1 Samuel 18:23

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’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.” 22Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’” Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor commoner.” 24The servants reported back to Saul, “These are the words David spoke.” 25Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

1 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• those wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• in the earsאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: to earsH241
• of Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Seemethעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• lightקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• to be a king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• son in lawחָתַןchâthan · make oneself a daughter’s husbandH2859
• a poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and lightly esteemedקָלָהqâlâh · to dishonorH7034

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:23

• 1 John 3:1See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children — and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.
• 1 Samuel 9:21Saul responded, “Am I not a Benjaminite from the smallest of Israel’s tribes and isn’t my clan the least important of all the clans of the Benjaminite tribe? So why have you said something like this to me?”
• Proverbs 14:20A poor person is hated even by his neighbor, but there are many who love the rich.
• Proverbs 19:6Many seek a ruler’s favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.
• Ecclesiastes 9:15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
• Psalms 119:141I am insignificant 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

• Armies
• David
• Humility
• Jealousy
• Malice
• Michal
• Philistines
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• David
• Son-in-Law
• Ascribe
• Avoid
• Kingdom
• Marriage
• Soul
• Stripling
• Tabret
• Valiant

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