Revised Literal Translation

1 Samuel 16

1And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050,How long wilt thou mournמִתְאַבֵּ֣לmit.'a.BelH56for Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586,seeing I have rejectedמְאַסְתִּ֔יוme.'as.TivH3988him from reigningמִמְּלֹ֖ךְmi.me.LokhH4427over Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478?fillמַלֵּ֨אma.Le'H4390thine hornקַרְנְךָ֜kar.ne.ChaH7161with oilשֶׁ֗מֶןShe.menH8081,and goH3212,I will sendאֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙'esh.la.cha.KhaH7971thee to Jesseיִשַׁ֣יyi.ShaiH3448the Beth–lehemiteH1022:for I have providedרָאִ֧יתִיra.'I.tiH7200me a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃Me.lekhH4428among his sonsבְּבָנָ֛יוbe.va.NavH1121.

2And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,How can I goH3212?if Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586hearוְשָׁמַ֥עve.sha.Ma'H8085it,he will killוַהֲרָגָ֑נִי סva.ha.ra.Ga.niH2026me. And Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Takeתִּקַּ֣חti.KachH3947an heiferעֶגְלַ֤ת בָּקָר֙'eg.Lat ba.KarH5697 H1241with theeבְּיָדֶ֔ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,and sayוְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ve.'A.mar.taH559,I am comeבָּֽאתִי׃Ba.tiH935to sacrificeלִזְבֹּ֥חַliz.Bo.achH2076to Yhwhלַֽיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068.

3And callוְקָרָ֥אתָve.ka.Ra.taH7121Jesseלְיִשַׁ֖יle.yi.ShaiH3448to the sacrificeבַּזָּ֑בַחba.Za.vachH2077,and I will shewאוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֙'o.di.'a.KhaH3045thee what thou shalt doתַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.SehH6213:and thou shalt anointוּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣u.ma.shach.TaH4886unto me himwhom I nameאֹמַ֖ר'o.MarH559unto thee.

4And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213that which Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068spakeדִּבֶּ֣רdi.BerH1696,and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Beth–lehemH1035.And the eldersזִקְנֵ֤יzik.NeiH2205of the townהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892trembledוַיֶּחֶרְד֞וּvai.ye.cher.DuH2729at his comingH7125,and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Comestבּוֹאֶֽךָ׃bo.'E.khaH935thou peaceablyשָׁלֹ֥םsha.LomH7965?

5And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559,Peaceablyשָׁל֗וֹםsha.LomH7965:I am comeבָּ֔אתִיBa.tiH935to sacrificeלִזְבֹּ֤חַliz.Bo.achH2076unto Yhwhלַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.wehH3068:sanctifyהִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּhit.ka.de.ShuH6942yourselves, and comeוּבָאתֶ֥םu.va.TemH935with me to the sacrificeבַּזָּ֑בַחba.Za.vachH2077.And he sanctifiedוַיְקַדֵּ֤שׁvay.ka.DeshH6942Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi.ShaiH3448and his sonsבָּנָ֔יוba.NavH1121,and calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121them to the sacrificeלַזָּֽבַח׃la.Za.vachH2077.

6And it came to pass, when they were comeבְּבוֹאָ֔םbe.vo.'AmH935,that he lookedוַיַּ֖רְאvai.Yar'H7200on Eliabאֱלִיאָ֑ב'e.li.'AvH446,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Surely Yhwh'sיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068anointedמְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃me.shi.ChoH4899is before him.

7But Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050,Lookתַּבֵּ֧טta.BetH5027not on his countenanceמַרְאֵ֛הוּmar.'E.huH4758,or on the heightגְּבֹ֥הַּge.Vo.ahH1364of his statureקוֹמָת֖וֹko.ma.ToH6967;because I have refusedמְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּme.'as.Ti.huH3988him: for the Lord seethnot as manהָאָדָ֔םha.'a.DamH120seethיִרְאֶה֙yir.'EhH7200;for manהָֽאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120lookethיִרְאֶ֣הyir.'EhH7200on the outward appearanceלַעֵינַ֔יִםla.'ei.Na.yimH5869,But Yhwhוַיהוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068lookethיִרְאֶ֥הyir.'EhH7200on the heartלַלֵּבָֽב׃la.le.VavH3824.

