1 Samuel 17:39
ESV
and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." So David put them off.
NIV
David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off.
NASB
And David strapped on his sword over his military attire and struggled at walking, for he had not trained with the armor. So David said to Saul, 'I cannot go with these, because I have not trained with them.' And David took them off.
CSB
David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. "I can’t walk in these," David said to Saul, "I’m not used to them." So David took them off.
NLT
David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. 'I can’t go in these,' he protested to Saul. 'I’m not used to them.' So David took them off again.
KJV
And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
NKJV
David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.
What does 1 Samuel 17:39 mean?
David and Saul have agreed: David will go out onto the field of battle and accept Goliath's challenge. Thiers will be a fight to the death to decide the outcome of the battle (1 Samuel 17:1–10, 31–37). To prepare the young man, the king is providing his own armor as protection against the intimidating Philistine champion (1 Samuel 17:38). This may have been an attempt to intimidate the enemy by showing kingly armor; Saul is far too tall for the armor to fit David (1 Samuel 9:2).Saul's helmet and heavy chain mail have been placed on David. Now David straps Saul's sword on top of the armor and begins to move around in the gear. But it is not comfortable. Presumably, David has never been trained for combat in armor; he's also not worn this specific armor before. David wisely sees Saul's armor as a hindrance rather than a help, and he decides not to wear any of it. He had no armor when he fought dangerous animals (1 Samuel 17:34–35), he won't be helped by it now.
First Samuel 17:31–40 sets the stage for a famous battle. The enormous Philistine champion, Goliath, has been taunting the Israelite army. David, though likely only in his early teenaged years, insists that the Philistine can be defeated. As a shepherd, David has killed bears and lions who attacked the flock. More importantly, David believes that God will punish the Philistine's defiance. King Saul agrees to let David try; he declines to use Saul's armor (1 Samuel 16:21) because he has no experience with it. Instead, he carefully selects stones for his sling and heads out to fight.
David, delivering food to his brothers at the Israelite army camp, hears the Philistine Goliath's defiant challenge. Single man combat could decide the battle, but no Israelite wanted to face the massive warrior. David is appalled that a Philistine would defy the armies of the living God. He volunteers to fight, and King Saul agrees. Before the battle, David declares that the Lord will give victory and thereby show the world that there is a God in Israel. David quickly kills and beheads Goliath. The Israelites chase the Philistines back to their own territory and plunder their camp. David brings Goliath's head to Saul.
