God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 18:6
6As they arrived, David was returning from a campaign against the Philistines. Women from all of Israel’s cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced, accompanied by tambourines, joyful music, and triangles.
1 Samuel 18:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
- New International Version (NIV)When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
Context of 1 Samuel 18:6
4Jonathan took off the coat he had on and gave it to David along with his battle tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5David was successful wherever Saul sent him. Saul put him in charge of the fighting men. This pleased all the people, including Saul’s officials. As they arrived, David was returning from a campaign against the Philistines. Women from all of Israel’s cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced, accompanied by tambourines, joyful music, and triangles. 7The women who were celebrating sang, “Saul has defeated thousands but David tens of thousands!” 8Saul became very angry because he considered this saying to be insulting. “To David they credit tens of thousands,” he said, “but to me they credit ⌞only⌟ a few thousand. The only thing left for David is my kingdom.”
Read all of 1 Samuel 181 Samuel 18:6 word by word
וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֗ם בְּשׁ֤וּב דָּוִד֙ מֵהַכּ֣וֹת אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָה הַנָּשִׁ֜ים מִכָּל־עָרֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לָשִׁ֣יר וְהַמְּחֹל֔וֹת לִקְרַ֖את שָׁא֣וּל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ בְּתֻפִּ֥ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְשָׁלִשִֽׁים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass as they cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- when Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- was returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- from the slaughterנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- of the Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- that the womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- came outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- of all citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- singingשִׁירshîyr shûr · to singH7891
- and dancingמְחוֹלָהmechôlâh · danceH4246
- to meetקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
- kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- with tabretsתֹּףtôph · tambourineH8596
- with joyשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
- and with instruments of musickשָׁלִישׁshâlîysh shâlôsh shâlôsh · triangleH7991
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:6
- Exodus 15:20Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, dancing with tambourines, followed her.
- Judges 11:34When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, he saw his daughter coming out to meet him. She was dancing with tambourines in her hands. She was his only child. Jephthah had no other sons or daughters.
- Psalms 68:25The singers are in front. The musicians are behind them. The young women beating tambourines are between them.
- Jeremiah 31:11The Lord will free the descendants of Jacob and reclaim them from those who are stronger than they are.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6When David was returned - This verse connects well with the 54th verse of the preceding chapter; and carries on the narration without any break or interruption. See the notes on 1 Samuel 17:54. The women came out - It was the principal business of certain women to celebrate victories, sing at funerals, etc. With instruments of music - The original word (שלשים shalishim ) signifies instruments with three strings; and is, I think, properly translated by the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6The Philistine - Rather as in the margin. The allusion is not to Goliath, but to one of the expeditions referred to in 1 Samuel 18:5. Singing and dancing - Women used to dance to the sound of the timbrel, and to sing as they danced and played. (instruments of music The word means, an instrument like the triangle, or with three cords.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
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. the women came out of all cities of Israel--in the homeward march from the pursuit of the Philistines. This is a characteristic trait of Oriental manners. On the return of friends long absent, and particularly on the return of a victorious army, bands of women and children issue from the towns and villages, to form a triumphal procession, to celebrate the victory, and, as they go along, to gratify the soldiers with dancing, instrumental music, and…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:6
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
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