1 Samuel

1 Samuel 18:21–26

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.”

²⁴And the servants told Saul what David had said.

²⁵Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

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 18:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I will give her	אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה	’et·tə·nen·nāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H5414 give, put, set
to	לּוֹ֙	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
Saul	שָׁא֜וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
thought	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
so that she may be	וּתְהִי־	ū·ṯə·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a snare	לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ	lə·mō·w·qêš	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H4170 a bait or lure
to him	ל֣וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
and the hand	יַד־	yaḏ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of the Philistines	פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
may be	וּתְהִי־	ū·ṯə·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
against him	ב֖וֹ	ḇōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
So Saul	שָׁאוּל֙	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
said	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
David	דָּוִ֔ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
For a second	בִּשְׁתַּ֛יִם	biš·ta·yim	Preposition-b; Number - fd	H8147 two
now	הַיּֽוֹם׃	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
you can be my son-in-law	תִּתְחַתֵּ֥ן	tiṯ·ḥat·tên	Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H2859 wife's father

1 Samuel 18:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Saul	שָׁא֜וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
ordered	וַיְצַ֨ו	way·ṣaw	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
his servants	עֲבָדָ֗ו	ʿă·ḇå̄·ḏå̄w	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Speak	דַּבְּר֨וּ	dab·bə·rū	Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural	H1696 speak
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
David	דָּוִ֤ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
privately	בַּלָּט֙	bal·lāṭ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3909 secrecy, mystery
and tell him	לֵאמֹ֔ר	lê·mōr	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H559 utter, say
Behold	הִנֵּ֨ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
the king	הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
is pleased	חָפֵ֤ץ	ḥā·p̄êṣ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2654 delight in
with you	בְּךָ֙	bə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
and all	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
his servants	עֲבָדָ֖יו	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
love you	אֲהֵב֑וּךָ	’ă·hê·ḇū·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural; second person masculine singular	H157 love
Now therefore	וְעַתָּ֖ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
become his	בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ׃	bam·me·leḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
son-in-law	הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן	hiṯ·ḥat·tên	Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular	H2859 wife's father

1 Samuel 18:23

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But when Saul’s	שָׁאוּל֙	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
servants	עַבְדֵ֤י	‘aḇ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5650 slave, servant
relayed	וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּ	way·ḏab·bə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1696 speak
these	הָאֵ֑לֶּה	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
words	הַדְּבָרִ֖ים	had·də·ḇā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
to David	דָוִ֔ד	ḏā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
he	דָּוִ֗ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
replied	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Does it seem trivial	הַֽנְקַלָּ֤ה	han·qal·lāh	Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular	H7043 be slight, swift, trifling
in your sight	בְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙	ḇə·‘ê·nê·ḵem	Preposition-b; Noun - cdc; second person masculine plural	H5869 eye
to be the son-in-law	הִתְחַתֵּ֣ן	hiṯ·ḥat·tên	Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct	H2859 wife's father
of the king	בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְ	bam·me·leḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
I	וְאָנֹכִ֖י	wə·’ā·nō·ḵî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
am a poor	רָ֥שׁ	rāš	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7326 be in want, poor
man	אִֽישׁ־	’îš-	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
and lightly esteemed	וְנִקְלֶֽה׃	wə·niq·leh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H7034 belightly esteemed, dishonoured

1 Samuel 18:24

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the servants	עַבְדֵ֥י	‘aḇ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5650 slave, servant
told	וַיַּגִּ֜דוּ	way·yag·gi·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
Saul	שָׁא֛וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
what	הָאֵ֖לֶּה	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
David	דָּוִֽד׃פ	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
had said	דִּבֶּ֥ר	dib·ber	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak

1 Samuel 18:25

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Saul	שָׁא֜וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
replied	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Say	תֹאמְר֣וּ	ṯō·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to David	לְדָוִ֗ד	lə·ḏā·wiḏ	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
The king	לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
desires	חֵ֤פֶץ	ḥê·p̄eṣ	Noun - masculine singular	H2656 delight, pleasure
no	אֵֽין־	’ên-	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
other dowry	בְּמֹ֔הַר	bə·mō·har	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H4119 purchase-price
but	כִּ֗י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a hundred	בְּמֵאָה֙	bə·mê·’āh	Preposition-b; Number - feminine singular	H3967 hundred
Philistine	פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
foreskins	עָרְל֣וֹת	‘ā·rə·lō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H6190 foreskin
as revenge	לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם	lə·hin·nā·qêm	Preposition-l; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct	H5358 avenge, take vengeance
on his	הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
enemies	בְּאֹיְבֵ֣י	bə·’ō·yə·ḇê	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H341 be hostile to
But Saul	וְשָׁא֣וּל	wə·šā·’ūl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
intended	חָשַׁ֔ב	ḥā·šaḇ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2803 think, account
to cause David’s	דָּוִ֖ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
death	לְהַפִּ֥יל	lə·hap·pîl	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H5307 fall, lie
at the hands	בְּיַד־	bə·yaḏ-	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of the Philistines	פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃	pə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine

1 Samuel 18:26

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When the servants	עֲבָדָ֤יו	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
reported	וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ	way·yag·gi·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5046 be conspicuous
these	הָאֵ֔לֶּה	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
terms	הַדְּבָרִ֣ים	had·də·ḇā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
to David	לְדָוִד֙	lə·ḏā·wiḏ	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
was pleased	וַיִּשַׁ֤ר	way·yi·šar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3474 be smooth, straight, right
to become the king’s	בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ	bam·me·leḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
son-in-law	לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן	lə·hiṯ·ḥat·tên	Preposition-l; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct	H2859 wife's father
Before the wedding day arrived	הַיָּמִֽים׃	hay·yā·mîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day

Cross-references

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

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

1 Samuel 18:25 1 Samuel 18:17 · Genesis 34:12 · 1 Samuel 14:24

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.