1 Samuel 18 8

1 Samuel 18:8 kjv

And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

1 Samuel 18:8 nkjv

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"

1 Samuel 18:8 niv

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?"

1 Samuel 18:8 esv

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?"

1 Samuel 18:8 nlt

This made Saul very angry. "What's this?" he said. "They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they'll be making him their king!"

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 8 Meaning

1 Samuel 18:8 reveals King Saul's intense and burning anger and deep displeasure over the popular song that elevated David's military victories above his own. His interpretation of the song, "They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands," led him to a fearful conclusion: "what can he have more but the kingdom?" This moment marks a critical turning point where Saul’s jealousy solidified into a paranoid conviction that David posed an immediate threat to his throne, initiating a destructive path of hatred and persecution against David.

1 Samuel 18 8 Context

1 Samuel 18:8 immediately follows David's victory over Goliath and his continued military successes against the Philistines. The women of Israel greeted Saul and David's triumphant return with a celebratory song, singing, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." This public acclamation elevated David’s military prowess above Saul's, directly impacting Saul’s fragile ego. This verse describes Saul’s internal, intensely negative reaction to this widespread public admiration for David, revealing his deep insecurity, jealousy, and burgeoning paranoia that David was not just a successful warrior but a direct rival for his divinely appointed throne. It sets the stage for the dramatic and tragic pursuit of David by Saul, showcasing Saul's transition from a divinely chosen king to one driven by a spirit of fear and envy.

1 Samuel 18 8 Word analysis

• And Saul was very wroth (וַיִּחַר לְשָׁאוּל מְאֹד - wayyīḥar ləšāʾûl məʾōd):

  • wroth (וַיִּחַר - wayyīḥar, from חָרָה - charah): This Hebrew root means "to burn" or "to be kindled." It describes a deep, intense, often uncontrollable anger, an internal fire. In Saul's case, it signifies a consuming rage, more than just annoyance. It's an anger that has significant negative consequences, burning away reason and piety.
  • very (מְאֹד - məʾōd): Emphasizes the intensity of Saul's anger, indicating it was an overwhelming emotion that gripped him entirely. This wasn't a fleeting irritation but a foundational shift in his disposition towards David.
  • Significance: Saul, previously afflicted by an evil spirit (1 Sam 16:14), now allows this consuming anger to dominate his mind, confirming his departure from a spirit-led ruler to one enslaved by his emotions. This links directly to the departure of the Lord's Spirit from him.

• and this saying displeased him (וַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינָיו - wayyēraʿ bəʿênāyw):

  • displeased him (וַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינָיו - wayyēraʿ bəʿênāyw): Literally translates to "it was evil in his eyes." This idiom means something was exceedingly displeasing, wicked, or injurious in someone's sight, often carrying the connotation of ill-will or a malevolent outlook. It signifies a profound disapproval stemming from a dark, envious heart rather than objective reasoning. Saul saw the popularity of David as something evil because it threatened his perceived authority.
  • this saying (הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה - haddābār hazzèh): Refers specifically to the women's song comparing Saul's "thousands" to David's "tens of thousands" (1 Sam 18:7). The "saying" represents popular public opinion, which Saul valued deeply and upon which he based his self-worth and kingship, instead of God's anointing.

• and he said, 'They have ascribed unto David ten thousands (נָתְנוּ לְדָוִד רְבָבוֹת - nātnû ləDāwiḏ rəḇāḇōṯ):

  • ascribed (נָתְנוּ - nātnû): Meaning "they gave" or "they assigned." It implies a recognition or credit given to someone. Saul saw this as a definitive bestowal of honor and power.
  • David ten thousands (דָוִד רְבָבוֹת - Dāwiḏ rəḇāḇōṯ): Revavot refers to "tens of thousands" or "myriads," signifying an overwhelmingly large number and, metaphorically, immense success and widespread adoration. Saul understood this literally in terms of military kills and metaphorically in terms of public esteem and implied power.

• and to me they have ascribed but thousands (וְלִי נָתְנוּ הָאֲלָפִים - wəli nātnû hāʾălāpîm):

  • but thousands (הָאֲלָפִים - hāʾălāpîm): Alaphim refers to "thousands." The critical point here is not just the number, but the stark contrast drawn by Saul against "tens of thousands." In his mind, his achievements were dwarfed and undervalued by comparison, stripping him of the primary glory he believed belonged to him as king. This indicates a focus on comparative human honor rather than gratitude for any victory or reliance on God.

