1 Samuel 18:23 net — So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied,“Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something ins…

NET Bible

"So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied,“Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!”"

— 1 Samuel 18:23, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 18:23 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 18 — Context

20

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him.

21

Saul said,“I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David,“Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law.”

22

Then Saul instructed his servants,“Tell David secretly,‘The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.”

23

So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied,“Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!”

24

When Saul’s servants reported what David had said,

25

Saul replied,“Here is what you should say to David:‘There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except a hundred Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his enemies.’”(Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.)

26

So his servants told David these things and David agreed to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired

1 Samuel 18:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 18:23 say?
1 Samuel 18:23 in the NET Bible reads: “So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied,“Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!””
Where is 1 Samuel 18:23 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 18:23 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 18, 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 18:23.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 18:23 in?
1 Samuel 18:23 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 18:23?
1 Samuel 18:23 reads (NET): “So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied,“Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!”” 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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