Berean Standard Bible
1 Samuel 18:23
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.”
1 Samuel 18:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
- New International Version (NIV)They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?”
Context of 1 Samuel 18:23
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.” 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.’” But 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.” 24And the servants told Saul what David had said. 25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
Read all of 1 Samuel 181 Samuel 18:23 word by word
וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּ עַבְדֵ֤י שָׁאוּל֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד הַֽנְקַלָּ֤ה בְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ הִתְחַתֵּ֣ן בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִֽישׁ־רָ֥שׁ וְנִקְלֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
- But when Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- relayedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- relayedאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: to earsH241
- theseאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428
- wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- repliedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Does it seem trivialקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
- in your sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- to be the son-in-lawחָתַןchâthan · make oneself a daughter’s husbandH2859
- of the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- Iאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
- am a poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
- manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- and lightly esteemedקָלָהqâlâh · to dishonorH7034
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:23
- 1 John 3:1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
- 1 Samuel 9:21Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”
- Proverbs 14:20The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
- Proverbs 19:6Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
- Ecclesiastes 9:15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
- Psalms 119:141I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:23
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23A poor man and lightly esteemed - Compare Psalm 119:141. Poor, and therefore unable to pay a sufficient dowry. See 1 Samuel 18:25.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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23A future son-in-law would give a bride price (a required gift) to his bride’s father (see Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16–17).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:23
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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