1 Samuel 18 · Verse 23

1 Samuel 18:23

And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
1 Samuel 18:23, King James Version

1 Samuel 18:23 in other translations

BSBBut when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”
WEBSaul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”
ASVAnd Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
YLTAnd the servants of Saul speak in the ears of David these words, and David saith, ‘Is it a light thing in your eyes to be son-in-law to the king--and I a poor man, and lightly esteemed?'
DARBYAnd Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Is it a light thing in your eyes to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
BBEAnd Saul's servants said these things to David. And David said, Does it seem to you a small thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, of no great name?
WebsterAnd Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

What does 1 Samuel 18:23 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 18:12-30

For a long time David was kept in continual apprehension of falling by the hand of Saul, yet he persevered in meek and respectful behaviour towards his persecutor. How uncommon is such prudence and discretion, especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitate this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisely in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 18:12-30 →

1 Samuel 18:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּvay.da.be.Ruand they spokeH1696
עַבְדֵ֤י'av.Dei[the] servants ofH5650
שָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlSaulH7586
בְּאָזְנֵ֣יbe.'a.ze.Neiin [the] ears ofH241
דָוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.Rimthe wordsH1697
הָאֵ֑לֶּהha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
דָּוִ֗דda.VidDavidH1732
הַֽנְקַלָּ֤הhan.ka.Lah¿ triflingH7043
בְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ve.'ei.nei.Khemin view yourH5869
הִתְחַתֵּ֣ןhit.cha.Ten[is] to be son-in-lawH2859
בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְba.Me.lekhto the kingH4428
וְאָנֹכִ֖יve.'a.no.Khiand IH595
אִֽישׁ\־'ish-[am] a manH376
רָ֥שׁrashpoorH7326
וְנִקְלֶֽה\׃ve.nik.Lehand lightly esteemedH7034

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 18:23

  • Proverbs 14:20

    The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:15-16

    Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

  • 1 John 3:1

    Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

  • Proverbs 19:6-7

    Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

  • Psalms 119:141

    I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

  • 1 Samuel 9:21

    And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a light.
1Jo 3:1
a poor man.
9:21; Pr 14:20; 19:6,7; Ec 9:15,16
and lightly.
Ps 119:141

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 18:22

    And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.

  • 1 Samuel 18:23

    And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

  • 1 Samuel 18:24

    And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

Read all of 1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los criados de Saúl hablaron estas palabras á los oídos de David. Y David dijo: ¿Paréceos á vosotros que es poco ser yerno del rey, siendo yo un hombre pobre y de ninguna estima?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les serviteurs de Saül dirent ces paroles aux oreilles de David. Et David dit: Est-ce peu de chose à vos yeux que de devenir gendre du roi? et moi, je suis un homme pauvre et peu considérable.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Knechte Sauls redeten diese Worte vor den Ohren Davids. Und David sprach: Ist es ein Geringes in euren Augen, des Königs Eidam zu werden? bin ich doch ein armer und geringer Mann.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et locuti sunt servi Saul in auribus David omnia verba hæc. Et ait David: Num parum videtur vobis, generum esse regis? ego autem sum vir pauper et tenuis.