1 Samuel 18:23

1 Samuel 18:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
• New International Version (NIV)They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?”

Context of 1 Samuel 18:23

21Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.” 22Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’” So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke. 25Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 18:23 word by word

וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּ עַבְדֵ֤י שָׁאוּל֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד הַֽנְקַלָּ֤ה בְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ הִתְחַתֵּ֣ן בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִֽישׁ־רָ֥שׁ וְנִקְלֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

• So Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• spokeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• theseאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428
• wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Is it trivialקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• in your sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• to becomeחֹתֵןchâthan · relativeH2859
• the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• since I amרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and lightlyקָלָהqâlâh · to dishonorH7034

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:23

• 1 John 3:1See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
• 1 Samuel 9:21Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”
• Proverbs 14:20The poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.
• Proverbs 19:6Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
• Ecclesiastes 9:15But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
• Psalms 119:141I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23A poor man and lightly esteemed - Compare Psalm 119:141. Poor, and therefore unable to pay a sufficient dowry. See 1 Samuel 18:25.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-30Verses 12-30 For a long time David was kept in continual apprehension of falling by the hand of Saul, yet he persevered in meek and respectful behaviour towards his persecutor. How uncommon is such prudence and discretion, especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitate this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisely in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of spirit, nothing wrong in our…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23A future son-in-law would give a bride price (a required gift) to his bride’s father (see Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16–17).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:23

• Armies
• David
• Humility
• Jealousy
• Malice
• Michal
• Philistines
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• David
• Son-in-Law
• Ascribe
• Avoid
• Kingdom
• Marriage
• Soul
• Stripling
• Tabret
• Valiant

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