1 Samuel 18 7

1 Samuel 18:7 kjv

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

1 Samuel 18:7 nkjv

So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."

1 Samuel 18:7 niv

As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."

1 Samuel 18:7 esv

And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

1 Samuel 18:7 nlt

This was their song: "Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!"

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 7 Meaning

This pivotal verse records the jubilant song of Israelite women celebrating a great victory over the Philistines. As they came out dancing and singing antiphonally, they compared King Saul's military prowess, crediting him with slaying "thousands," to David's recent and singular triumph over Goliath and the Philistines, attributing to him "ten thousands." This acclamation highlights David's extraordinary new status and immediate popular acclaim, inadvertently setting up a direct and publicly declared comparison that greatly agitated King Saul, marking a dramatic shift in his attitude towards David and precipitating a dark period of jealousy and persecution.

1 Samuel 18 7 Context

The events of 1 Samuel 18:7 occur immediately following David's miraculous victory over Goliath in chapter 17. David, previously an unknown shepherd boy, has become an instant national hero. King Saul, despite initially welcoming David, has long struggled with disobedience and divine rejection, leading to an oppressive spirit troubling him. Upon their return from the Philistine battle, the people, particularly the women, come out to meet Saul and David with joyous celebration. This traditional Middle Eastern display of honour involves singing, dancing, and musical instruments, often comparing the military achievements of leaders. Culturally, such songs were spontaneous expressions of national joy and reverence for successful warriors. The verse's significance lies in how this spontaneous popular acclaim for David exposes and ignites Saul's deep-seated insecurity, fear of losing his throne, and profound envy, fundamentally changing his relationship with David from admiration to murderous intent.

1 Samuel 18 7 Word analysis

• And the women sang one to another:

  • וַתַּעֲנֶינָה (vatta‘anênâ): From the root עָנָה (anah), meaning "to answer, respond, sing responsively." This indicates an antiphonal style of singing, where groups of women sang in turn, echoing or completing phrases, a common practice in ancient celebrations (cf. Ex 15:21). It suggests a collective and spontaneous expression of national joy.
  • הַנָּשִׁים (hannashim): "the women." These were ordinary Israelite women, demonstrating the broad popular support and recognition David quickly gained among the populace. Their unfiltered public praise had a powerful effect.
  • הַמְשַׂחֲקוֹת (hammeshaḥaqōt): "the ones playing, dancing." The verb שָׂחַק (saḥaq) conveys joyful sport, laughter, and often refers to dancing with instruments (like timbrels and lyres, as mentioned in 1 Sam 18:6). It emphasizes the jubilant, festive nature of the celebration. This was a sincere expression of national relief and joy after a major victory.

• Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

  • הִכָּה (hikkâh): "has slain, struck down." This is the hiphil form of נָכָה (nakah), indicating a decisive, active strike. It attributes direct military accomplishment.
  • שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul): "Saul." The current reigning king, still technically the national leader. His achievements were historically significant.
  • בַּאֲלָפָיו (ba’alāv): "with his thousands." From אֶלֶף (elef), "thousand." This refers to Saul's substantial, albeit conventional, military successes throughout his reign. The plural emphasizes his past general achievements.
  • וְדָוִד (vºdawiḏ): "and David." The new, young, and divinely favored hero. The direct comparison highlights his rapid ascent.
  • בְּרִבְבֹתָיו (birvavōtav): "with his ten thousands." From רְבָבָה (revavah), "ten thousand," a myriad. This number is often used hyperbolically in the Old Testament to denote an exceptionally large, almost uncountable, quantity or outstanding achievement (cf. Deut 33:17, Ps 68:17). While David only killed Goliath and defeated a Philistine army, the "ten thousands" symbolizes an achievement far surpassing common expectation or previous victories. It represents God's extraordinary power displayed through David.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And the women sang one to another as they played": This phrase sets the scene of spontaneous, jubilant public celebration, reflecting widespread popular sentiment. It highlights that the praise for David was organic and came from the grassroots, making its impact on Saul even more potent as it was unsolicited and genuine.
  • "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands": This is the core comparative statement. The contrast in numbers—a mere tenfold increase—serves as profound hyperbole. It signifies not merely quantitative superiority but a qualitative shift: David's success is divinely appointed and unprecedented. For Saul, who depended on popular acclamation, this publicly declared numerical disparagement of his glory by common people was an intolerable affront, indicating a shifting allegiance of popular favor away from him and toward David, undermining his very claim to kingship which he perceived as based on human prowess. This direct comparison fuels Saul's growing insecurity, which manifests as spiritual unrest and eventually homicidal intent, revealing the tragic end of a ruler who seeks glory from man rather than God.

1 Samuel 18 7 Bonus section

• Polemics against Contemporary Beliefs: This verse subtly challenges the pagan concept of divine favor being exclusively with established, powerful kings. It demonstrates that Yahweh can elevate an unknown shepherd over the reigning monarch, signifying that God's choices are not based on human military might or social status, but on His sovereign will and the obedience of His chosen instrument. Saul, the "tallest" (1 Sam 9:2) and chosen based on human standards, is contrasted with David, "a man after His own heart" (1 Sam 13:14), showing that true kingship in Israel came from divine anointing and spiritual character, not just military success or physical attributes.
• The Power of Words: The casual song of a few women proved to be more devastating to King Saul than the entire Philistine army. This highlights the profound impact and enduring consequences that seemingly simple words, especially those of public praise or comparison, can have on leaders and on national narratives. Words can ignite jealousy, stir fear, and fundamentally alter destiny.
• A Fulfilled Prophecy (in a sense): While not a direct prophecy, the song accurately foretold David's ascendancy and greater success compared to Saul, reflecting God's established plan. David indeed went on to build a vast empire and established a lasting dynasty, far exceeding Saul's kingdom in scope and duration.
• Leadership Lesson: The verse offers a crucial lesson for leaders: true security and stability come from divine favor and a humble heart, not from comparison or popular acclamation. Saul's seeking of honor from people rather than God (as reflected in his previous disobedience by not utterly destroying the Amalekites to preserve spoils for sacrifice, 1 Sam 15) laid the groundwork for his destructive envy here.

1 Samuel 18 7 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:7 is the pivot around which Saul's relationship with David tragically revolves, moving from a degree of favour to murderous envy. The song of the women, though celebratory and probably innocent in its intent, became a prophetic summary of the unfolding divine drama: Saul's reign, impressive yet humanly limited, would yield to David's divinely anointed and more significant dominion. The hyperbole "ten thousands" indicates a sense of awe and magnitude that surpassed Saul's achievements. Saul, already rejected by the Lord for his disobedience and filled with an evil spirit, could not perceive David's success as God's doing. Instead, he viewed it purely as a threat to his own diminishing power and prestige. This verse starkly reveals the danger of misplaced ambition, seeking the glory of man rather than the glory of God. Saul’s descent into envy serves as a profound biblical warning against pride and jealousy that consumes the soul. This moment solidifies David’s hero status but seals Saul’s fate, setting him on a path of self-destruction in his desperate, failed attempts to eliminate God's chosen one.