1 Samuel 18:22 kjv
And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
1 Samuel 18:22 nkjv
And Saul commanded his servants, "Communicate with David secretly, and say, 'Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king's son-in-law.' "
1 Samuel 18:22 niv
Then Saul ordered his attendants: "Speak to David privately and say, 'Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.'?"
1 Samuel 18:22 esv
And Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, 'Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.'"
1 Samuel 18:22 nlt
Then Saul told his men to say to David, "The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don't you accept the king's offer and become his son-in-law?"
1 Samuel 18 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 5:9 | "For there is no truth in their mouths... their throat is an open grave;" | Deceitful words lead to destruction. |
| Psa 12:2-3 | "Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips..." | Universal problem of human flattery and deceit. |
| Prov 26:23 | "Like a coating of silver dross on an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart." | Beautiful words from a malicious heart. |
| Matt 22:15-18 | "Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Jesus..." | Religious leaders using deceit to trap. |
| Acts 23:12-15 | "Some Jews conspired and bound themselves under an oath..." | Conspiracies driven by hatred. |
| 1 Sam 18:8-9 | "Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly... He looked at David with jealousy from that day on." | Saul's intense jealousy driving his actions. |
| 1 Sam 19:1 | "Saul told his son Jonathan and all his attendants to kill David." | Saul's murderous intent, revealed explicitly. |
| Psa 18:1-3 | "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; my God is my rock..." | God's role as David's protector. |
| Psa 34:7 | "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." | Divine protection for the righteous. |
| Psa 121:7-8 | "The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;" | God's constant safeguarding. |
| 2 Sam 7:8-16 | "I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel." | God's sovereign choice and protection of David's lineage. |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's invincible protection of His chosen. |
| Prov 11:9 | "With their mouth the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape." | Deception as a tool of destruction. |
| Isa 32:6 | "For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error..." | Foolish and evil speech. |
| Jer 9:8 | "Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully..." | The destructive nature of a lying tongue. |
| Psa 37:12-13 | "The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;" | Malicious plots against the upright. |
| Psa 64:2-4 | "Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers." | The danger of hidden plots. |
| Matt 26:3-4 | "Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met... and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him." | Leaders plotting secretly against an innocent person. |
| Psa 33:10-11 | "The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples." | God's power to nullify wicked schemes. |
| Prov 19:21 | "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails." | Divine sovereignty over human intentions. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | "Who can speak and have it happen, if the Lord has not decreed it?" | No plan succeeds apart from God's will. |
| Gen 3:1-5 | "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals... 'Did God really say...?'" | Deceptive speech used to instigate disobedience and ruin. |
| Prov 12:20 | "Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace." | The nature of a deceitful heart. |
1 Samuel 18 verses
1 Samuel 18 22 Meaning
1 Samuel 18:22 reveals King Saul's increasingly manipulative and deceptive strategy to bring about David's death. Instead of directly confronting David, Saul commands his servants to privately flatter David, feigning affection from both the king and his court, and then offering his daughter Michal's hand in marriage. This seemingly benevolent offer is a calculated trap, designed to put David in a position where he would be killed fighting the Philistines, fulfilling Saul's desire to eliminate his popular rival without directly spilling his blood.
1 Samuel 18 22 Context
1 Samuel 18 opens with David's immense popularity after slaying Goliath. Saul, initially admiring David, becomes deeply jealous as the people exalt David above him (1 Sam 18:7-9). This jealousy morphs into murderous intent, evidenced by Saul's attempts to pin David to the wall with a spear (1 Sam 18:10-11). After failing to kill David directly, Saul then devises a new strategy: using warfare. He promises his older daughter, Merab, to David if David would fight "the LORD's battles," hoping David would die (1 Sam 18:17). When this promise is broken and Merab is given to another, Saul then considers his younger daughter, Michal, who actually loved David. Verse 22 represents Saul's second, more cunning attempt to use a daughter's hand in marriage as a lure for David's death, capitalizing on David's respect for royal protocol and the assumed favor.
1 Samuel 18 22 Word analysis
- So Saul ordered: Saul, no longer direct in his hostile actions after multiple failures, resorts to delegation, demonstrating a calculated and hidden approach. This highlights his growing deceit and cunning rather than outright aggression.
- his servants: The King's trusted retainers, now turned instruments of deception. This underscores Saul's abuse of authority and manipulation of those around him for his wicked designs.
- 'Speak to David privately': Hebrew:
daber el-David bassêther(דַּבְּרוּ אֶל-דָּוִד בַּסֵּתֶר).Bassêthermeans "in secret," "privately." This secrecy emphasizes the malicious intent behind Saul's seemingly benevolent offer. It points to a desire for the plot to remain hidden from general knowledge, suggesting Saul's awareness of its impropriety. - 'and say, 'Look, the king is fond of you,': Hebrew:
hinneh ha-melek haphetz be-kha(הִנֵּה הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בְּךָ).Haphetz(חָפֵץ) conveys "to delight in," "to be pleased with," "to desire." This statement is a blatant falsehood, completely contrary to Saul's true feelings of hatred and murderous jealousy toward David, vividly described in preceding verses (1 Sam 18:8-11). It's pure flattery, a thin veneer over murderous intent. - 'and all his servants love you': This line seeks to create an impression of universal approval and affection within the court for David. It's a psychological manipulation, aiming to lower David's guard by suggesting a deep acceptance that, in reality, did not exist universally due to Saul's animosity. This false consensus is designed to make the marriage offer appear genuine.
- 'now therefore become the king’s son-in-law': The culmination of the deceitful flattery. Marriage into the royal family was a high honor, solidifying social and political standing. For David, a humble shepherd, this was a massive social elevation. Saul's true aim was not honor but David's engagement in battles for the required bride-price that would lead to his demise. This phrase cloaks a deadly snare in the guise of a great opportunity.
1 Samuel 18 22 Bonus section
The repeated theme of Saul offering a daughter to David, initially Merab (1 Sam 18:17-19) and now Michal (1 Sam 18:20-21, 27), signifies royal marriages as tools for political alliance and control in the ancient Near East. Saul misuses this custom to eliminate a rival. The requirement for a unique "bride-price" (1 Sam 18:25), namely a hundred Philistine foreskins, confirms Saul's intent to engineer David's death, turning a cultural practice into a death warrant. This contrasts sharply with covenant love and genuine human affection, emphasizing the destructive nature of envy and bitterness in a leader.
1 Samuel 18 22 Commentary
1 Samuel 18:22 showcases the deep corruption of King Saul's heart, marked by jealousy, deceit, and a persistent desire for David's demise. No longer is he directly attempting murder; he has devolved into insidious scheming, using the sacred institution of marriage and the pretense of royal favor as a lethal trap. The verse reveals how evil can mask itself with flattery and feigned affection to achieve its destructive aims. Saul manipulates his servants, speaks falsehoods through them, and uses the kingly office for personal vengeance, completely neglecting his divine calling. However, the Lord's providential care for David ensures that Saul's elaborate and malicious plot ultimately elevates David rather than destroys him, highlighting the futility of human evil against God's predetermined plan. This is a profound example of God turning human wickedness for His redemptive purposes.