1 Samuel 19 · Verse 16

1 Samuel 19:16

And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.

1 Samuel 19:16, King James Version

1 Samuel 19:16 in other translations

BSB	And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head.
WEB	When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head.
ASV	And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at the head thereof.
YLT	And the messengers come in, and lo, the teraphim are on the bed, and the mattress of goats' hair, for his pillows.
DARBY	And the messengers came in, and behold, the image was in the bed, and the net of goats' hair at its head.
BBE	And when the men came in, there was the image in the bed, with the cushion of goat's hair at its head
Webster	And when the messengers had come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster.

What does 1 Samuel 19:16 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 19:11-24

Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a distance was allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not influenced by the same spirit of piety which had dictated Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. He met with little rest…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 19:11-24 →

1 Samuel 19:16 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.

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uand they cameH935

הַמַּלְאָכִ֔יםha.mal.'a.Khimthe messengersH4397

וְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.Nehand there!H2009

הַתְּרָפִ֖יםha.te.ra.Fimthe teraphimH8655

אֶל\־'el-[was] toH413

הַמִּטָּ֑הha.mi.Tahthe bedH4296

וּכְבִ֥ירu.khe.Virand [the] quilt ofH3523

הָעִזִּ֖יםha.'i.Zim<the> goat hair<s>H5795

מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו\׃me.ra.'a.sho.Tav[the] place of head itsH4763

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And when.It is highly probable that David, when supposed to be sick, was thought to be hid in the harem or chamber of Michal. "The harems," says De La Motraye, "are sanctuaries, as sacred and inviolable, for persons pursed by justice for any crime, debt, etc., as the Roman Catholic churches in Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc." Thus we find, that to effect his purpose, Saul sent messengers to Michal, but they treated her harem with too much respect to enter it at first; but being authorised by Saul, they entered even into her chamber; and during the delay occasioned by respect for the privacy of Michal, David escaped.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Samuel 19:15
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
1 Samuel 19:16
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.
1 Samuel 19:17
And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

Read all of 1 Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y como los mensajeros entraron, he aquí la estatua estaba en la cama, y una almohada de pelos de cabra por cabecera.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et les messagers vinrent, et voici, le théraphim était sur le lit, et un tissu de poils de chèvre à son chevet.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und die Boten kamen, und siehe, der Teraphim war im Bett, und das Geflecht von Ziegenhaar zu seinen Häupten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Cumque venissent nuntii, inventum est simulacrum super lectum, et pellis caprarum ad caput ejus.