• and what can he have more but the kingdom? (וְלוֹ עוֹד מַה־לִּי כִּי אִם־הַמְּלוּכָה - wəlo ʿōḏ mah-llî kî ʾim-hamməlûḵâ):

  • what can he have more but the kingdom?: This is Saul's anxious and jealous inference. He directly connects military success and popular adoration to the acquisition of royal power. Saul believed that the only logical progression for someone with such acclaim was the throne itself. This statement is pivotal as it reveals the true extent of his fear, insecurity, and his understanding of kingship based on human popular opinion rather than divine appointment. It highlights his misperception and paranoia. He saw David not just as a successful commander, but as a rival king-in-waiting.
  • Significance: This shows Saul's human-centric view of kingship and control. He fails to trust in God's sovereignty over who sits on the throne and assumes David will simply seize power based on popular favor. This fear drives his future actions against David.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him": This phrase describes the deep emotional and spiritual turning point for Saul. His anger was not a passing emotion but an evil, bitter state of mind rooted in pride and insecurity. The popular song was not objectively harmful, but Saul’s internal perception of it, fueled by his spiritual state and his desire for human glory, made it "evil in his eyes." This is indicative of a heart alienated from God's Spirit, unable to rejoice in others' success.
  • "'They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands": This pair of phrases highlights Saul’s competitive and insecure mindset. His focus is on the comparison and relative numerical difference, indicating his pride and ego were paramount. His self-worth was directly tied to public acclaim and surpassing others, a dangerous mindset for any leader, especially one chosen by God who requires humility.
  • "what can he have more but the kingdom?": This rhetorical question is the lynchpin of Saul's paranoia. It reveals his direct link between public renown and royal succession. He foresaw David not just as a successful general but as an inevitable successor due to public favor. This marks the moment Saul ceased to see David as a loyal subject or an anointed warrior, but rather as his mortal enemy and direct rival for the kingship. This reveals a profound lack of trust in God's divine plan, even though he knew he had been rejected.

1 Samuel 18 8 Bonus section

This verse implicitly draws a stark contrast between a kingship founded on God's divine election and one consumed by human praise and insecure pride. Saul's kingdom was being "torn away" (1 Sam 15:28), and his intense reaction here shows he senses this loss not through spiritual understanding but through worldly comparison and competition. His fear that David would "have more but the kingdom" illustrates the blindness of a heart not fully submitted to God's will; Saul was so focused on external threats to his earthly crown that he missed the internal, spiritual battle for his soul. This pivotal moment solidifies the tragic trajectory of Saul's life, as his reign becomes characterized by frantic, God-dishonoring attempts to prevent what he rightly, yet fearfully, perceived as God's plan. It foreshadows the divine handover of the kingdom from Saul, a man according to man's desire, to David, a man after God's own heart (1 Sam 13:14).

1 Samuel 18 8 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:8 is a watershed moment in the relationship between King Saul and David. It is the crystallization of Saul's escalating jealousy, transitioning from annoyance to deep-seated resentment and a murderous paranoia. The simple song of the women, intended to celebrate victory, struck at the heart of Saul's insecurity and pride. He interpreted the differing numbers of "thousands" versus "tens of thousands" not as a popular boast but as a direct challenge to his authority and legitimacy. His final, fearful question – "what can he have more but the kingdom?" – exposes his desperate grip on power and his inability to trust in God's ultimate sovereignty.

This verse reveals several critical flaws in Saul's character:

1. Reliance on Human Praise: Saul derived his validation from human acclamation rather than divine approval. When David's star eclipsed his own, Saul's sense of self-worth crumbled, leading to envy.
2. Paranoia and Insecurity: Lacking faith, Saul succumbed to fear, assuming that popularity automatically translates to usurpation. This reveals a profound spiritual vulnerability.
3. Spiritual Corruption: His anger being "very wroth" and the "saying displeasing him" (evil in his eyes) highlights his spiritual decay, intensified by the departure of the Spirit of the Lord. Envy is presented as a "work of the flesh" that leads to decay.

From this verse onward, Saul's primary purpose becomes to eliminate David, not to serve God's people. This serves as a cautionary tale: how pride, insecurity, and envy, left unchecked, can destroy a person and ultimately thwart even the divinely chosen leader from fulfilling God's intended purpose for them. It contrasts sharply with David, whose anointing and later reign were established through God's power and sovereignty, not human politicking or military conquest for personal gain.