8Then Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi.ShaiH3448calledוַיִּקְרָ֤אvai.yik.Ra'H7121Abinadabאֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב'a.Vi.na.DavH41,and made him passוַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּvai.ya.'a.vi.Re.huH5674beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050.And he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Neither hath Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068chosenבָחַ֥רva.CharH977this.

9Then Jesseיִשַׁ֖יyi.ShaiH3448made Shammahשַׁמָּ֑הsha.MahH8048to pass byוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רvai.ya.'a.VerH5674.And he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Neither hath Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068chosenבָחַ֥רva.CharH977this.

10Again, Jesseיִשַׁ֛יyi.ShaiH3448made sevenשִׁבְעַ֥תshiv.'AtH7651of his sonsבָּנָ֖יוba.NavH1121to passוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רvai.ya.'a.VerH5674beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050.And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Jesseיִשַׁ֔יyi.ShaiH3448,Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068hath not chosenבָחַ֥רva.CharH977these.

11And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֣לshe.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Jesseיִשַׁי֮yi.ShaiH3448,Are here allהֲתַ֣מּוּha.Ta.muH8552thychildrenהַנְּעָרִים֒ha.ne.'a.RimH5288?And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,There remainethשָׁאַ֣רsha.'ArH7604yet the youngestהַקָּטָ֔ןha.ka.TanH6996,and, behold, he keepethרֹעֶ֖הro.'EhH7462the sheepבַּצֹּ֑אןba.TzonH6629.And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֤לshe.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi.ShaiH3448,Sendשִׁלְחָ֣הshil.ChahH7971and fetchוְקָחֶ֔נּוּve.ka.Che.nuH3947him: for we will not sit downנָסֹ֖בna.SoH5437till he comeבֹּא֥וֹbo.'OH935hitherפֹֽה׃FohH6311.

12And he sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971,and brought him inוַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙vay.vi.'E.huH935. Now he wasruddyאַדְמוֹנִ֔י'ad.mo.NiH132, andwithalעִם־'im-H5973of a beautifulיְפֵ֥הye.PehH3303countenanceעֵינַ֖יִם'ei.Na.yimH5869,and goodlyוְט֣וֹבve.TovH2896to look toרֹ֑אִי פRo.'iH7210.And Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Ariseק֥וּםkumH6965,anointמְשָׁחֵ֖הוּme.sha.Che.huH4886him: for this is he.

13Then Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֜לshe.mu.'ElH8050tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947the hornקֶ֣רֶןKe.renH7161of oilהַשֶּׁ֗מֶןha.She.menH8081,and anointedוַיִּמְשַׁ֣חvai.yim.ShachH4886him in the midstבְּקֶ֣רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130of his brethrenאֶחָיו֒'e.ChavH251:and the Spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068cameוַתִּצְלַ֤חva.titz.LachH6743upon Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732from that dayמֵהַיּ֥וֹםme.hai.YomH3117forwardוָמָ֑עְלָהva.Ma.'e.lahH4605.So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050rose upוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965,and wentH3212to Ramahהָרָמָֽתָה׃ סha.ra.Ma.tahH7414.

14But the Spiritוְר֧וּחַve.Ru.achH7307of Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068departedסָ֖רָהSa.rahH5493from Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586,and an evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068troubledוּבִֽעֲתַ֥תּוּu.vi.'a.Ta.tuH1204him.

15And Saul’sשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586servantsעַבְדֵֽי־'av.dei-H5650saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto him, Behold now, an evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430troublethמְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃me.va.'i.Te.khaH1204thee.

16Let our lordאֲדֹנֵ֙נוּ֙'a.do.Ne.nuH113now commandיֹאמַר־yo.mar-H559thy servantsעֲבָדֶ֣יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650, which arebeforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee, to seek outיְבַקְשׁ֕וּye.vak.ShuH1245a manאִ֕ישׁ'ishH376, who isa cunningיֹדֵ֖עַyo.De.a'H3045playerמְנַגֵּ֣ןme.na.GenH5059on an harpבַּכִּנּ֑וֹרba.ki.NorH3658:and it shall come to pass, when the evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430is upon thee, that he shall playוְנִגֵּ֥ןve.ni.GenH5059with his handבְּיָד֖וֹbe.ya.DoH3027,and thou shalt be wellH2895.

