Berean Standard Bible
1 Samuel 18:21
21“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”
1 Samuel 18:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
- New International Version (NIV)“I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Saul thought, "Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David a second time, "You shall now be my son-in-law."
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”
Context of 1 Samuel 18:21
19So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. 20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. “I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.” 22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’” 23But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”
Read all of 1 Samuel 181 Samuel 18:21 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה לּוֹ֙ וּתְהִי־ל֣וֹ לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ וּתְהִי־ב֖וֹ יַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד בִּשְׁתַּ֛יִם תִּתְחַתֵּ֥ן בִּ֖י הַיּֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
- I will give herנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- thoughtאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- so that she may beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- a snareמוֹקֵשׁmôqêsh môqêsh · snareH4170
- and the handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- For a secondשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- nowיוֹםyôm · day: todayH3117
- you can be my son-in-lawחָתַןchâthan · make oneself a daughter’s husbandH2859
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:21
- Exodus 10:7Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”
- Psalms 7:14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
- Psalms 38:12Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.
- Proverbs 26:24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Proverbs 29:5A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
- Jeremiah 5:26For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men.
- Jeremiah 9:8Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
- 1 Samuel 18:17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
- 1 Samuel 19:11Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”
- 1 Samuel 18:26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21That she may be a snare to him - Saul had already determined the condition on which he would give his daughter to David; viz., that he should slay one hundred Philistines: this he supposed he would undertake for the love of Michal, and that he must necessarily perish in the attempt; and thus Michal would become a snare to him.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21In the one of the twain - Some prefer “the second time” Job 33:14. The first contract had been broken by giving Merab to Adriel.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-30Verses 12-30 For a long time David was kept in continual apprehension of falling by the hand of Saul, yet he persevered in meek and respectful behaviour towards his persecutor. How uncommon is such prudence and discretion, especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitate this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisely in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of spirit, nothing wrong in our…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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