And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
Saul said to David, 'You can't go fight this Philistine warrior. You're just a young man, but he's been a trained soldier his whole life.'
King Saul is telling David that he's too young and inexperienced to face the giant warrior Goliath in battle.
📚 Historical Context
This conversation takes place when young David volunteers to fight the Philistine champion Goliath, who had been challenging Israel's army for 40 days. King Saul is expressing the natural human concern that a shepherd boy couldn't possibly defeat a seasoned warrior who stood over nine feet tall and wore heavy armor. The Philistines were Israel's enemies, and this single combat would determine the outcome of the larger battle between the two armies.
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