17And Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his servantsעֲבָדָ֑יו'a.va.DavH5650,Provideרְאוּ־re.'u-H7200me now a manאִ֚ישׁ'ishH376that can playלְנַגֵּ֔ןle.na.GenH5059wellמֵיטִ֣יבmei.TivH3190,and bringוַהֲבִיאוֹתֶ֖םva.ha.vi.'o.TemH935him to me.

18Then answeredוַיַּעַן֩vai.ya.'AnH6030oneאֶחָ֨ד'e.ChadH259of the servantsמֵהַנְּעָרִ֜יםme.ha.ne.'a.RimH5288,and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold, I have seenרָאִ֜יתִיra.'I.tiH7200a sonבֵּ֣ןbenH1121of Jesseלְיִשַׁי֮le.yi.ShaiH3448the Beth–lehemiteH1022, that iscunningיֹדֵ֣עַyo.De.a'H3045in playingנַ֠גֵּןNa.genH5059,and a mightyוְגִבּ֨וֹרve.gi.BorH1368valiant manחַ֜יִלCha.yilH2428,and a manוְאִ֧ישׁve.'IshH376of warמִלְחָמָ֛הmil.cha.MahH4421,and prudentוּנְב֥וֹןu.ne.VonH995in mattersדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697,and a comelyתֹּ֑אַרTo.'arH8389personוְאִ֣ישׁve.'IshH376,And Yhwhוַיהוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068is with him.

19Wherefore Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֥חvai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֖יםmal.'a.KhimH4397unto Jesseיִשָׁ֑יyi.ShaiH3448,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Sendשִׁלְחָ֥הshil.ChahH7971me Davidדָּוִ֥דda.VidH1732thy sonבִּנְךָ֖bin.KhaH1121, which iswith the sheepבַּצֹּֽאן׃ba.TzonH6629.

20And Jesseיִשַׁ֜יyi.ShaiH3448tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947a donkeyחֲמ֥וֹרcha.MorH2543ladenwith breadלֶ֙חֶם֙le.chemH3899,and a skinוְנֹ֣אדve.NodH4997of wineיַ֔יִןYa.yinH3196,and aאֶחָ֑ד'e.ChadH259kidוּגְדִ֥י עִזִּ֖יםu.ge.Di 'i.ZimH5795 H1423,and sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֛חvai.yish.LachH7971thembyבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027Davidדָּוִ֥דda.VidH1732his sonבְּנ֖וֹbe.NoH1121unto Saulשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7586.

21And Davidדָוִד֙da.VidH1732cameוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586,and stoodוַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975beforeלְפָנָ֑יוle.fa.NavH6440him: and he lovedוַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֣הֽוּvai.ye.'e.ha.Ve.huH157him greatlyמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966;and he became his armourbearerנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלִֽים׃no.Se' khe.LimH3627 H5375.

22And Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971to Jesseיִשַׁ֖יyi.ShaiH3448,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Let Davidדָוִד֙da.VidH1732,I pray thee, standיַעֲמָד־ya.'a.mod-H5975beforeלְפָנַ֔יle.fa.NaiH6440me; for he hath foundמָ֥צָאMa.tza'H4672favourחֵ֖ןchenH2580in my sightבְּעֵינָֽי׃be.'ei.NaiH5869.

23And it came to pass, when the evilspiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430was upon Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586,that Davidדָּוִ֛דda.VidH1732tookוְלָקַ֥חve.la.KachH3947an harpהַכִּנּ֖וֹרha.ki.NorH3658,and playedוְנִגֵּ֣ןve.ni.GenH5059with his handבְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.DoH3027:so Saulלְשָׁאוּל֙le.sha.'UlH7586was refreshedוְרָוַ֤חve.ra.VachH7304,and was wellH2895,and the evilהָרָעָֽה׃ פha.ra.'AhH7451spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307departedוְסָ֥רָהve.Sa.rahH5493from him.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16