EasyEnglish Bible 2018
1 Samuel 18:8
8Saul did not like this song. He became very angry. He thought, ‘The women say that David has killed tens of thousands of men. But they say that I have only killed thousands of men. They will soon want David to be their king.’
1 Samuel 18:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
- New International Version (NIV)Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
Context of 1 Samuel 18:8
6After David had killed the Philistine, Goliath, he and the soldiers returned to their homes. Women came out from all the towns in Israel to meet King Saul. The women were happy as they sang songs and they danced. They made music with tambourines and lyres. 7They sang this song while they danced: ‘Saul has killed thousands of his enemies. And David has killed tens of thousands of his enemies.’ Saul did not like this song. He became very angry. He thought, ‘The women say that David has killed tens of thousands of men. But they say that I have only killed thousands of men. They will soon want David to be their king.’ 9After that, Saul was jealous of David and he watched David carefully. 10The next day God caused an evil spirit to come and control Saul. Saul started to prophesy in his house. David was making music on his harp as he did every day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
Read all of 1 Samuel 181 Samuel 18:8 word by word
וַיִּ֨חַר לְשָׁא֜וּל מְאֹ֗ד וַיֵּ֤רַע בְּעֵינָיו֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָתְנ֤וּ לְדָוִד֙ רְבָב֔וֹת וְלִ֥י נָתְנ֖וּ הָאֲלָפִ֑ים וְע֥וֹד ל֖וֹ אַ֥ךְ הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- was veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- wrothחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
- and the sayingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- displeasedעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- displeasedיָרַעyâra‛ · quiverH3415
- him; and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- They have ascribedנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- unto Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- ten thousandsרְבָבָהrebâbâh · myriadH7233
- thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- can he have more but the kingdomמְלוּכָהmelûkâh · kingshipH4410
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:8
- Esther 3:5When Haman realized that Mordecai would not give him honour, he became very angry.
- Proverbs 13:10A person who boasts only causes trouble. But if you accept good advice, it shows that you are wise.
- Proverbs 27:4An angry person does cruel things that can destroy people. But a jealous person is much worse.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4I also thought about the clever work that people do. I saw that people work hard because they are jealous of each other. They want to do better than other people. I realized that this has no purpose. It is like somebody who tries to catch the wind.
- James 4:5The Bible says, ‘God has caused his Spirit to live in us. He wants very much to keep us for himself.’ Do you think that is not true?
- Numbers 11:1But the people started to complain about their problems. The Lord heard them and he became very angry. He sent fire. The Lord sent his fire to burn among them. It destroyed some parts of the camp at the edge.
- Numbers 22:34Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, ‘I have done a wrong thing. I did not realize that you were standing in the road to stop me. If you do not want me to continue, I will return to my home.’
- 1 Samuel 13:14But because of what you have done, your kingdom will not continue. Instead, the Lord will find a man who pleases him. The Lord has decided that this man will become the leader of his people, instead of you. He will do that because you have not obeyed his command.’
- 1 Samuel 15:28Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He has given it to a man who is better than you.
- 1 Samuel 16:13Samuel took the horn that was full of olive oil. He poured the oil over David's head to anoint him. Samuel did this in front of David's brothers. From that moment, the Spirit of the Lord came on David with great power. Then Samuel returned to his home in Ramah.
- 1 Samuel 20:31You will never rule as king while that son of Jesse is still alive. Send men to go and bring him to me now. He must die!’
- 1 Kings 2:22But King Solomon said to his mother, ‘You are asking me to give Abishag to Adonijah as his wife! You should also ask me to give my kingdom to him, my older brother! That would be the same thing. Then he would rule together with Abiathar the priest and Zeruiah's son Joab!’
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:8
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8What can he have - Rather, “There is only the kingdom left for him.” Compare for the same sentiment, 1 Kings 2:22. “A kingdom (says Camden) brooketh no companion, and majesty more heavily taketh injuries to heart.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-11Verses 6-11 David's troubles not only immediately follow his triumphs, but arise from them; such is the vanity of that which seems greatest in this world. It is a sign that the Spirit of God is departed from men, if, like Saul, they are peevish, envious, suspicious, and ill-natured. Compare David, with his harp in his hand, aiming to serve Saul, and Saul, with his javelin in his hand, aiming to slay David; and observe the sweetness and usefulness of God's…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-15Saul came to view David as a threat rather than an ally and would do anything to get rid of him.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:8
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
EasyEnglish Bible 2018 — Copyright © MissionAssist 2018
Commentaries