1 Samuel 18 27

1 Samuel 18:27 kjv

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

1 Samuel 18:27 nkjv

therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.

1 Samuel 18:27 niv

David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

1 Samuel 18:27 esv

David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.

1 Samuel 18:27 nlt

he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king's requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him. So Saul gave his daughter Michal to David to be his wife.

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 27 Meaning

This verse records David's decisive action to fulfill the king's unique and perilous bride-price. To secure Michal as his wife, David led his men to confront the Philistines, slaying two hundred of them. He then meticulously collected and presented their foreskins to King Saul as proof, thereby completing the terms of their agreement. Saul, despite his malicious intent for David to fall by the Philistines' hands, was thus compelled to honor his promise and give Michal, his daughter, to David in marriage.

1 Samuel 18 27 Context

Chapter 18 of 1 Samuel depicts Saul's escalating envy and animosity towards David. After David's victory over Goliath, his popularity soared, leading women to sing of his triumphs over Saul (1 Sam 18:7). This inflamed Saul's jealousy, driving him to repeated attempts on David's life with a spear. Failing in direct assassination, Saul sought to ensnare David by offering his daughter Michal as a wife, demanding a "bride price" of one hundred Philistine foreskins. This was a deliberate trap, hoping David would die attempting the impossible feat. Saul’s motive was not genuine matrimonial union but to have the hand of the Philistines slay David. Verse 27 describes David not only meeting but exceeding this demand, demonstrating both his exceptional valor and divine favor, thus foiling Saul’s murderous scheme.

1 Samuel 18 27 Word analysis

• "Then David arose": In Hebrew, wayyāqām Dāwiḏ (וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֔ד). The verb "arose" (qum) often implies readiness and determination to act. It signals David's immediate and decisive response to Saul's demand. It highlights David's resolve and his preparedness to face the formidable challenge set by the king.
• "and went, he and his men": David's leadership and the loyalty of his small band are evident. Even before being fully established as a military commander, he commanded loyal followers, showcasing his emerging leadership qualities. His going indicates direct confrontation and immediate action, not hesitation.
• "and killed two hundred of the Philistines": In Hebrew, wayyak māṯaim (וַיַּ֤ךְ מָאתַ֙יִם֙), "smote two hundred." David doubled the king's initial request of one hundred (1 Sam 18:25). This overfulfillment showcases David's overwhelming success, his extraordinary bravery, and possibly a deliberate move to leave no doubt of his capability, thus increasing Saul's fear and public admiration for David. The victory over 200 (twice the required amount) further illustrates the hand of the Lord upon David, granting him victory against formidable odds. The Philistines, as "uncircumcised," were the traditional and symbolic enemies of Israel, and victory over them represented divine vindication for Israel.
• "And David brought their foreskins": In Hebrew, waiiābē’ Dāwiḏ ‘eṯ-‘orlōṯêhem (וַיָּבֵ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶת־עָרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם). This specific and gruesome requirement emphasizes the utter humiliation of the Philistine enemies and the distinctive identity of Israel as a circumcised people (Gen 17). It was not just proof of death, but of a particular kind of victory that demonstrated a radical defeat of the "uncircumcised," symbolizing triumph over the unholy and the pagan. This act solidified David’s reputation as a warrior against Israel's archenemy.
• "and they were given in full number to the king": In Hebrew, wayəmāl’ūm lamméleḵ (וַיְמַלְאוּם לַמֶּלֶךְ), literally "they filled them up to the king." This phrase means the required number (and more, implicitly) was presented, leaving no room for Saul to deny the fulfillment of the bargain. It signifies that David met the exact, though barbaric, conditions laid out by Saul.
• "that he might become the king's son-in-law": In Hebrew, ləhiṯḥattēn bamméleḵ (לְהִֽתְחַתֵּן֙ בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְ). This was the ostensible legal purpose of the act, to formally join David to the royal family. For Saul, it was intended as a means to David's death; for David, it was a step toward solidifying his public standing and divinely appointed future as king. This alliance provided David legitimate access to the royal court, however dangerous it was.
• "So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife": In Hebrew, wayyitten-lō’ Šā’ūl ’eṯ-Mîḵal bittō lə’iššāh (וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ֙ שָׁא֣וּל אֶת־מִיכַ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה). Saul was forced to follow through on his word due to David's surprising success and public pressure. This seals the marriage, binding David closer to the throne in ways Saul feared, despite his attempts to prevent it. Saul’s plan was subverted, further cementing God’s protection over David and drawing him into the lineage that would lead to the Messiah.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines.": This segment highlights David's initiative and military prowess. His swift action, exceeding expectations by doubling the required kills, underscores his extraordinary valor and divine favor. It also signifies his rising power base through loyal followers, contrasting sharply with Saul’s diminishing influence. The specific enemy, the Philistines, connects David’s military achievement directly to Israel’s ongoing struggle for freedom and identity against its primary uncircumcised adversary.
• "And David brought their foreskins, and they were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law.": This phrase captures the unusual and barbaric nature of the "dowry" as a specific, verifiable proof of victory. It emphasizes David’s complete fulfillment of Saul's malicious request, denying Saul any excuse to withhold Michal. The grotesque nature of the tribute underscores the depth of Saul’s wicked intent to ensnare David, but David's delivery transforms Saul's trap into a further step toward his own rise and acceptance within the royal court, positioning him as future king.
• "So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.": This final outcome indicates Saul's failed attempt to dispose of David. Despite his dark schemes, David's success compelled Saul to act righteously on the surface, honoring the public agreement. This marital bond brought David into the royal family, giving him additional legitimacy in the eyes of the people, despite the underlying hatred between him and Saul. This further served God's sovereign plan for David's future kingship.

