New English Translation
1 Samuel 16:18
18One of his attendants replied, “I have seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the Lord is with him.”
1 Samuel 16:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth–lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
- New International Version (NIV)One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”
Context of 1 Samuel 16:18
16Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre and you will feel better.” 17So Saul said to his servants, “Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.” One of his attendants replied, “I have seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the Lord is with him.” 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep. 20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David.
Read all of 1 Samuel 161 Samuel 16:18 word by word
וַיַּעַן֩ אֶחָ֨ד מֵהַנְּעָרִ֜ים וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֨ה רָאִ֜יתִי בֵּ֣ן לְיִשַׁי֮ בֵּ֣ית הַלַּחְמִי֒ יֹדֵ֣עַ נַ֠גֵּן וְגִבּ֨וֹר חַ֜יִל וְאִ֧ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֛ה וּנְב֥וֹן דָּבָ֖ר וְאִ֣ישׁ תֹּ֑אַר וַיהוָ֖ה עִמּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- of the servantsנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Behold, I have seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- a sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Jesseיִשַׁיyishay 'îyshay · JesseH3448
- the Beth–lehemiteבֵּית הַלַּחְמִיbêyth hallachmîy · BethlehemiteH1022
- cunningיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- in playingנָגַןnâgan · to playH5059
- and a mightyגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
- valiant manחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
- and a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- of warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- and prudentבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- in mattersדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- and a comelyתֹּ֫אַרtô'ar · appearanceH8389
- and the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:18
- 1 Samuel 17:32David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged. Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”
- 2 Samuel 17:8Hushai went on to say, “You know your father and his men – they are soldiers and are as dangerous as a bear out in the wild that has been robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier; he will not stay overnight with the army.
- 2 Samuel 14:20Your servant Joab did this so as to change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land.”
- 1 Samuel 17:12Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saul’s days he was old and well advanced in years.
- 1 Samuel 3:19Samuel continued to grow, and the Lord was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled.
- 1 Samuel 10:7“When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you.
- 1 Samuel 18:12So Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.
- Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph. He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master.
- Matthew 1:23“Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”
- Matthew 28:20teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18I have seen a son of Jesse - Dr. Warburton supposes the story is anticipated from 1 Samuel 16:14-23, and that the true chronology of this part of David's life is the following: - David is anointed by Samuel; Carries provisions to his brethren in the army; Fights with and kills Goliath; Is received into the king's court, Contracts a friendship with Jonathan; Incurs Saul's jealousy; Retires to his father's house; Is after some time sent for by Saul to sooth…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18A mighty valiant man - David‘s reputation for courage, skill, discretion, and manly beauty, was already great. Since “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him,” his natural qualities and powers had been greatly enhanced. His feat of killing the lion and the bear (see the marginal references) had been performed, like Samson‘s feats of strength Judges 14:6, Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14, under the same supernatural influence, and was probably more or less known.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. 18harp: The instrument was likely a lyre, a small stringed instrument used for music (as in 1 Samuel 10:5). the LORD is with him: People saw that God's Spirit was with David (1 Samuel 16:13).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 16:18
In the dictionaries
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
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