1 Samuel 18:25

1 Samuel 18:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
• New International Version (NIV)Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’ ” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, 'The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’ ” But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

Context of 1 Samuel 18:25

23So 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 only a poor man and insignificant?” 24Then Saul’s servants reported to him, saying, “These are the words David spoke.” Saul then said, “This is what 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.’” But Saul plotted to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the time had expired, 27David set out and went, he and his men, and fatally struck two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they presented all two hundred of them to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife.

1 Samuel 18:25 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל כֹּֽה־תֹאמְר֣וּ לְדָוִ֗ד אֵֽין־חֵ֤פֶץ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בְּמֹ֔הַר כִּ֗י בְּמֵאָה֙ עָרְל֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם בְּאֹיְבֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְשָׁא֣וּל חָשַׁ֔ב לְהַפִּ֥יל אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Thisכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• The kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• does not desireחֵ֫פֶץchêphets · pleasureH2656
• dowryמֹ֫הַרmôhar · bridepriceH4119
• exceptכִּיkîy · forH3588
• a hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• foreskinsעׇרְלָה‛orlâh · foreskinH6190
• of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• to takeנָקַםnâqam · to avengeH5358
• enemiesאָיַב'âyab · be hostileH340
• plottedחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: deviseH2803
• fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: killH5307
• by the handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:25

• Genesis 29:18Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
• Genesis 34:12Demand of me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give whatever you tell me; but give me the girl in marriage.”
• Exodus 22:16“If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
• 1 Samuel 17:26Then David said to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and rids Israel of the disgrace? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?”
• Genesis 17:11And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.
• Joshua 5:3So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
• 1 Samuel 14:24Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
• 1 Samuel 18:17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
• 2 Samuel 17:8Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are fierce, like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25But a hundred foreskins - That is, Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines, and thou shalt produce their foreskins, as a proof, not only that thou hast killed one hundred men, but that these are of the uncircumcised. A custom similar to this still prevails among the Abyssinians, according to Bruce. See his Travels.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25An hundred foreskins - This is merely another expression of the spirit which led to the constant application of the epithet uncircumcised to the Philistines 1 Samuel 14:6.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
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. The king desireth not any dowry--In Eastern countries the husband purchases his wife either by gifts or services. As neither David nor his family were in circumstances to give a suitable dowry for a princess, the king intimated that he would be graciously pleased to accept some gallant deed in the public service. a hundred foreskins of the Philistines--Such mutilations on the bodies of their slain enemies were commonly practised in ancient war, and…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:25

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

In the dictionaries

• David
• Philistines
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Ascribe
• Avoid
• Dowry
• Kingdom
• Marriage
• Soul

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