In the context of the Bible, the term "champion" is most notably associated with the account of David and Goliath, found in 1 Samuel 17. The Hebrew word often translated as "champion" is "ish ha-benayim," which can mean "man of the space between," referring to a representative warrior who stands between two armies to decide the outcome of a battle through single combat.

Goliath as a Champion

Goliath, the Philistine giant from Gath, is described as a champion in 1 Samuel 17:4: "Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height." Goliath's role as a champion was to challenge the Israelites to send out a warrior to fight him, thereby determining the victor of the conflict between the Philistines and Israelites without a full-scale battle. His formidable size and strength made him a fearsome opponent, and he taunted the Israelite army for forty days, as recorded in 1 Samuel 17:16: "For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand."

David as a Champion

David, a young shepherd boy, emerges as the unexpected champion of Israel. Despite his youth and inexperience in battle, David's faith in God and his previous experiences of God's deliverance from the paw of the lion and the bear (1 Samuel 17:34-37) emboldened him to face Goliath. David's declaration in 1 Samuel 17:45-47 highlights his reliance on God rather than physical might: "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, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine camp 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.'"

David's victory over Goliath with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17:49-50) not only established him as a champion in the eyes of Israel but also demonstrated the power of faith and God's sovereignty in delivering His people.

Theological Implications

The account of David and Goliath serves as a powerful illustration of God's ability to use the weak and humble to achieve His purposes, emphasizing that victory comes not by human strength but by reliance on God. This narrative encourages believers to trust in God's power and providence, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Other References

While the term "champion" is not frequently used elsewhere in the Bible, the concept of God as the ultimate champion for His people is a recurring theme. Passages such as Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still," and Psalm 24:8, "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle," reflect the belief that God Himself is the defender and deliverer of His people.

In summary, the biblical concept of a champion is closely tied to the idea of representation and divine intervention, with the account of David and Goliath serving as a quintessential example of how God empowers individuals to achieve victory for His glory.(1 Samuel 17:4, 23), properly "the man between the two," denoting the position of Goliath between the two camps. Single combats of this kind at the head of armies were common in ancient times. In ver. 51 this word is the rendering of a different Hebrew word, and properly denotes "a mighty man." (v. t.) To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as champion; to support or maintain; to protect.CHAMPION

cham'-pi-un ('ish habenayim): In 1 Samuel 17:4, 23 this unusual expression occurs in the description of Goliath. It means literally "the man of the two spaces," "spaces," or "space between," and is perhaps to be explained by the fact that there was a brook flowing through the valley separating the two armies. In 1 Samuel 17:51 the word champion is the rendering of the Hebrew gibbor, "mighty man."

4414. protostates -- one who stands first (of soldiers), hence a ...
... ringleader. From protos and histemi; one standing first in the ranks, ie A captain
(champion) -- ringleader. see GREEK protos. see GREEK histemi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4414.htm - 6k

1558. ekdikos -- exacting penalty from, avenging
... Short Definition: avenging, an avenger Definition: avenging, subst: an avenger
(the word occurs frequently in the sense of a special advocate [champion] of a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1558.htm - 7k

1143. benayim -- champion
... benayim. 1144 . champion. Transliteration: benayim Phonetic Spelling:
(bay-nah'-yim) Short Definition: champion. Word Origin a form of bayin, qv. champion ...
/hebrew/1143.htm - 5k

1368. gibbor -- strong, mighty
... Word Origin from gabar Definition strong, mighty NASB Word Usage champion (2), great
(1), helpers (1), heroes (3), men (3), men of outstanding (1), Mighty (1 ...
/hebrew/1368.htm - 6k

376. ish -- man
... another (2), any (6), any man (21), any man's (4), any one (3), anyone (16), anyone*
(1), archers* (1), Benjamite* (3), certain (6), champion* (2), counselor ...
/hebrew/376.htm - 7k

7227b. rab -- chief
... Word Origin from rabab Definition chief NASB Word Usage captain (24), captain*
(1), Champion (1), chief (1), chief officers (1), leading officers (1), official ...
/hebrew/7227b.htm - 5k

