1 Samuel 17:56

1 Samuel 17:56 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
• New International Version (NIV)The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the king said, "Inquire whose son the boy is."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.”

Context of 1 Samuel 17:56

54David picked up Goliath's head to take it to Jerusalem. But he put Goliath's weapons in his own tent. 55Saul had watched David when he went out to fight the strong Philistine soldier. Saul said to Abner, the leader of his army, ‘Tell me Abner, who is that young man? Who is his father?’ Abner replied, ‘My king, I cannot tell you a lie. I do not know who he is.’ The king said, ‘You must find out the name of that man's father.’ 57When David returned after he had killed Goliath, Abner took him to Saul. David was still holding Goliath's head in his hand. 58Saul asked him, ‘Young man, who is your father?’ David answered, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse, who lives in Bethlehem.’

1 Samuel 17:56 word by word

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ שְׁאַ֣ל אַתָּ֔ה בֶּן־מִי־זֶ֖ה הָעָֽלֶם׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Enquireשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• thou whose sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• the striplingעֶ֫לֶם‛elem · youthH5958

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:56

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 48-58Verses 48-58 See how frail and uncertain life is, even when a man thinks himself best fortified; how quickly, how easily, and by how small a matter, the passage may be opened for life to go out, and death to enter! Let not the strong man glory in his strength, nor the armed man in his armour. God resists the proud, and pours contempt on those who defy him and his people. No one ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. The history is recorded…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 55-58Considering 1 Samuel 16:14–23, it is surprising that neither Saul nor Abner recognized David. The events in 1 Samuel 17 might have occurred either before or long after David's occasional service mentioned in 1 Samuel 16. Saul likely ruled as king for forty-two years, as noted in 1 Samuel 13:1.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55-5855-58. Saul ... said unto Abner ... whose son is this youth?--A young man is more spoken of in many Eastern countries by his father's name than his own. The growth of the beard, and other changes on a now full-grown youth, prevented the king from recognizing his former favorite minstrel [1Sa 16:23].Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Arise
• Assay
• Carriage
• Cause
• Coat
• David
• Elhanan
• Naughtiness
• Prevail
• Rehearse

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings