1 Chronicles 20:5
New International Version
In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.

New Living Translation
During another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of Lahmi’s spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!

English Standard Version
And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Berean Standard Bible
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

King James Bible
And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.

New King James Version
Again there was war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

New American Standard Bible
And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

NASB 1995
And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

NASB 1977
And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Legacy Standard Bible
And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Amplified Bible
There was war again with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Christian Standard Bible
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.

American Standard Version
And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

Contemporary English Version
In another battle against the Philistines, Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath from Gath, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's beam.

English Revised Version
And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When more fighting broke out with the Philistines, Elhanan, son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath. (The shaft of Lahmi's spear was like a beam used by weavers.)

Good News Translation
There was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath, whose spear had a shaft as thick as the bar on a weaver's loom.

International Standard Version
There was also another battle against the Philistines, when Jair's son Elhanan killed Lahmi the Gittite, Goliath's brother, whose spear was as big as a weaver's beam.

Majority Standard Bible
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

NET Bible
There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver's loom.

New Heart English Bible
There was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear-staff was like a weaver's beam.

World English Bible
Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there is war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan son of Jair strikes Lahmi, brother of Goliath the Gittite, the wood of whose spear [is] like a weavers’ beam.

Young's Literal Translation
And there is again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair smiteth Lahmi, brother of Goliath the Gittite, the wood of whose spear is like a beam of weavers.

Smith's Literal Translation
And there will be yet war with the rovers; and Elhanan son of Jair will strike Lahmi the brother of Goliah the Gathite, and the wood of his spear as a weaver's beam.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Another battle also was fought against the Philistines, in which Adeodatus the son of Saltus a Bethlehemite slew the brother of Goliath the Gethite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Also, another war was undertaken against the Philistines, in which Adeodatus, a son of the forest, a Bethlehemite, struck the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the wood of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

New American Bible
There was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan, the son of Jair, slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.

New Revised Standard Version
Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi of the descendants of the giants, who was the brother of Goliath the mighty man of Gath, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He who was the brother of GulithGulyath, a Giant who was from Gath, and the point of his spear was thick as a weaver’s beam.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there was war again with the Philistines; and Eleanan the son of Jair smote Lachmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, and the wood of his spear was as a weavers' beam.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Battles Against the Philistines
4Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued. 5Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 6And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha,…

Cross References
2 Samuel 21:19
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

1 Samuel 17:4-7
Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height, / and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels, / and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. ...

1 Samuel 17:49-51
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. / 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. / 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.

2 Samuel 21:15-22
Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted. / Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. / But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.” ...

1 Samuel 17:23
And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.

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.

1 Samuel 17:45-47
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. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 17:10
Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man to fight!”

1 Samuel 17:36
Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

1 Samuel 17:54
David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.

1 Samuel 17:58
“Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul. “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.

1 Samuel 21:9
The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

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?”

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!”

1 Samuel 17:37
David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”


Treasury of Scripture

And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.

Jair

2 Samuel 21:19
And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

Jaare-oregim

1 Samuel 17:4
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

1 Samuel 21:9
And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

1 Samuel 22:10
And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

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Battle Beam Cloth-Worker's Death Elhanan Elha'nan Gittite Goliath Jair Ja'ir Killed Philistines Rod Shaft Slew Smiteth Smote Spear Staff War Weavers Weaver's Wood
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Battle Beam Cloth-Worker's Death Elhanan Elha'nan Gittite Goliath Jair Ja'ir Killed Philistines Rod Shaft Slew Smiteth Smote Spear Staff War Weavers Weaver's Wood
1 Chronicles 20
1. Rabbah is besieged by Joab, spoiled by David, and the people thereof tortured
4. Three giants are slain in overthrows of the Philistines.














And there was another battle
This phrase indicates the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Philistines, a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament. The Hebrew word for "battle" is "מִלְחָמָה" (milchamah), which signifies not just physical combat but also spiritual warfare. This reminds us of the constant spiritual battles believers face, echoing Ephesians 6:12, where Paul speaks of wrestling not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces.

with the Philistines
The Philistines were a significant adversarial nation to Israel, often representing opposition to God's people. Archaeological findings, such as those in Ashkelon, provide insight into their advanced culture and military prowess. Spiritually, the Philistines can symbolize the worldly challenges and temptations that believers must overcome through faith and reliance on God.

and Elhanan son of Jair
Elhanan, meaning "God is gracious," is a lesser-known warrior in David's army. His lineage, "son of Jair," connects him to the tribe of Judah, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises through Judah's line. This highlights how God uses individuals, regardless of their fame, to accomplish His purposes, encouraging believers to remain faithful in their unique callings.

killed Lahmi
The act of killing Lahmi signifies a victory over formidable foes. The name "Lahmi" is derived from the Hebrew root "לחם" (lechem), meaning "bread" or "warrior," suggesting a strong adversary. This victory is a testament to God's empowerment of His people to overcome even the most daunting challenges, reflecting the assurance found in Philippians 4:13.

the brother of Goliath the Gittite
Goliath, the giant defeated by David, is a symbol of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The mention of his brother, Lahmi, reinforces the idea that challenges persist, but God's deliverance is consistent. The term "Gittite" refers to Gath, a Philistine city, reminding us of the historical enmity between Israel and the Philistines and God's faithfulness in delivering His people.

the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam
This description emphasizes the formidable nature of Lahmi's weaponry, similar to Goliath's, underscoring the might of the enemy. The "weaver’s beam" suggests a large and heavy spear, symbolizing the overwhelming nature of the challenges believers face. Yet, it also serves as a reminder that no weapon formed against God's people shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17), as God equips His followers with spiritual armor to stand firm.

