New English Translation
1 Samuel 18:18
18David said to Saul, “Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
1 Samuel 18:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
- New International Version (NIV)But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)So David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
Context of 1 Samuel 18:18
16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back. 17Then Saul said to David, “Here’s my oldest daughter, Merab. I want to give her to you in marriage. Only be a brave warrior for me and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul thought, “There’s no need for me to raise my hand against him. Let it be the hand of the Philistines!” David said to Saul, “Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19When the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she instead was given in marriage to Adriel, who was from Meholah. 20Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him.
Read all of 1 Samuel 181 Samuel 18:18 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־שָׁא֗וּל מִ֤י אָֽנֹכִי֙ וּמִ֣י חַיַּ֔י מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת אָבִ֖י בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־אֶהְיֶ֥ה חָתָ֖ן לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- my lifeחַיchay · kinsfolkH2416
- my father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- familyמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940
- in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- that I should be son in lawחָתָןchâthân · son-in-lawH2860
- to the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:18
- 1 Samuel 18:26So his servants told David these things and David agreed to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired
- 1 Samuel 9:21Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”
- Exodus 3:11Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
- Ruth 2:10Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner?”
- 2 Samuel 7:18King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point?
- Proverbs 15:33The fear of the Lord provides wise instruction, and before honor comes humility.
- Proverbs 18:12Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor.
- Jeremiah 1:6I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18What is my life - i. e., condition, or means of living (Proverbs 27:27 margin).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. 18Who am I, and what is my family: This shows humility (see also 2 Samuel 7:18; compare Exodus 3:11). David's family could not pay the bride price to marry the king's daughter (1 Samuel 18:23–25).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:18
In the dictionaries
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
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