1

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:1–40Sermon 32.6 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430

1 Samuel 17:3

The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:3Apologetic Book 2.5 · Orosiusquotation, high confidenceca. 415–416

1 Samuel 17:4

Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:4Letter to Marcellinus 24 · Athanasius of Alexandriaallusion, medium confidenceuncertain, after 335
1 Sam 17:4Homilies 20.1 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 363-378
1 Sam 17:4–7Epigram 1 · Damasus I of Romeallusion, high confidence366–384
1 Sam 17:4On the Good of Marriage 29 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence401
1 Sam 17:4–7Apologetic Book 2.5 · Orosiusallusion, high confidenceca. 415–416

1 Samuel 17:10

Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:10Apologetic Book 2.7 · Orosiusallusion, high confidenceca. 415–416

1 Samuel 17:12

Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. And in the days of Saul, Jesse was old and well along in years.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:12Apologetic Book 3.2 · Orosiusecho, low confidenceca. 415–416

1 Samuel 17:16

For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:16Apologetic Book 2.7 · Orosiusallusion, medium confidenceca. 415–416

1 Samuel 17:26

David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:26Explanation of Twelve Psalms 1.7.3 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-397

1 Samuel 17:32

And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:32Exposition of Psalm 118 18.24.1 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 17:32–37Part 2, chapter 25 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

1 Samuel 17:33

But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:33Exposition of Psalm 118 18.24.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397

1 Samuel 17:34

David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:34On Pascha 71 · text not on this site · Melito of Sardisecho, low confidenceca. 160-180
1 Sam 17:34Exposition of Psalm 118 14.4.1 · Ambrosequotation, medium confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 17:34–35Part 2, chapter 25 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

1 Samuel 17:35

I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:35Exposition of Psalm 118 18.24.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397

1 Samuel 17:38

Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:38–39Sermon 32.7 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
1 Sam 17:38The Conferences 24.8 · John Cassianallusion, high confidenceca. 426–429
1 Sam 17:38–51Part 2, chapter 25 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

1 Samuel 17:39

David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them. “I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So David took them off.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:39On the Duties of the Clergy 1.35 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386–390
1 Sam 17:39The Conferences 24.8 · John Cassianallusion, high confidenceca. 426–429

1 Samuel 17:40

And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:40Oration 40.43 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
1 Sam 17:40Letter 112.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
1 Sam 17:40Letter 75.2 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
1 Sam 17:40Sermon 32.8 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
1 Sam 17:40Sermon 32.10 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
1 Sam 17:40The Conferences 24.8 · John Cassianallusion, high confidenceca. 426–429

1 Samuel 17:41

Now the Philistine came closer and closer to David, with his shield-bearer before him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:41–50Demonstration 9.3 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345

1 Samuel 17:42

When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:42–51Demonstration 14.10 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
1 Sam 17:42Exposition of Psalm 118 18.24.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397

1 Samuel 17:45

But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:45Commentary on John 20.220 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 230–248
1 Sam 17:45On the Duties of the Clergy 1.24 · Ambroseallusion, low confidenceca. 386–390
1 Sam 17:45Exposition of Psalm 118 18.24.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 17:45Sermon 153.11 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 391-430

1 Samuel 17:49

Then David reached into his bag, took out a stone, and slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:49–51Homilies on Psalms 36-38 1.1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
1 Sam 17:49To Quirinus 2.16 · Cyprian of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
1 Sam 17:49Bordeaux Pilgrim 586 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence333
1 Sam 17:49Oration 2.39 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidenceca. 362–383
1 Sam 17:49Oration 5.29 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
1 Sam 17:49–51Oration 13.2 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
1 Sam 17:49Oration 40.17 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidenceca. 362–383
1 Sam 17:49–54Epigram 1 · Damasus I of Romeallusion, high confidence366–384
1 Sam 17:49Letter 46.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
1 Sam 17:49Letter 112.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
1 Sam 17:49On the Trinity 2 · Faustinusallusion, high confidenceca. 380–384
1 Sam 17:49–51Chapter 6 · Nicetas, bishop of Remesianaallusion, high confidenceca. 380–414
1 Sam 17:49–51Book of Heresies 108.4 · Philastrius of Bresciaallusion, high confidenceca. 380s
1 Sam 17:49Apology of the Prophet David 26 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-390
1 Sam 17:49On the Duties of the Clergy 1.35 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386–390
1 Sam 17:49Exposition of Psalm 118 17.25.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 17:49Homilies on Matthew 26.5 · John Chrysostomallusion, medium confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 17:49Sermon 32.8 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
1 Sam 17:49Sermon 32.15 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 391-430
1 Sam 17:49Poem 16, lines 127–157 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 393–431
1 Sam 17:49Poem 26, lines 130–161 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 393–431
1 Sam 17:49–51Hymn 1 (108 lines) · Seduliusallusion, high confidenceca. 425-450
1 Sam 17:49Chapter 6 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 437-450
1 Sam 17:49–51Chapter 16 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 437-450
1 Sam 17:49–51Against Five Heresies 1 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 437-450
1 Sam 17:49Against Five Heresies 6 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 437-450

1 Samuel 17:50

Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:50On Jealousy and Envy 5 · Cyprian of Carthageallusion, medium confidenceca. 256
1 Sam 17:50Demonstration 14.13 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
1 Sam 17:50Tractates on the Psalms 143.1 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
1 Sam 17:50Tractates 1.2.3 · Zeno of Veronaallusion, high confidenceca. 362-380
1 Sam 17:50Homilies 11.1 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 363-378
1 Sam 17:50–54Question 61, section 1 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 17:50Second Apology of David 15 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-397
1 Sam 17:50Apology of the Prophet David 12 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-390
1 Sam 17:50Homilies on Matthew 26.7 · John Chrysostomallusion, medium confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 17:50Poem 24, lines 600–632 · Paulinus of Nolaecho, medium confidenceca. 393–431
1 Sam 17:50Letters 21.1 · Paulinus of Nolaecho, medium confidenceca. 394–413

1 Samuel 17:51

David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 17:51Letter 70.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
1 Sam 17:51Letter 112.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
1 Sam 17:51Psalm 151 · Apollinaris of Laodiceaallusion, high confidenceuncertain (fourth to sixth century)
1 Sam 17:51Apology of the Prophet David 26 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-390
1 Sam 17:51Exposition of Psalm 118 18.25.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 17:51Exposition of Psalm 118 21.11.1 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 17:51Letter 75.2 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430