1 Samuel 18 21

1 Samuel 18:21 kjv

And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

1 Samuel 18:21 nkjv

So 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 be my son-in-law today."

1 Samuel 18:21 niv

"I will give her to him," he thought, "so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law."

1 Samuel 18:21 esv

Saul thought, "Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David a second time, "You shall now be my son-in-law."

1 Samuel 18:21 nlt

"Here's another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!" Saul said to himself. But to David he said, "Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law!"

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 21 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 18:21, King Saul articulates his sinister intention to give his daughter, Michal, to David in marriage not out of goodwill, but as a deliberate trap. His aim is that Michal would become a "snare" (מוֹקֵשׁ, moqēsh), leading David into situations, specifically against the Philistines, where he would be killed, thereby removing the threat David posed to Saul's throne without Saul directly being implicated in his death. This verse reveals Saul's manipulative and murderous heart, masked by the offer of a high-status marital alliance.

1 Samuel 18 21 Context

1 Samuel 18 recounts King Saul's increasingly intense jealousy and fear of David. Following David's triumph over Goliath (Chapter 17), David gained immense popularity, symbolized by the song, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (v. 7). This enraged Saul (v. 8), and an evil spirit from the Lord began tormenting him again (v. 10). Saul made his first attempt on David's life by hurling a spear (v. 11) and subsequently began actively trying to orchestrate David's death indirectly. He promised his elder daughter Merab to David (v. 17), contingent on David proving his valor in battle against the Philistines. This was a thinly veiled attempt to get David killed by the enemy. When Merab was given to another (v. 19), and Michal, his younger daughter, showed affection for David (v. 20), Saul saw another opportunity. Verse 21 then details his cunning and malicious re-formulation of his plan: offering Michal with the explicit intention that she would lead David into mortal danger with the Philistines. Saul's motivation is rooted in his spiritual decline and desperate attempt to secure his usurped kingship against God's chosen successor.

1 Samuel 18 21 Word analysis

• So Saul said: Establishes Saul's agency and clear, deliberate intent behind the words.
• 'I will give her to him': Implies control and authority as the king and father. This is presented as a generous royal decree, but it masks ulterior motives.
• 'that she may be a snare': Hebrew: moqēsh (מוֹקֵשׁ). This crucial word means "trap," "snare," or "lure." It implies something set up intentionally to catch, entangle, or bring down. Here, it signifies Saul's deep-seated malice and his calculation in using his own daughter as bait for a deadly outcome. It’s not just a potential danger, but a purposeful, crafted peril. The metaphor conveys deceit and harmful intent.
• 'to him': Refers specifically to David, the intended victim of Saul's malevolent plan.
• 'and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.': This clarifies how Michal is to be a snare. "The hand... against him" is an idiomatic expression signifying defeat, hostility, or being overcome by an enemy. Saul wants David to face overwhelming force from the Philistines, hoping they would eliminate him. This removes direct responsibility from Saul and makes David's death appear as a casualty of war or a consequence of his own valor.
• Therefore Saul said to David a second time: Highlights Saul's persistence and deceit. "A second time" indicates this is a renewed effort, following the failure of his previous attempt with Merab. It underscores his cunning and desperate nature. He has learned from the previous attempt and refined his trap.
• 'You shall become my son-in-law today.': The immediate and seemingly gracious offer, designed to appeal to David and lull him into a false sense of security, contrasting starkly with Saul's hidden, murderous intentions.

1 Samuel 18 21 Bonus section

The Hebrew word moqēsh (מוֹקֵשׁ) carries significant weight. It is often used in the Old Testament to describe actual hunting traps (Ps 140:5) but frequently appears metaphorically for dangers, temptations, or schemes leading to downfall. For example, idols can be a moqēsh (Deut 7:16), a rash vow (Prov 20:25), or transgression (Prov 29:6). Saul's use of his daughter Michal, under the guise of an honorable marriage alliance, reveals a deep perversion of patriarchal and royal responsibility. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, marriage alliances were powerful political tools, often used to cement loyalty or achieve peace. Saul twisted this sacred tradition into an instrument of assassination, showing how far he had departed from God's ways. Ultimately, despite Saul's cunning plots, the Lord continued to be with David, turning every trap meant for David into an opportunity for David's rise and Saul's demise. The entire chapter becomes a narrative counterpoint, demonstrating that no human plot can thwart God's divine purpose.

1 Samuel 18 21 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:21 lays bare the heart of a king consumed by jealousy and fear, illustrating Saul's precipitous moral and spiritual decline. Rather than trusting in the Lord, Saul, filled with an evil spirit (1 Sam 16:14, 18:10), resorts to cunning and treachery. His plan to use Michal as a moqēsh—a deadly snare—for David epitomizes his manipulative nature. He orchestrates a scenario where the "hand of the Philistines" would execute his hidden agenda, allowing him to feign innocence. This specific design highlights his desire for David's death while maintaining a veneer of respectability and parental concern. The phrase "a second time" also shows Saul's persistence; having failed to eliminate David through the promise of Merab, he doubles down with Michal, undeterred and more calculated. This dark scheme, however, unknowingly became a stepping stone in God's overarching plan for David's ascendancy, showcasing divine sovereignty that can use even wicked intentions to achieve righteous ends, often to the demise of the schemer. Saul's deep insecurity led him to combat God's anointed, an impossible task that would ultimately consume him.