A Close Look at 2nd Samuel 21:19: Who Killed Goliath?

by Dr. Peter Putney

Missionary to Colombia

2 Samuel 21:19 KJV And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

2º Samuel 21:19 RVG Y hubo guerra otra vez en Gob contra los filisteos, en la cual Elhanán, hijo de Jaare-oregim de Belén, mató al hermano de Goliat geteo, el asta de cuya lanza era como un rodillo de telar.

The words in italics in this verse are necessary for the meaning of the original Hebrew to be correctly translated into the new language. It is true that the word “brother” is not in the original Hebrew in this verse (which is why it is in italics). But neither does the Hebrew say that Elhanan killed Goliath. We know that Elhanan killed Goliath's brother, not Goliath himself. There are two ways that we know this. First, the reading from 1 Chronicles 20:5:

1 Chronicles 20:5 KJV 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.

Second, in the text of 2 Sam 21:19, the Hebrew grammar conveys that it was not Goliath but his brother. In 2 Samuel 21:19, the word before גלית (Galeyat) is את (“et”). This word can mean ‘with’ or ‘among’. Judges 1:16 is another example of this. With an understanding of this grammatical meaning, the Hebrew here does indeed refer to a brother of Goliath. Ancient readers of this verse were not confused because they understood Hebrew and knew that David killed Goliath. This is why the italicized words are necessary, so that modern readers in other languages understand the same thing. If we do not include these italicized words, the result is an error. For example, all these Bibles tell us that Elhanan killed Goliath:

2º Samuel 21:19 RVR60 Hubo otra vez guerra en Gob contra los filisteos, en la cual Elhanán, hijo de Jaare-oregim de Belén, mató a Goliat geteo, el asta de cuya lanza era como el rodillo de un telar.

2º Samuel 21:19 RV1909 Otra guerra hubo en Gob contra los Filisteos, en la cual Elhanan, hijo de Jaare-oregim de Beth-lehem, hirió a Goliath Getheo, el asta de cuya lanza era como un enjullo de telar.

2 Samuel 21:19 RV-SBT Y hubo otra guerra en Gob contra los filisteos, en la cual Elhanán, hijo de Jaare-oregim de Belén, mató a Goliat, el geteo, el asta de cuya lanza era como un enjullo de telar.

2 Samuel 21:19 RV1865 Otra guerra hubo en Gob contra los Filisteos, en la cual Elhanán, hijo de Jaere-orgim de Belén, hirió a Goliat Geteo, el asta de la lanza del cual era como un enjullo de telar.

Thank God for the RVG, which correctly includes the needed italicized words (just like the King James Bible). David killed Goliath and Elhanan killed Goliath's brother. With the RVG and its accurate and correct translation, we don't have these contradictions that arise from not translating God's Word properly.