New American Standard Bible 1995
1 Samuel 18:8
8Then Saul became very angry, for this saying 1displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now 2what more can he have but the kingdom?”
1 Samuel 18:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
- New International Version (NIV)Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
Context of 1 Samuel 18:8
6It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. 7The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on. 10Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand.
Read all of 1 Samuel 181 Samuel 18:8 word by word
וַיִּ֨חַר לְשָׁא֜וּל מְאֹ֗ד וַיֵּ֤רַע בְּעֵינָיו֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָתְנ֤וּ לְדָוִד֙ רְבָב֔וֹת וְלִ֥י נָתְנ֖וּ הָאֲלָפִ֑ים וְע֥וֹד ל֖וֹ אַ֥ךְ הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃Read the interlinear
- Then Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- becameחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
- veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- for thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- sayingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- displeasedרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
- displeasedעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- him; and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- They have ascribedנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- tenרְבָבָהrebâbâh · myriadH7233
- thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- what moreעוֹד‛ôd ‛ôd · stillH5750
- can he have but the kingdomמְלוּכָהmelûkâh · kingshipH4410
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:8
- Esther 3:5When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.
- Proverbs 13:10Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
- Proverbs 27:4Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?
- Ecclesiastes 4:4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
- James 4:5Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
- Numbers 11:1Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
- Numbers 22:34Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”
- 1 Samuel 13:14But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
- 1 Samuel 15:28So Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.
- 1 Samuel 16:13Then 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.
- 1 Samuel 20:31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now, send and bring him to me, for he must surely die.”
- 1 Kings 2:22King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom--for he is my older brother--even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:8
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8What can he have - Rather, “There is only the kingdom left for him.” Compare for the same sentiment, 1 Kings 2:22. “A kingdom (says Camden) brooketh no companion, and majesty more heavily taketh injuries to heart.”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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-15Saul came to view David as a threat rather than an ally and would do anything to get rid of him.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:8
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 1 Samuel 18:8 Lit was evil in his eyes ↩
- 2. 1 Samuel 18:8 1 Sam 15:28 ↩
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries