Limitless Word
And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
1 Samuel 17:31 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB When the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.
  • BSB Now David’s words were overheard and reported to Saul, who called for him.
  • NKJV Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him.
  • NASB When the words that David spoke were heard, they informed Saul, and he sent for him.
  • NLT Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.

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

David's words reach Saul, who sends for him. God's providence brings the shepherd before the king at the decisive hour.

Overview

Word of David's bold inquiry spreads until it reaches Saul, who summons him. The narrative shows God orchestrating events so that the willing servant is brought to the place of action. What David said in faith opens the door to deliverance, illustrating how God uses faithful words to advance His purposes.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 1

  • Prov 22:29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Samuel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Samuel 17:31YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 SamuelMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 17:31 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.