1 Samuel 16:15

1 Samuel 16:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
• New International Version (NIV)Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.

Context of 1 Samuel 16:15

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 14Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. 16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.” 17So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

1 Samuel 16:15 word by word

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי־שָׁא֖וּל אֵלָ֑יו הִנֵּה־נָ֧א רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִ֛ים רָעָ֖ה מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

• Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to him, “Beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• nowנָאnâ' · pleaseH4994
• an evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: harmfulH7451
• spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• from Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• is terrorizingבָּעַתbâ‛ath · to terrifyH1204

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16:15

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15The “evil” or “melancholy” spirit here spoken of was “the Spirit of God,” or “of Jehovah,” as being God‘s messenger and minister, sent by Him to execute His righteous purpose upon Saul (see 1 Kings 22:19-22 note).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. 1-23David replaced Saul as king. David and Saul were alike in these ways: Samuel anointed both. Neither was pursuing the position of king. Both were unlikely choices (Saul was from the smallest tribe, and David was the youngest son). They were both good-looking (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:12). The Spirit rushed upon each when anointed as king (1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6; 16:13). The main difference was that David was "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; compare…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 16:15

• Demons

In the dictionaries

• God
• Evil Spirit
• Appearance
• Comely
• David
• Jesse
• Psalms, Book of
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul

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