1 Samuel 19 14

1 Samuel 19:14 kjv

And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

1 Samuel 19:14 nkjv

So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

1 Samuel 19:14 niv

When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill."

1 Samuel 19:14 esv

And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

1 Samuel 19:14 nlt

When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn't get out of bed.

1 Samuel 19 verses

1 Samuel 19 14 Meaning

This verse describes Michal's swift deception to protect her husband, David, from her father, King Saul's, murderous intentions. When Saul dispatched messengers to apprehend David, Michal feigned his severe illness, asserting that he was confined to his bed, thereby buying crucial time for David to escape.

1 Samuel 19 14 Context

This verse is nestled within 1 Samuel chapter 19, a period of heightened danger for David. Following his successes and growing popularity, King Saul, consumed by an evil spirit and extreme jealousy, becomes overtly hostile towards David. The chapter begins with Jonathan's valiant attempt to reconcile Saul with David, which initially succeeds, but quickly dissolves into Saul's renewed murderous intent (v.9-10). Having attempted to kill David directly with a spear twice, Saul escalates by sending messengers to David's house to assassinate him the following morning (v.11). It is against this backdrop of direct state-sponsored threat that Michal, David's wife, intervenes to save him. Verse 14 specifically details Michal's initial deceptive answer to Saul's first group of messengers after she had already helped David escape through a window (v.12). This immediate response, coupled with her later creation of a decoy in David's bed, highlights her quick thinking and desperate measures to protect her husband.

Historically, this event occurs during Saul's regnal decline and David's ascension, driven by divine election. Saul's reign is characterized by instability, paranoia, and disobedience to God, contrasting sharply with David's anointing as the next king. This period illustrates the unfolding of God's sovereign plan despite severe human opposition, showcasing divine protection over God's chosen servant as David transitions from courtier to a fugitive, relying solely on God's providence.

1 Samuel 19 14 Word analysis

• When Saul sent messengers (וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח שָׁא֤וּל מַלְאָכִים֙ - va-yish-lakh sha’ul mal’akhim):
  • וַיִּשְׁלַח (va-yish-lakh): "And he sent" (a waw consecutive perfect, indicating sequence). The verb shalach (שָׁלַח) means "to send, send away, extend." Here it signifies an official dispatch, highlighting Saul's active and determined pursuit of David, not just a casual inquiry. This was a direct, state-sanctioned move by the king.
  • שָׁאוּל (Sha’ul): King Saul, David's father-in-law and the reigning king of Israel. His action here stems from intense jealousy and a desire to eliminate David.
  • מַלְאָכִים (mal’akhim): "messengers" (plural of mal’akh). The same Hebrew word is used for "angels," conveying an official representative or emissary. In this context, they are agents of Saul's will, with authority.
• to take David (לָקַ֙חַת אֶת־דָּוִד֙ - la-qa-ḥat et-Da-vid):
  • לָקַחַת (la-qa-ḥat): "to take, to seize, to capture, to receive." The infinitive "to take" indicates the purpose of the messengers' mission. This was not a friendly invitation but an act of apprehension, reflecting Saul's violent intent.
  • אֶת־דָּוִד (et-Da-vid): "David." The object of Saul's lethal pursuit.
• she said (וַתֹּ֧אמֶר - va-to-mer):
  • וַתֹּ֧אמֶר (va-to-mer): "And she said." The waw consecutive imperfect shows sequential action. This refers to Michal (implied from the preceding verses, 1 Sam 19:12-13, where she helped David escape). Her voice is singular, decisive, and immediate. The verb 'amar (אָמַר) simply means "to say."
• "He is ill." (חֹלֶֽה הוּא֙ - ḥo-leh hu):
  • חֹלֶה (ḥo-leh): "sick, ill." This is a participle acting as an adjective. It signifies a state of being unwell, incapacitated, or bedridden. This excuse is believable and provides a plausible reason for David's inability to respond or be brought out immediately.
  • הוּא (hu): "he" (masculine singular pronoun). Explicitly identifies the subject as David. The succinctness of "He is ill" makes the statement appear definitive and brief, characteristic of quick thinking under duress.

Words-group Analysis:

• "When Saul sent messengers to take David": This phrase highlights the immediacy and purposefulness of Saul's action. It underlines the clear and present danger to David. The official dispatching of agents ("messengers") signifies a formal and serious attempt at apprehension, emphasizing the authority Saul wielded against his son-in-law.
• "she said, 'He is ill.'": This grouping presents Michal's direct, concise, and deceptive response. It's a rapid fabrication under immense pressure, serving as a first line of defense to obstruct Saul's murderous plan. Her short, firm statement buys crucial time, setting the stage for the next phase of her elaborate deception (using the teraphim and goat's hair in the bed). It showcases Michal's loyalty and quick wit in protecting David against her own father.

1 Samuel 19 14 Bonus section

The broader narrative context in 1 Samuel shows that Saul's "messengers" returned a second time, with Saul instructing them to bring David to him "even in the bed" (1 Sam 19:15), suggesting his paranoia led him to believe Michal's initial report of illness might be a stalling tactic. This reinforces Saul's determination to see David killed. The inclusion of the "teraphim" (household idol) in Michal's elaborate ruse (1 Sam 19:13), though not explicitly mentioned in v.14 itself, hints at the spiritual compromise present even within the royal household of Israel's first king. Michal's practical use of such an object reveals desperation and ingenuity, highlighting that even those close to power were not necessarily free from lingering pagan influences in their private lives, though Michal's use here appears purely utilitarian for deception rather than religious devotion. The quick thinking displayed by Michal here contrasts with her later somewhat more critical relationship with David (2 Sam 6:16, 20-23), illustrating the complex dynamics of their marriage shaped by the political turmoil of the time.

1 Samuel 19 14 Commentary

1 Samuel 19:14 offers a poignant snapshot of Michal's unwavering loyalty to David, acting as a crucial intercessor against her father, King Saul's, spiraling malice. After helping David physically escape through a window (v.12), Michal immediately faces Saul's pursuing agents. Her quick thinking is evidenced by her simple yet effective declaration: "He is ill." This deceptively innocent excuse provided a plausible reason for David's inability to present himself, gaining a vital delay. This small act of verbal subterfuge, a "pious fraud" in some interpretations, aligns with Michal's deeper plan of setting up a decoy with the teraphim (household idol) and goat's hair (v.13).

This incident reveals several theological and practical insights:

1. Divine Providence: Even amidst escalating danger and human treachery, God's hand providentially protects David. Michal's actions, whether seen as ethical or pragmatically necessary, become instruments in God's larger plan to preserve His anointed king.
2. Moral Dilemmas: The situation presents a conflict between familial loyalty (daughter to father) and spousal fidelity (wife to husband), compounded by the king's unjust decree. Michal chooses to protect her husband's life, implying that preserving life outweighs blind obedience to an unjust authority. This challenges us to discern where ultimate allegiance lies in difficult circumstances.
3. Saul's Degeneration: The verse further demonstrates Saul's obsession and moral decay. His relentless pursuit of David highlights how jealousy and an evil spirit (1 Sam 16:14) can utterly corrupt a leader, leading him to attempt regicide against the very man who served him faithfully and whose life God preserved.

Examples for practical usage include situations where individuals are called to protect others from unjust persecution, requiring discernment and courage, sometimes in unconventional ways. It emphasizes trusting God's provision even when faced with overwhelming threats, understanding that He uses various means, including human agency, to fulfill His purposes.