1 Samuel 18:16 kjv
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1 Samuel 18:16 nkjv
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1 Samuel 18:16 niv
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
1 Samuel 18:16 esv
But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
1 Samuel 18:16 nlt
But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.
1 Samuel 18 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 18:5 | And David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. | David's initial success and approval. |
| 1 Sam 18:7 | The women sang as they danced, saying: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." | Women's song showing David's greater fame. |
| 1 Sam 18:12 | Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. | Saul's fear driven by divine favor on David. |
| 1 Sam 18:14 | And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. | God's presence as source of David's success. |
| 1 Sam 18:30 | ...David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul... | David's superior wisdom and success. |
| 1 Sam 17:50 | So David prevailed over the Philistine... | David's heroic victory over Goliath. |
| 2 Sam 3:1 | Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. | Decline of Saul's house, rise of David. |
| 2 Sam 5:1-3 | Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and spoke, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh...So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel." | Israel's universal acceptance of David as king. |
| Num 27:17 | ...who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd. | Joshua as a leader who 'goes out and comes in'. |
| Dt 31:2 | And he said to them: "I am one hundred and twenty years old today; I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross this Jordan.'" | Moses speaking of ending his active leadership. |
| Josh 14:11 | As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so is my strength now, for war, both for going out and coming in. | Caleb asserting his continued ability to lead militarily. |
| Ps 121:8 | The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forevermore. | God's protection in all daily activities. |
| Jer 37:4 | Now Jeremiah went in and out among the people, for they had not put him in prison. | Jeremiah's freedom to move among the people. |
| Pr 11:27 | He who earnestly seeks good finds favor... | Seeking good bringing favor. |
| Lk 2:52 | And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. | Jesus growing in favor with people and God. |
| Acts 2:47 | ...praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. | Early church gaining public favor. |
| Acts 7:9-10 | "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt..." | Joseph receiving favor despite adversity. |
| Col 3:23-24 | And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. | Working for the Lord earns favor/reward. |
| Ps 78:70-72 | He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young, He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. | God's choice of David and his faithful leadership. |
| 1 Sam 16:13 | Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. | David's divine anointing preceding popular love. |
1 Samuel 18 verses
1 Samuel 18 16 Meaning
1 Samuel 18:16 states that all the people of Israel and Judah had a deep affection for David because he actively and successfully led them in their public affairs and military campaigns. This verse underscores David's widespread popularity and the reason for it, highlighting a stark contrast with King Saul's increasingly alienated state. It signifies God's favor upon David, manifesting through the people's admiration for his capable and visible leadership, thus laying the groundwork for his eventual anointing as king over all Israel.
1 Samuel 18 16 Context
The verse is situated in 1 Samuel chapter 18, a pivotal chapter in the developing tension between King Saul and David. Following David's triumph over Goliath in chapter 17, David quickly rose to prominence. Chapter 18 opens with Jonathan forming a deep bond with David, and Saul initially placing David over his fighting men, which was well-received by all. However, as David achieved further military successes, surpassing Saul's own fame (as highlighted by the women's song in 1 Sam 18:7), Saul's initial approval quickly devolved into intense jealousy, paranoia, and repeated attempts to kill David. Saul's fear stemmed from the recognition that the LORD was with David but had departed from him (1 Sam 18:12). In response to David's continued success and the popular acclaim, Saul removes David from his personal presence and makes him a commander of a thousand (1 Sam 18:13). This change in position ironically serves to put David even more directly in the public eye, where his consistent wisdom and successful leadership are observed firsthand by the entire nation. Thus, 1 Samuel 18:16 acts as a summary of David's strong, unified national support, serving as a powerful counterpoint to Saul's escalating, yet ultimately futile, animosity, foreshadowing the shift in divine kingship from Saul to David.
