1 Samuel 18 6

1 Samuel 18:6 kjv

And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

1 Samuel 18:6 nkjv

Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.

1 Samuel 18:6 niv

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.

1 Samuel 18:6 esv

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.

1 Samuel 18:6 nlt

When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 6 Meaning

This verse vividly portrays the immediate and enthusiastic national celebration that met David upon his return from defeating Goliath the Philistine. It describes how women from all corners of Israel spontaneously came out to greet the victorious party, engaging in public singing and dancing, accompanied by tambourines, joyful songs, and various musical instruments, ostensibly to welcome King Saul.

1 Samuel 18 6 Context

1 Samuel 18:6 is a pivotal verse, immediately following David's triumphant single-handed defeat of Goliath in chapter 17. David has become a national hero overnight, and the victory signals a shift in power and God's favor away from Saul. This public demonstration of widespread adulation for David serves as the direct trigger for King Saul's intense jealousy, fear, and eventual campaign to kill David. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures widely celebrated military victories with music, dance, and public processions, and women often played a central role in these festivities, indicating immense collective joy and honor for the victors. The passage sets up the core conflict of the remainder of 1 Samuel: the dynamic between a divinely favored David and a progressively consumed and vengeful Saul.

1 Samuel 18 6 Word analysis

• As they were coming home: Indicates the return journey of the Israelite army and King Saul. It suggests the movement of the entire expedition.
• when David returned: Hebrew shuv (שׁוּב), implying he came back from a completed action. Highlights David as the central figure whose actions triggered the event.
• from striking down: Hebrew nakah (נָכָה), referring to a decisive, violent blow or killing. Emphasizes David's sole role in dispatching Goliath.
• the Philistine: Singular, emphasizing Goliath, David's specific adversary, whose defeat marked the victory.
• the women: Hebrew ha'nashim (הַנָּשִׁים). Significantly, women are highlighted as initiating the public celebration, a recurring theme in Israelite history for victorious events (e.g., Miriam in Exod 15).
• came out: Hebrew yatza (יָצָא). They emerged from their homes/cities to specifically meet the returning party.
• of all the cities of Israel: Hebrew mikol-arei Yisrael (מִכָּל-עָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל). This phrase signifies the universal, widespread nature of the popular acclaim for David across the entire nation, emphasizing the magnitude of his sudden fame.
• singing: Hebrew shir (שִׁיר). Denotes vocal musical performance, expressing joy and triumph.
• and dancing: Hebrew machol (מָחֹול). Often a circular or processional dance, indicating communal celebration and uninhibited joy.
• with tambourines: Hebrew be'tofim (בְּתֻפִּים). Tambourines or hand-drums were common celebratory instruments, portable and versatile, typically played by women.
• with songs of joy: Hebrew b'simcha (בְּשִׂמְחָה). Simcha means deep-seated happiness, merriment, or delight. Emphasizes the genuine elation.
• and with musical instruments: Hebrew uvishlishim (וּבִשְׁלִשִׁים). The exact meaning of shalishim is debated among scholars, possibly referring to a specific type of three-stringed instrument, triangles, or even sistrums. The ESV's rendering as "musical instruments" broadly captures the idea of additional instrumental accompaniment for the celebration.
• to meet King Saul: Hebrew likrat Sha'ul hammelek (לִקְרַאת שָׁאוּל הַמֶּלֶךְ). This crucial phrase indicates the formal recipient of the welcoming, who is the reigning king and military commander. However, the subsequent verse clarifies that the celebration's intensity and specific lyrics pointed predominantly to David's greater glory, immediately challenging Saul's position.

Words-group analysis

• "David returned from striking down the Philistine": This phrase establishes the specific achievement that catalyzed the public reception, clearly crediting David as the solitary and decisive victor against Israel's formidable foe, Goliath.
• "the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing": This vividly paints a picture of a nationwide, spontaneous, and jubilant outpouring of emotion, driven by the female population who traditionally initiated such public celebrations. It underscores David's immediate popular ascent above all others.
• "with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments": This descriptive detail highlights the vibrant, communal nature of the celebration, utilizing customary instruments and expressions of deep happiness that underscore the scale of relief and triumph felt by the people.
• "to meet King Saul": While ostensibly directed at the reigning monarch, this concluding phrase, when read in conjunction with the overwhelming focus on David's recent feat, sets the stage for the narrative's tension, contrasting Saul's intended position as receiver of glory with David's undeniable and spontaneous acclamation. It is the king's reception, yet the praise is for David.

1 Samuel 18 6 Bonus section

The scene described in 1 Samuel 18:6 is a mirror of similar celebrations found elsewhere in the Old Testament after significant victories (e.g., Exodus 15 after the Red Sea, Judges 11 for Jephthah's victory), highlighting a culturally accepted and understood form of expressing immense joy and national identity through communal music and dance. The prominence of "women" in leading this procession underscores their recognized social role in public displays of emotion and communal affirmation, acting as the heart and soul of the nation's feeling. The very public nature of this celebration ensures that Saul witnesses David's overwhelming popularity firsthand, leaving no room for doubt about where the people's favor lay. This divine orchestration of events swiftly exposes Saul's deeply rooted insecurities and his fear of losing his kingdom, directly paving the way for David's ultimate ascension to the throne despite many years of persecution.

1 Samuel 18 6 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:6 describes the first momentous public appearance of David as Israel's national hero, following his unprecedented victory over Goliath. This joyous and spontaneous outpouring of national gratitude and relief, particularly initiated by women, marks a significant shift in public adoration. While the welcome was formally directed "to meet King Saul," the enthusiasm's true source was David's recent accomplishment, setting up an immediate contrast between the old, declining leadership (Saul) and the new, divinely favored star (David). The exuberance, depicted by singing, dancing, tambourines, and other instruments, symbolizes a deeply felt collective euphoria. However, this moment of David's exaltation simultaneously plants the bitter seed of jealousy in Saul's heart, leading to his enduring attempts on David's life. This narrative demonstrates how quickly public favor can shift, the perils of a leader's insecurity, and how God elevates His chosen even amidst human schemes.