And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
- BSB Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.
- NKJV And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
- NASB Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
- NLT Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul's servants recognize that an evil spirit from God is troubling him. They perceive his affliction as spiritual in origin.
Overview
The servants' diagnosis shows that Saul's distress was evident and understood to have a divine and spiritual dimension. Their concern leads to the plan that will bring David into Saul's court. The verse advances the providential weaving together of the two kings' lives.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 16:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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