The Meaning of 1 Samuel 17:24 Explained

1 Samuel 17:24

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

YLT: and all the men of Israel when they see the man flee from his presence, and are greatly afraid.

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 1 Samuel 17:24 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 17:17-30 - David Unawed By The Giant
At this juncture David arrived in the camp, sent by Jesse to inquire after the welfare of his three elder sons, who had followed Saul to the war. He also brought them provisions, and a present for the captain of their troop. On arriving at the trenches, he found the army in battle-array but not daring to advance. When the whole story was detailed to the young shepherd, he looked at the incident and challenge from the spiritual side. This event, therefore, marked a turning-point not only in his own history, but in that of his people. One, at least, was found in their ranks who looked at things from God's standpoint, counted on the God of the ancient Covenant, and was prepared to venture all on faith, 1 Samuel 17:26; 1 Samuel 17:36-37.
His brother imputed to him a restless ambition, an unworthy curiosity. Much in the same way the kinsfolk of our Savior misunderstood His motives and sought to interrupt His work. But David was undaunted and, answering his brother kindly and gently, he pressed on with his inquiries and protests, until the tidings of the young champion reached the king. The victory over himself when Eliab reproached him was part of his preparation for the coming conflict. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 17

1  The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle
4  Goliath challenges a combat
12  David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge
28  Eliab chides him
30  He is brought to Saul
32  shows the reason of his confidence
38  and slays the giant
55  Saul takes notice of David

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 17:24 mean?

And all the men of Israel when they saw - the man and fled from him and were afraid dreadfully
וְכֹל֙ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בִּרְאוֹתָ֖ם אֶת־ הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיָּנֻ֙סוּ֙ מִפָּנָ֔יו וַיִּֽירְא֖וּ מְאֹֽד

וְכֹל֙  And  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אִ֣ישׁ  the  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
בִּרְאוֹתָ֖ם  when  they  saw 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאִ֑ישׁ  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וַיָּנֻ֙סוּ֙  and  fled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
מִפָּנָ֔יו  from  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וַיִּֽירְא֖וּ  and  were  afraid 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מְאֹֽד  dreadfully 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.