1 Samuel 18:21
19 So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.
“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”
22 Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”
23 But 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.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”
- KJV
- And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
- WEB
- Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”
- ASV
- And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.
- DARBY
- And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be upon him. And Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.
- BLB
- And Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be to him a snare, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” And Saul said to David a second [time], “You shall be son-in-law to me today.”
- ÅB
- Saul tenkte: Jeg vil la ham få henne, så hun kan bli til en snare for ham, og filistrenes hånd kan ramme ham. Og Saul sa til David: Ved min annen datter skal du idag bli min svigersønn.
- OTB
- Saul tenkte: "Jeg vil gi henne til ham, så hun kan bli en snare for ham, og så filisternes hånd kan være mot ham." Derfor sa Saul til David: "For andre gang kan du i dag bli min svigersønn."
- B1930
- Saul tenkte: Jeg vil la ham få henne, så hun kan bli til en snare for ham, og filistrenes hånd kan ramme ham. Og Saul sa til David: Ved min annen datter skal du idag bli min svigersønn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Samuel 18:17
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
Read in contextJeremiah 9:8
Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
Read in context1 Samuel 18:26
When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,
Read in contextExodus 10:7
Pharaoh’s officials asked him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is in ruins?”
Read in context1 Samuel 19:11–12
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”
Read in contextJeremiah 5:26
For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men.
Read in contextPsalms 38:12
Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.
Read in contextPsalms 7:14–16
Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
Read in context