1 Samuel 18 16 Word analysis
- But (וְכָל / wəḵōl): This conjunction serves to introduce a contrast or a new, significant development. Here, it highlights a stark contrast between Saul's personal fear and animosity towards David and the unanimous, widespread affection the nation felt for him. It emphasizes that despite Saul's machinations, David's popularity was undeniable and pervasive.
- all Israel and Judah: This phrase signifies the entire collective body of the twelve tribes of Israel. "Israel and Judah" are mentioned separately to denote a unified national entity, representing the entirety of Saul's kingdom before the future split. Its use here underscores the absolute, overwhelming nature of David's popularity across all tribal divisions, signifying a widespread national consensus.
- loved (אָהֵב / ʾāhēḇ): This Hebrew term goes beyond mere respect or admiration. It indicates a deep-seated affection, loyalty, and positive regard. It suggests a bond of emotional attachment and allegiance that was given freely and genuinely. This national love for David stands in stark opposition to Saul's bitter hatred and fear.
- David: The central figure of affection and God's chosen leader. His name is associated with strength, wisdom, integrity, and success throughout this period, characteristics that fostered this deep love.
- because (כִּי / kî): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement. It clarifies that the people's love for David was not arbitrary but founded on concrete observations of his actions.
- he went out and came in: This is a significant Hebrew idiom commonly used to describe effective and comprehensive leadership, particularly in military and public affairs. It implies active engagement, visible presence, and overall competent direction of national life, especially in battle or daily administration. It means he was actively leading them, constantly engaged with them, and overseeing their affairs, rather than remaining hidden or distant. This visible and consistent performance cultivated trust and affection.
- before them: This phrase means in their presence, in their sight, among them. It signifies David's transparent, accessible, and participatory leadership. He was not governing from afar but was directly involved in the life of the people, fighting alongside them, and demonstrating his leadership openly. This transparency further solidified their love and respect.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- all Israel and Judah loved David: This grouping underscores the profound unity of national sentiment surrounding David. It prefigures David's eventual universal acceptance as king and highlights that divine choice often finds its echo in the heart of the people through demonstrable qualities and actions. This popular love was an indicator of God's favor.
- because he went out and came in before them: This phrase clarifies that the people's adoration was rooted in David's practical, observed actions. His dynamic, visible, and successful leadership (going out for battle, coming in after victory, being present and leading among them) earned their genuine affection. This showcases a leadership model based on presence, action, and transparency.
1 Samuel 18 16 Bonus section
The unanimous love for David demonstrated in this verse serves as a subtle yet powerful narrative device. The biblical author often uses popular opinion and collective action as an indicator of divine blessing or judgment, and here, the nation's unified love for David acts as a clear sign of God's hand preparing David for the throne. Saul's strategic move of promoting David to a visible military command, intended to distance or expose David to danger, ironically placed David exactly where he could win the deepest affection and loyalty of the entire nation, further solidifying his position against the declining king. This situation also underscores a spiritual truth: those truly called and empowered by God for leadership often find favor not only with God but also, in due time, with the people they are called to serve, especially when they exercise visible, righteous, and humble leadership.
1 Samuel 18 16 Commentary
1 Samuel 18:16 powerfully illustrates the rising trajectory of David's favor in the eyes of both God and the people, contrasted with King Saul's increasingly isolated and paranoid state. The deep "love" expressed by "all Israel and Judah" for David speaks to a bond far stronger than mere admiration; it signifies allegiance and deep personal affection earned through David's consistent, wise, and highly visible leadership. The idiom "he went out and came in before them" vividly portrays David's active engagement, courage, and success in leading the nation's military and civil affairs. This practical demonstration of effective and present leadership stood in stark contrast to Saul's erratic and faithless rule, affirming to the people that David, already divinely anointed, was indeed the rightful shepherd God had provided. This verse not only confirms David's human appeal but also hints at God's sovereign work, shaping the hearts of the people to receive the king of His choosing. The universal love for David serves as a providential affirmation of his anointing, illustrating how God works through observable competence and integrity to bring about His will, even amid a failing earthly monarchy.