God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 16:18
18One of the officials said, “I know one of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem who can play well. He’s a courageous man and a warrior. He has a way with words, he is handsome, and the Lord is with him.”
1 Samuel 16:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth–lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
- New International Version (NIV)One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”
Context of 1 Samuel 16:18
16Your Majesty, why don’t you command us to look for a man who can play the lyre well? When the evil spirit from God comes to you, he’ll strum a tune, and you’ll feel better.” 17Saul told his officials, “Please find me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” One of the officials said, “I know one of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem who can play well. He’s a courageous man and a warrior. He has a way with words, he is handsome, and the Lord is with him.” 19Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20Jesse took six bushels of bread, a full wineskin, and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.
Read all of 1 Samuel 161 Samuel 16:18 word by word
וַיַּעַן֩ אֶחָ֨ד מֵהַנְּעָרִ֜ים וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֨ה רָאִ֜יתִי בֵּ֣ן לְיִשַׁי֮ בֵּ֣ית הַלַּחְמִי֒ יֹדֵ֣עַ נַ֠גֵּן וְגִבּ֨וֹר חַ֜יִל וְאִ֧ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֛ה וּנְב֥וֹן דָּבָ֖ר וְאִ֣ישׁ תֹּ֑אַר וַיהוָ֖ה עִמּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- of the servantsנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Behold, I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- a sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Jesseיִשַׁיyishay 'îyshay · JesseH3448
- the Beth–lehemiteבֵּית הַלַּחְמִיbêyth hallachmîy · BethlehemiteH1022
- cunningיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- in playingנָגַןnâgan · to playH5059
- and a mightyגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
- valiant manחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
- and a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- of warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- and prudentבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- in mattersדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- and a comelyתֹּ֫אַרtô'ar · appearanceH8389
- and the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:18
- 1 Samuel 17:32David told Saul, “No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine.”
- 2 Samuel 17:8“You know your father and his men. They are warriors as fierce as a wild bear whose cubs have been stolen. Your father is an experienced soldier. He will not camp with the troops tonight.
- 2 Samuel 14:20Your servant Joab has done this to portray the matter in a different light. You are as wise as God’s Messenger, who knows everything on earth.”
- 1 Samuel 17:12David was a son of a man named Jesse from the region of Ephrath and the city of Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s day he was an old man.
- 1 Samuel 3:19Samuel grew up. The Lord was with him and didn’t let any of his words go unfulfilled.
- 1 Samuel 10:7When these signs happen to you, do what you must, because God is with you.
- 1 Samuel 18:12Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.
- Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. He worked in the house of his Egyptian master.
- Matthew 1:23“The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”
- Matthew 28:20Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18I have seen a son of Jesse - Dr. Warburton supposes the story is anticipated from 1 Samuel 16:14-23, and that the true chronology of this part of David's life is the following: - David is anointed by Samuel; Carries provisions to his brethren in the army; Fights with and kills Goliath; Is received into the king's court, Contracts a friendship with Jonathan; Incurs Saul's jealousy; Retires to his father's house; Is after some time sent for by Saul to sooth…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18A mighty valiant man - David‘s reputation for courage, skill, discretion, and manly beauty, was already great. Since “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him,” his natural qualities and powers had been greatly enhanced. His feat of killing the lion and the bear (see the marginal references) had been performed, like Samson‘s feats of strength Judges 14:6, Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14, under the same supernatural influence, and was probably more or less known.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-23Verses 14-23 Saul is made a terror to himself. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. If God and his grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us. The devil, by the Divine permission, troubled and terrified Saul, by the corrupt humours of his body, and passions of his mind. He grew fretful, peevish, and discontented, and at times a madman. It is a pity that music, which may be serviceable to the good temper of the mind, should ever be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18harp: The instrument was likely a lyre, a small stringed instrument used for music (as in 1 Samuel 10:5). the LORD is with him: People saw that God's Spirit was with David (1 Samuel 16:13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1814-18. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him--His own gloomy reflections, the consciousness that he had not acted up to the character of an Israelitish king, the loss of his throne, and the extinction of his royal house, made him jealous, irritable, vindictive, and subject to fits of morbid melancholy.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 16:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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