1 Samuel 18 27 Bonus section

• Symbolic Defeat of Uncircumcision: The focus on Philistine "foreskins" is crucial. It’s not just any war trophy, but a highly specific, demeaning proof. It symbolically represents Israel's covenant superiority over their Gentile enemies, reminding them of God's covenant with Abraham marked by circumcision, thus underlining God's favor on His people and their divinely appointed warrior. This was not a common dowry; its unusual nature further highlights Saul's desperate, cruel, and manipulative character.
• Divine Frustration of Wicked Schemes: This verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereignty. Saul intended David's death, but God turned the "trap" into a step up for David, strengthening his claim to the throne and deepening his ties to the royal family. This act is a testament to the principle that while humans devise plans, the Lord's purpose prevails, and He protects His anointed ones even through the wicked plots of others.
• Irony of Saul's Actions: Saul’s plan to use David’s valor against him spectacularly backfired. Each attempt to diminish or destroy David only served to elevate him in the eyes of the people and within the political structure of Israel, ultimately solidifying David's claim to the kingship that Saul so desperately wanted to retain for himself or his lineage. Michal's love for David (1 Sam 18:20) further cemented the emotional and familial ties that Saul sought to prevent.

1 Samuel 18 27 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:27 succinctly concludes Saul's cunning plot to eliminate David. What Saul intended as an impossible death trap – a bride-price of one hundred Philistine foreskins – David turned into a remarkable display of his military genius and God's protective hand. David's initiative, doubling the demand to two hundred foreskins, showcases his audacity, divine backing, and confidence against Israel’s arch-enemies. This public act solidified his reputation as a formidable warrior and directly secured his position as son-in-law to the king. Despite Saul's deep-seated malice and his hope for David's demise, David’s extraordinary success compelled the king to fulfill his promise, inadvertently drawing David further into the royal lineage and ultimately closer to the throne God had promised him. The transaction, though complete by outward legal standards, remained an expression of Saul's perverted power and intense jealousy, highlighting the profound moral decline of the current king versus the rising anointing of the future king.