Previous

1 Samuel 16:22

1 Samuel 16:23 net — So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to…

NET Bible

"So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone."

— 1 Samuel 16:23, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

1 Samuel 16:23 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

1 Samuel 16 — Context

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.

21

David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him a great deal, and he became his armor bearer.

22

Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying,“Let David be my servant, for I really like him.”

23

So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone.

1 Samuel 16:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 16:23 say?
1 Samuel 16:23 in the NET Bible reads: “So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone.”
Where is 1 Samuel 16:23 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 16:23 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 16, verse 23.
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 16:23.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 16:23 in?
1 Samuel 16:23 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 16:23?
1 Samuel 16:23 reads (NET): “So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone.” 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.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2