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 said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law.” 22Then Saul instructed his servants, “Tell David secretly, ‘The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.” So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!” 24When Saul’s servants reported what David had said, 25Saul replied, “Here is what you should say to David: ‘There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except a hundred Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his enemies.’” (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• those wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• in the earsאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: to earsH241
• of Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Seemethעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• lightקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• to be a king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• son in lawחָתַןchâthan · make oneself a daughter’s husbandH2859
• a poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and lightly esteemedקָלָהqâlâh · to dishonorH7034

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:23

• 1 John 3:1(See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed 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 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?”
• Proverbs 14:20A poor person is disliked even by his neighbors, but those who love the rich are many.
• Proverbs 19:6Many people entreat the favor of a generous person, and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts.
• Ecclesiastes 9:15However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.
• Psalms 119:141I am insignificant 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