1 Samuel 24 16

1 Samuel 24:16 kjv

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

1 Samuel 24:16 nkjv

So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

1 Samuel 24:16 niv

When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud.

1 Samuel 24:16 esv

As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

1 Samuel 24:16 nlt

When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, "Is that really you, my son David?" Then he began to cry.

1 Samuel 24 verses

1 Samuel 24 16 Meaning

When David finished speaking his heartfelt appeal, King Saul, overcome by the profound truth and humility in David's words, recognized David's voice. In that moment, Saul was deeply moved, lifted his voice, and wept bitterly, acknowledging David with the affectionate and intimate address, "My son, David." This verse marks a brief, yet poignant, emotional shift in Saul, signifying a temporary, clear-eyed realization of David's integrity and his own wrongdoings, albeit without leading to lasting change in his destructive pursuit.

1 Samuel 24 16 Context

First Samuel chapter 24 details an intense moment in David's life as he flees from King Saul, who is relentlessly pursuing him to kill him. David and his men hide in a cave at En Gedi. Unbeknownst to them, Saul enters the same cave to relieve himself. David's men urge him to kill Saul, interpreting it as God delivering Saul into his hand. However, David refuses to harm "the LORD's anointed" but secretly cuts off a corner of Saul's robe as proof of how close he was. After Saul leaves the cave, David cries out to him, presenting the piece of robe and passionately pleading his case, asserting his innocence and trust in God's judgment. Verse 16 describes Saul's immediate, powerful emotional reaction to David's words and evidence. This dramatic encounter highlights David's reverence for God's anointed, his unwavering trust in divine justice, and Saul's momentary, deeply emotional recognition of David's righteousness contrasted with his own persistent evil. Historically, this incident takes place during a time of great national turmoil in Israel, with the divinely chosen new king (David) being persecuted by the rejected, yet still reigning, king (Saul), symbolizing the tragic transition of power under God's sovereign hand.

1 Samuel 24 16 Word analysis

• When David had finished speaking these words: This highlights the profound impact of David's articulate and spirit-filled communication. David's humility, loyalty, and appeal to divine justice resonated deeply. It marks a moment of verbal cessation, but an emotional climax.
• Saul: The first king of Israel, God's anointed, yet tragically falling from grace due to disobedience and jealousy. His identity here emphasizes the profound nature of his emotional breakdown.
• lifted up his voice: Vayyisa' qōlō (וַיִּשָּׂא קֹלוֹ). This Hebrew idiom signifies an unsuppressed, loud outburst. It is not quiet weeping, but an expression of profound emotional intensity, often seen with great grief (e.g., Jacob, Esau) or fervent prayer. It denotes an overwhelming, audible display of inner turmoil.
• and wept: vayyēvḱ (וַיֵּבְּךְּ). This verb often describes bitter or sorrowful crying, indicative of deep anguish or repentance (though in Saul's case, temporary). Combined with "lifted up his voice," it paints a picture of intense, audible sobbing. This is a powerful, gut-wrenching moment for Saul.
• And he said, "Is this your voice, my son, David?": This entire phrase indicates recognition on multiple levels.
  • "Is this your voice...": Suggests disbelief or astonishment that David is so close and capable of such an appeal, or that such humble integrity could still exist. It also confirms his identification of David from his voice alone, a characteristic shared with intimate relationships or recognition of an expected truth (like a shepherd recognizing his sheep).
  • "...my son, David?": Běnî Dāvîḏ (בְּנִי דָוִד). This is deeply significant. "My son" is an intimate, paternal term. It indicates a sudden, raw, personal connection. It acknowledges David not merely as a subject or an enemy, but in the close familial role Saul had tried to deny. It hints at Saul momentarily embracing a more fitting, paternal role towards David, recognizing the one God has effectively chosen as his successor. It contrasts sharply with his previous attempts to murder his son-in-law.

1 Samuel 24 16 Bonus section

The spontaneous nature of Saul's weeping and the immediate use of "my son" underscores the intense pressure David's pure character and humble actions put on Saul's conscience. Saul's subsequent actions in 1 Samuel 26 reveal that this emotional moment was a peak, but not a permanent turning point. Saul, while acknowledging David's righteousness, remained locked in his self-destructive pattern. This dynamic showcases a powerful biblical theme: God can break through hardened hearts, evoke profound emotional responses, and reveal truth, yet human free will, even in the face of such clear revelation, can still choose to revert to disobedience. This scene also vividly contrasts David's righteous restraint and trust in divine justice with Saul's impulsive rage and self-serving jealousy, demonstrating how truly contrasting hearts can react when confronted with unmerited kindness.

1 Samuel 24 16 Commentary

1 Samuel 24:16 presents a pivotal and deeply emotional turning point in the tragic narrative of King Saul. David's articulate and Spirit-inspired words, coupled with the undeniable proof of Saul's life having been spared, pierced through Saul's jealousy and paranoia, triggering a momentary, overwhelming emotional response. Saul's loud weeping signifies a profound internal agony – a recognition of David's innocence and the depths of his own moral degradation. His address, "my son, David," is an astonishing term of endearment, reflecting a sudden flash of paternal affection and an acknowledgment of David's inherent goodness, perhaps even recognizing his divine favor. For a fleeting instant, Saul saw David not as a threat, but as his own son, a successor whom he tragically resisted. This passage powerfully illustrates the potential impact of grace and humility (from David) even on a hardened heart. However, while emotionally profound, Saul's reaction falls short of genuine, lasting repentance that would change his course. His tears, like those of Esau (Heb 12:17), signified remorse and grief over consequence rather than a true turning from sin, serving as a poignant reminder that even deeply felt emotion does not equate to transformative repentance. It highlights the chasm between temporary sorrow and lasting submission to God's will.