1 Samuel 18:21

19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

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.

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.

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?

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

    And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 9:8

    Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 18:26

    And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 10:7

    And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 19:11–12

    Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 5:26

    For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 38:12

    They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 7:14–16

    Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

    Read in context