1 Samuel · Unlocked Literal Bible
1 Samuel 18 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1 When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 Saul took David into his service that day; he did not let him return to his father's house.
2 Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship because Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David with his armor, as well as his sword, bow, and belt.
4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.
5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he succeeded. Saul set him over the men of war. This was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 As they came home from defeating the Philistines, the women came from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
6 As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7 The women sang one to another as they played. They sang: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
7 The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry, and this song displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but they have ascribed only thousands to me. What more can he have but the monarchy?”
8 Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
9 Saul watched David from that day and forward.
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he raved within the house. So David played his instrument, as he did each day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
10 On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;
11 Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from Saul's presence twice in this way.
11 and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, but was no longer with Saul.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.
13 So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him a commander of a thousand. In this way David went out and came in before the people.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 David was prospering in all his ways, for Yahweh was with him.
14 David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
15 When Saul saw that he prospered, he stood in awe of him.
15 When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be courageous for me and fight Yahweh's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
17 Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
18 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, or my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
18 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
19 But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
20 But Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and this pleased him.
20 Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 Then Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she can be a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You will be my son-in-law.”
21 Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”
22 Saul commanded his servants, “Speak with David in private, and say, 'See, the king takes pleasure in you, and all his servants love you. Now then, become the king's son-in-law.'”
22 Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’”
23 So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. Then David said, “Is it a small matter to you to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?”
23 Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”
24 The servants of Saul reported to him the words which David spoke.
24 The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”
25 Then Saul said, “Say this to David, 'The king does not desire any price for the bride except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged from the king's enemies.'” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
25 Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to be the king's son-in-law.
26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,
27 Before those days had expired, David went with his men and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, so that he might be the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife.
27 David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.
28 When Saul saw, and he knew that Yahweh was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,
28 Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
29 Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was continually David's enemy.
29 Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines came out for battle, and as often as they came out, David succeeded more than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly regarded.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Adriel
Adriel of Meholah, son of Barzillai the Meholathite, who received Saul's daughter Merab in marriage and fathered five sons who were handed over to the Gibeonites.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 18:19; 2 Samuel 21:8
David
The shepherd who became Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart.
Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 2:15; Matt. 1:6
Jonathan
Saul's noble son and David's devoted friend, who died beside his father at Gilboa.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 14; 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 2 Samuel 1
Merab
Saul's firstborn daughter, offered to David in marriage but given to Adriel of Meholah; five sons she bore to Adriel were later handed over to the Gibeonites (some manuscripts…
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 14:49; 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 18:19
Michal
Saul's daughter who loved David and became his first wife amid her father's schemes.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 18:20-27; 2 Samuel 6:16-23
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Proverbs 18:24; 1 Samuel 20:17; 2 Samuel 1:26; 1 Samuel 18:3; Colossians 2:2
- 2 1 Samuel 17:15; 1 Samuel 16:21–23
- 3 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 20:8–17; 2 Samuel 21:7; 2 Samuel 9:1–3; 1 Samuel 23:18
- 4 Genesis 41:42; Esther 6:8–9; Isaiah 61:10; Luke 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21
- 5 1 Samuel 18:30; 1 Samuel 18:14–15; Colossians 4:5; Acts 7:10; Ephesians 5:17
- 6 Judges 11:34; Exodus 15:20; Psalm 68:25; Jeremiah 31:11–13
- 7 1 Samuel 21:11; Exodus 15:21; 1 Samuel 29:5; Psalm 24:7–8
- 8 1 Samuel 15:28; Proverbs 13:10; Esther 3:5; James 4:5; 1 Samuel 20:31
- 9 Ephesians 4:27; James 5:9; Genesis 4:5–6; Genesis 31:2; Matthew 20:15
- 10 2 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Kings 18:29; 1 Samuel 19:9; Acts 16:16; 1 Samuel 16:14–16
- 11 1 Samuel 20:33; Isaiah 54:17; John 8:59; Psalm 37:32–33; Luke 4:30
- 12 1 Samuel 18:15; 1 Samuel 18:29; 1 Samuel 16:13–14; 1 Samuel 28:15; 1 Samuel 16:18
- 13 2 Samuel 5:2; Psalm 121:8; 1 Samuel 18:16–17; 1 Samuel 22:7; 1 Samuel 8:12
- 14 Genesis 39:23; Joshua 6:27; 1 Samuel 16:18; Matthew 28:20; Genesis 39:2–3
- 15 Colossians 4:5; Daniel 6:4–5; Psalm 112:5; James 1:5; James 3:17
- 16 1 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 5:2; 1 Kings 3:7; Numbers 27:17; Luke 20:19
- 17 1 Samuel 17:25; 1 Samuel 18:25; 1 Samuel 25:28; 1 Samuel 18:21; 1 Samuel 17:47
- 18 2 Samuel 7:18; 1 Samuel 9:21; 1 Samuel 18:23; Exodus 3:11; Ruth 2:10
- 19 Judges 7:22; 2 Samuel 21:8; Judges 14:20
- 20 1 Samuel 18:28
- 21 1 Samuel 18:17; Jeremiah 9:8; 1 Samuel 18:26; Exodus 10:7; 1 Samuel 19:11–12
- 22 Psalm 55:21; Psalm 36:1–3; 2 Samuel 13:28–29; Proverbs 29:12
- 23 Proverbs 14:20; Ecclesiastes 9:15–16; 1 John 3:1; Proverbs 19:6–7; Psalm 119:141
- 25 1 Samuel 14:24; 1 Samuel 18:17; Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16–17; Genesis 17:11–14
- 26 1 Samuel 18:21
- 27 2 Samuel 3:14; 1 Samuel 18:13; Judges 14:19
- 28 Genesis 39:3; 1 Samuel 26:25; Revelation 3:9; 1 Samuel 24:20; Genesis 37:8–11
- 29 Ecclesiastes 4:4; 1 John 3:12–15; James 2:19; 1 Samuel 18:12; Psalm 37:12–14
- 30 2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Samuel 18:5; Ephesians 5:15; Daniel 1:20; Psalm 119:99
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For when he was Saul, his name was derived from Saul: now Saul was a proud king; and in his reign he persecuted the humble David. So when he who was afterwards Paul, was Saul, he was proud, at that time a persecutor of the innocent, at that time a waster of the Church.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)