God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 17:56
56The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”
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 took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath’s armor in his tent. 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.” The 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. 58Saul asked him, “Whose son are you, young man?” “The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David answered.
Read all of 1 Samuel 171 Samuel 17:56 word by word
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ שְׁאַ֣ל אַתָּ֔ה בֶּן־מִי־זֶ֖ה הָעָֽלֶם׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
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
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
Commentaries