1 Samuel 16:21

1 Samuel 16:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
• New International Version (NIV)David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.

Context of 1 Samuel 16:21

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.” 20So Jesse took a donkey, loaded it with bread, a bottle of wine and a young goat, and sent them with his son David to Saul. Then David came to Saul and became one of his attendants. Saul loved him greatly, so David became his armor-bearer. 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, “Let David now keep attending me, for he has found favor in my eyes.” 23It came to pass, whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand. So Saul would find relief and feel better, as the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Samuel 16:21 word by word

וַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד לְפָנָ֑יו וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֣הֽוּ מְאֹ֔ד וַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ נֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• and stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: appointH5975
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• him: and he lovedאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• him greatlyמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• and he became his armourbearerכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• and he became his armourbearerנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearing(armour)H5375

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:21

• Genesis 41:46Now Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving as representative of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and passed throughout the whole land of Egypt.
• Deuteronomy 1:38Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter there—encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit it.
• Deuteronomy 10:8At that time Adonai set the tribe of Levi apart to carry the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai, to stand before Adonai to serve Him and to pronounce blessings in His Name—as is the case to this day.
• 1 Kings 10:8Blessed are your people, blessed are your courtiers who are standing continually before you, listening to your wisdom.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before obscure people.
• Psalms 62:9Trust in Him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart in His presence. God is our refuge. Selah
• Psalms 118:9It is better to take refuge in Adonai than to trust in princes.
• Psalms 146:3Do not put your trust in princes— in man, in whom there is no salvation.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The difficulty of reconciling this verse with 1 Samuel 17:55-58, is met thus: The words here are the ultimate sequence of David‘s first visit to Saul, and of his skill in music, and are therefore placed here; but they did not really come to pass until after David‘s victory over Goliath (see 1 Samuel 18:2). It is quite conceivable that if David had only played once or twice to Saul, and then returned to his father‘s house for some months, Saul might not…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. 21At first, Saul loved David very much, but this love soon became intense jealousy and hatred (see 1 Samuel 18:8–14). An armor bearer in ancient Israel was the personal assistant of a warrior leader (see 1 Samuel 14:1–15; 31:4–6; Judges 9:54; 2 Samuel 18:15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. David came to Saul--Providence thus prepared David for his destiny, by placing him in a way to become acquainted with the manners of the court, the business of government, and the general state of the kingdom. became his armour-bearer--This choice, as being an expression of the king's partiality, shows how honorable the office was held to be.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 16:21

• Armor-Bearer
• David
• Demons
• Jesse
• Saul

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Appearance
• Armourbearer
• Comely
• Jesse
• Psalms, Book of
• Samuel, Books of

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