996. bayin -- an interval, space between
... Word Origin from bin Definition an interval, space between NASB Word Usage above*
(1), among (30), among* (1), between (204), champion* (2), either (2 ...
/hebrew/996.htm - 6k

Easter Christ Our Champion.
... Easter Christ our Champion. II. Christ our Champion. 8,8,8,8+4. Fr?�hmorgens da die
Sonn aufgeht. [95]J. Heermann.1630. Ere yet the dawn hath fill'd the skies. ...
/.../lyra germanica second series the christian life/easter christ our champion.htm

The Champion of Origen, You See, the Encomiast of Pamphilus ...
... The champion of Origen, you see, the encomiast of Pamphilus, declares that Pamphilus
wrote nothing whatever, that he composed no single treatise of his own. ...
/.../10 the champion of origen.htm

You Say that You are not the Defender or the Champion of Origen ...
... 15. You say that you are not the defender or the champion of Origen; but I will
at once confront you with your own book of which you spoke in that notorious ...
/.../15 you say that you.htm

After all this You Dare to Say in Your Apology, that You are not ...
... After all this you dare to say in your Apology, that you are not the defender nor
the champion of Origen, though you think that Eusebius and Pamphilus said all ...
/.../23 after all this you.htm

The Death of Saint David.
... These sights so fired the spirit of the aged Champion, that he vowed never
to rest till he had driven the enemy from his native soil. ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter sixteen the death of.htm

The Death of Saint George.
... CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. THE DEATH OF SAINT GEORGE. The last Champion who appears in
this wondrous, strange, and eventful history, is the great Saint George. ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter twenty one the death.htm

Our Ally
... alone face this world in arms, with which Thou dost terrify us?' And here He lets
them see that they will not be left alone, but have a great Champion, clad in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/our ally.htm

The Adventures of Saint Andrew of Scotland.
... When the valiant Champion of Scotland beheld the lofty situation of the castle,
and the invincible strength it seemed to be of, he suspected some strange ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eight the adventures of.htm

The Adventures of Saint David of Wales.
... could be found, and willing to retrieve the disgrace he conceived his countrymen
had received, entered the lists, and bravely challenged the Champion of Wales. ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter ten the adventures of.htm

The Death of Saint Denis.
... The Champion and the false knight met; but the latter, by the arts of a wicked
enchanter, had come so prepared by talismans for the fight, that all the skill ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter seventeen the death of.htm

Champion (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (vt) To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend
as champion; to support or maintain; to protect. Int. ...CHAMPION. ...
/c/champion.htm - 9k

Goliath (6 Occurrences)
... go-li'-ath (golyath; Goliath): (1) The giant of Gath, and champion of the Philistine
army (1 Samuel 17:4-23; 1 Samuel 21:9; 1 Samuel 22:10 2 Samuel 21:19 1 ...
/g/goliath.htm - 12k

Philistine (63 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 17:4 There went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named
Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. ...
/p/philistine.htm - 29k

Gath (44 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 17:4 There went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named
Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. ...
/g/gath.htm - 26k

Giants (18 Occurrences)
... (5.) Hebrews Zamzummim (qv), Deuteronomy 2:20 so called by the Amorites. (6.) Hebrews
gibbor (Job 16:14), a mighty one, ie, a champion or hero. ...
/g/giants.htm - 19k

Champaign (1 Occurrence)

/c/champaign.htm - 10k

Armies (361 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 17:4 There went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named
Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (See NAS). ...
/a/armies.htm - 38k

Nehushtan (1 Occurrence)
... but, suiting the word to the act, scornfully calls it "a (mere) piece of brass."
Hezekiah thus takes his place as a true reformer, and as a champion of the ...
/n/nehushtan.htm - 11k

Usual (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 17:23 As he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the
Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and ...
/u/usual.htm - 10k

Gabriel (5 Occurrences)
...Champion of God, used as a proper name to designate the angel who was sent to Daniel
(8:16) to explain the vision of the ram and the he-goat, and to ...
/g/gabriel.htm - 9k

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