(5) There was war again.--Samuel adds, "in Gob." The proper name is probably a transcriber's repetition; the Syriac and Arabic there are without it.

Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite.--The Hebrew text and LXX. of Samuel have the very different statement: "And Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite slew Goliath the Gittite." There are good critics who maintain that we must recognise here a proof that popular traditions fluctuated between David and the less famous hero Elhanan as slayer of Goliath: an uncertainty, supposed to be faithfully reflected in the two accounts preserved by the compiler of Samuel (1 Samuel 17; 2Samuel 21:19). Other not less competent scholars believe that the text of Samuel should be corrected from the Chronicles. As regards the name Jaare-oregim (forests of weavers--an absurdity), this is plausible. Whether we proceed further in the same direction must depend on the general view we take of the chronicler's relation to the Books of Samuel. It is easy, but hardly satisfactory, to allege that he felt the difficulty, which every modern reader must feel, and altered the text accordingly. The real question is whether he has done this arbitrarily, or upon the evidence of another document than his MS. of Samuel. Now, it is fair to say that (1) hitherto we have observed no signs of arbitrary alteration; (2) we have had abundant proof that the chronicler actually possessed other sources besides Samuel. There is no apparent reason why "Lahmi" (i.e., Lahmijah) should not be a nomen individui. (Comp. Assyrian Lahm-, the name of a god, Tablet I., Creation Series.) It is, however, quite possible that Elhanan is another, and, in fact, the original name of David. The appellative David. "the beloved" (comp. Dido), may have gradually supplanted the old Elhanan in the popular memory. Solomon we know was at first named Jodidiah, and it is highly probable that the true designation of the first king of Israel has been lost, the name Saul ("the asked") having been given in allusion to the fact that the people had ashed for a king. We may compare, besides, the double names Jehoahaz-Shallum, Mattaniah-Zedekiah, and perhaps Uzziah-Azariah. The Targum on Samuel partly supports this suggestion (see the Note there). I would add that Jaare in Hebrew writing is an easy corruption of Jesse; so that the original reading of 2Samuel 21:19 may have been, "And Elhanan the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, slew Goliath," &c. In that case, the reading of Chronicles must be considered an unsuccessful emendation, due probably to the compiler whose work the chronicler followed.

Verse 5. - Elhanan the son of Jair. In Samuel Jair appears as Jaare. This Elhanan is probably different from him of 1 Chronicles 11:26. There is a strange confusion in the reading of this and its parallel verse. If our present verse is to stand corrected by accepting from its parallel "the Bethlehemite" in place of our Lamhi, then either we have no name given for the brother of Goliath, the Gittite; or, if we drop the word "brother" (changing the אֲחי of Chronicles into the אֵת of Samuel), and make Goliath the Gittite the man slain by Elhanan, then of such a Goliath we know nothing, and it is a most unlikely coincidence of name with the conquered of David's sling.. Kennicott's seventy-eighth dissertation is occupied, and ably, with the pros and cons of this question; and the curiosities of Jerome on the passage may be found in his 'Quaestiones Hebraicae.' There seems no sufficient reason to depart from our reading here, to which it were preferable to adjust the reading in the parallel place, which exhibits almost certainly a glaring corruption of text in another respect.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Once again
ע֥וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

there was
וַתְּהִי־ (wat·tə·hî-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a battle
מִלְחָמָ֖ה (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

the Philistines,
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

and Elhanan
אֶלְחָנָ֣ן (’el·ḥā·nān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 445: Elhanan -- 'God has been gracious', two of David's leaders

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Jair
יָעִ֗יר (yā·‘îr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3265: Jair -- an Israelite

killed
וַיַּ֞ךְ (way·yaḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

Lahmi
לַחְמִי֙ (laḥ·mî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3902: Lahmi -- a brother of Goliath

the brother
אֲחִי֙ (’ă·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 251: A brother, )

of Goliath
גָּלְיָ֣ת (gā·lə·yāṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1555: Goliath -- a Philistine giant

the Gittite,
הַגִּתִּ֔י (hag·git·tî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1663: Gittite -- an inhabitant of Gath

the shaft
וְעֵ֣ץ (wə·‘êṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

of whose spear
חֲנִית֔וֹ (ḥă·nî·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2595: A lance

was like a weaver’s
אֹרְגִֽים׃ (’ō·rə·ḡîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 707: To plait, weave

beam.
כִּמְנ֖וֹר (kim·nō·wr)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4500: A yoke, the frame of a, loom


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 20:5 There was again war with the Philistines (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 20:4
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