1st Samuel Chapter 17 verse 38 Holy Bible
And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.
read chapter 17 in ASV
Then Saul gave David his clothing of war, and put a head-dress of brass on his head and had him clothed with a coat of metal.
read chapter 17 in BBE
And Saul clothed David with his dress, and put a helmet of bronze upon his head, and clothed him with a corselet.
read chapter 17 in DARBY
And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
read chapter 17 in KJV
And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
read chapter 17 in WBT
Saul clad David with his clothing, and he put a helmet of brass on his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.
read chapter 17 in WEB
And Saul clotheth David with his long robe, and hath put a helmet of brass on his head, and doth clothe him with a coat of mail.
read chapter 17 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 38-40. - Saul armed David with his armour. Rather, "Saul clad David in his war dress." The word does not mean arms, either offensive or defensive; for in 1 Samuel 4:12, where it is rendered "clothes," we read of its being rent. It occurs again in 1 Samuel 18:4, and is there rendered "garments." Strictly it was the soldier's coat, worn under his armour, and girt close to the body by the sword belt. It does not follow that David was as tall as Saul because he thus put on his military coat; for it would be adjusted to the body by the belt, and its length was not a matter of much consequence. When, then, it is said that David girded his sword upon his armour, it means upon this coat, though the corselet of mail would also be worn over it. He assayed to go. I.e. he made an attempt at going, took a short walk thus arrayed, making trial all the while of his equipments; and he found them so cumbrous that he felt that he would have no chance against the Philistine except as a light-armed soldier. The agility of his movements would then make him a match for one so heavily overweighted as Goliath. Wearing, therefore, only his shepherd's dress, armed only with a sling, David descended into the ravine which separated the two armies, chose there five pebbles, and, clambering up the other side, advanced towards the Philistine. For brook the Hebrew has "torrent bed." Condor speaks of a torrent flowing through the ravine (see on ver. 2). COMBAT OF DAVID AND GOLIATH (vers. 41-54).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(38) And Saul armed David with his armour.--But the king was determined to omit no earthly means of securing victory to his young champion, and we read how he made him try on his own various pieces of fighting array, doubtless the best-tempered and costliest that the camp of Israel possessed. The word rendered "his armour" literally signifies his garments, that is, the dress worn beneath the mail. Upon this was buckled on the heavy metal armour suit, with the great fighting sword and the royal helm. It is not necessary to suppose David was at all of the same proportions as Saul, for much of the dress could have been speedily adjusted to the requirements of one slighter and shorter than the king; besides, the result shows they were, in spite of alteration, far too heavy and cumbersome. "I cannot go with these," simply said the brave boy, his purpose, however, of meeting the Philistine giant quite unshaken, though he found his comparatively weak person unable to bear the weight of the king's panoply or to wield his arms.
