1 Samuel

1 Samuel 18:18–23

18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” 19So when it was timec to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. 21“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

23But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

Footnotes

  • c 18:19 Or But when it was time

Read all of 1 Samuel 18

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 18:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Davidדָּוִ֜דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Saulשָׁא֗וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
Whoמִ֤יmîInterrogativeH4310 who?
am Iאָֽנֹכִי֙’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
and whatוּמִ֣יū·mîConjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4310 who?
is my familyחַיַּ֔יḥay·yayNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH2416 alive, living
or my father’sאָבִ֖י’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
clanמִשְׁפַּ֥חַתmiš·pa·ḥaṯNoun - feminine singular constructH4940 clan
in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbə·yiś·rā·’êlPreposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
thatכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I should becomeאֶהְיֶ֥ה’eh·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the son-in-lawחָתָ֖ןḥā·ṯānNoun - masculine singularH2860 daughter's husband, bride-groom
of the kingלַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃lam·me·leḵPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king

1 Samuel 18:19

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So when it wasוַיְהִ֗יway·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
timeבְּעֵ֥תbə·‘êṯPreposition-b; Noun - common singularH6256 time
to giveתֵּ֛תtêṯVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5414 give, put, set
Saul’sשָׁא֖וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
daughterבַּת־baṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH1323 daughter
Merabמֵרַ֥בmê·raḇNoun - proper - feminine singularH4764 Merab
to Davidלְדָוִ֑דlə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
sheוְהִ֧יאwə·hîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person feminine singularH1931 he, she
was givenנִתְּנָ֛הnit·tə·nāhVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
in marriageלְאִשָּֽׁה׃lə·’iš·šāhPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
to Adrielלְעַדְרִיאֵ֥לlə·‘aḏ·rî·’êlPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH5741 Adriel
of Meholahהַמְּחֹלָתִ֖יham·mə·ḥō·lā·ṯîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH4259 Mecholathite

1 Samuel 18:20

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now Saul’sשָׁא֖וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
daughterבַּת־baṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH1323 daughter
Michalמִיכַ֥לmî·ḵalNoun - proper - feminine singularH4324 Mikal
lovedוַתֶּאֱהַ֛בwat·te·’ĕ·haḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH157 love
Davidדָּוִ֑דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
and when this was reportedוַיַּגִּ֣דוּway·yag·gi·ḏūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5046 be conspicuous
to Saulלְשָׁא֔וּלlə·šā·’ūlPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
itהַדָּבָ֖רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
pleasedוַיִּשַׁ֥רway·yi·šarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3474 be smooth, straight, right
himבְּעֵינָֽיו׃bə·‘ê·nāwPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; third person masculine singularH5869 eye

1 Samuel 18:21

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I will give herאֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה’et·tə·nen·nāhVerb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
toלּוֹ֙lōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
Saulשָׁא֜וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
thoughtוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
so that she may beוּתְהִי־ū·ṯə·hî-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a snareלְמוֹקֵ֔שׁlə·mō·w·qêšPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH4170 a bait or lure
to himל֣וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
and the handיַד־yaḏ-Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
may beוּתְהִי־ū·ṯə·hî-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
against himב֖וֹḇōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
So Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִ֔דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
For a secondבִּשְׁתַּ֛יִםbiš·ta·yimPreposition-b; Number - fdH8147 two
nowהַיּֽוֹם׃hay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
you can be my son-in-lawתִּתְחַתֵּ֥ןtiṯ·ḥat·tênVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH2859 wife's father

1 Samuel 18:22

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Saulשָׁא֜וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
orderedוַיְצַ֨וway·ṣawConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
his servantsעֲבָדָ֗וʿă·ḇå̄·ḏå̄wNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
Speakדַּבְּר֨וּdab·bə·rūVerb - Piel - Imperative - masculine pluralH1696 speak
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִ֤דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
privatelyבַּלָּט֙bal·lāṭPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3909 secrecy, mystery
and tell himלֵאמֹ֔רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
Beholdהִנֵּ֨הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
is pleasedחָפֵ֤ץḥā·p̄êṣVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2654 delight in
with youבְּךָ֙bə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
and allוְכָל־wə·ḵālConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
his servantsעֲבָדָ֖יו‘ă·ḇā·ḏāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
love youאֲהֵב֑וּךָ’ă·hê·ḇū·ḵāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural; second person masculine singularH157 love
Now thereforeוְעַתָּ֖הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
become hisבַּמֶּֽלֶךְ׃bam·me·leḵPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
son-in-lawהִתְחַתֵּ֥ןhiṯ·ḥat·tênVerb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singularH2859 wife's father

1 Samuel 18:23

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But when Saul’sשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
servantsעַבְדֵ֤י‘aḇ·ḏêNoun - masculine plural constructH5650 slave, servant
relayedוַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּway·ḏab·bə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1696 speak
theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
wordsהַדְּבָרִ֖יםhad·də·ḇā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
to Davidדָוִ֔דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
heדָּוִ֗דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Does it seem trivialהַֽנְקַלָּ֤הhan·qal·lāhVerb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularH7043 be slight, swift, trifling
in your sightבְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ḇə·‘ê·nê·ḵemPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; second person masculine pluralH5869 eye
to be the son-in-lawהִתְחַתֵּ֣ןhiṯ·ḥat·tênVerb - Hitpael - Infinitive constructH2859 wife's father
of the kingבַּמֶּ֔לֶךְbam·me·leḵPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Iוְאָנֹכִ֖יwə·’ā·nō·ḵîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH595 I
am a poorרָ֥שׁrāšVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7326 be in want, poor
manאִֽישׁ־’îš-Noun - masculine singularH376 man
and lightly esteemedוְנִקְלֶֽה׃wə·niq·lehConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH7034 belightly esteemed, dishonoured

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 18:18 2 Samuel 7:18 · 1 Samuel 18:23 · 1 Samuel 9:21 · Ruth 2:10 · Exodus 3:11

1 Samuel 18:19 2 Samuel 21:8 · Judges 7:22

1 Samuel 18:20 1 Samuel 18:28

1 Samuel 18:21 1 Samuel 18:17 · Jeremiah 9:8 · 1 Samuel 19:11–12 · 1 Samuel 18:26 · Exodus 10:7

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.