1 Samuel

1 Samuel 18:22–28

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, ²⁷David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

²⁸When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

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 18:22

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

1 Samuel 18:27

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
David	דָּוִ֜ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
and his men	וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו	wa·’ă·nā·šāw	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H582 man, mankind
went out	וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ׀	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and killed	וַיַּ֣ךְ	way·yaḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
two hundred	מָאתַ֣יִם	mā·ṯa·yim	Number - fd	H3967 hundred
Philistines	בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֮	bap·pə·liš·tîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
He	דָוִד֙	ḏā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
brought	וַיָּבֵ֤א	way·yā·ḇê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
their foreskins	עָרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם	‘ā·rə·lō·ṯê·hem	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H6190 foreskin
and presented them as payment in full	וַיְמַלְא֣וּם	way·mal·’ūm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine plural	H4390 be full, fill
to become	בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ	bam·me·leḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
the king’s	לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	lam·me·leḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
son-in-law	לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן	lə·hiṯ·ḥat·tên	Preposition-l; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct	H2859 wife's father
Then Saul	שָׁא֛וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
gave	וַיִּתֶּן־	way·yit·ten-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
his daughter	בִּתּ֖וֹ	bit·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1323 daughter
Michal	מִיכַ֥ל	mî·ḵal	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4324 Mikal
to	ל֥וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular

1 Samuel 18:28

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Saul	שָׁאוּל֙	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
realized	וַיַּ֤רְא	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
that	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the LORD	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
was with	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
David	דָּוִ֑ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
and that his	שָׁא֖וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
daughter	בַּת־	baṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H1323 daughter
Michal	וּמִיכַ֥ל	ū·mî·ḵal	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4324 Mikal
loved	אֲהֵבַֽתְהוּ׃	’ă·hê·ḇaṯ·hū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular; third person masculine singular	H157 love

Cross-references

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

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

1 Samuel 18:27 2 Samuel 3:14

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.