God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 17:55
55As Saul watched David going out against the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” Abner answered, “I solemnly swear, as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”
1 Samuel 17:55 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
- New International Version (NIV)As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is that young man?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."
- New King James Version (NKJV)When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”
Context of 1 Samuel 17:55
53When the Israelites came back from their pursuit of the Philistines, they looted all the goods in the Philistine camp. 54David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath’s armor in his tent. As Saul watched David going out against the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” Abner answered, “I solemnly swear, as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.” 56The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.” 57When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner brought him to Saul. David had the Philistine’s head in his hand.
Read all of 1 Samuel 171 Samuel 17:55 word by word
וְכִרְא֨וֹת שָׁא֜וּל אֶת־דָּוִ֗ד יֹצֵא֙ לִקְרַ֣את הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י אָמַ֗ר אֶל־אַבְנֵר֙ שַׂ֣ר הַצָּבָ֔א בֶּן־מִי־זֶ֥ה הַנַּ֖עַר אַבְנֵ֑ר וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְנֵ֔ר חֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֥ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אִם־יָדָֽעְתִּי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- go forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- againstקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
- the Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- the captainשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- of the hostצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · armyH6635
- whose sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- this youthנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- thy soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
- O kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- I cannotאִם'im · if: surely noH518
- tellיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 17:55
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 17:55
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 55Whose son - See the marginal reference note.Read the comment
- 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
Topics related to 1 Samuel 17:55
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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