1 Samuel 16:17 net — So Saul said to his servants,“Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”

NET Bible

"So Saul said to his servants,“Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”"

— 1 Samuel 16:17, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 16:17 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 16 — Context

14

David Appears before Saul Now the Spirit of the LORD had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

15

Then Saul’s servants said to him,“Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!

16

Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre and you will feel better.”

17

So Saul said to his servants,“Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”

18

One of his attendants replied,“I have seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the LORD is with him.”

19

So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said,“Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep.”

20

So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David.

1 Samuel 16:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 16:17 say?
1 Samuel 16:17 in the NET Bible reads: “So Saul said to his servants,“Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.””
Where is 1 Samuel 16:17 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 16:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 16, verse 17.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 16:17.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 16:17 in?
1 Samuel 16:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 16:17?
1 Samuel 16:17 reads (NET): “So Saul said to his servants,“Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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