Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
- KJV Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
- BSB When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.
- NASB When Saul saw that he was very successful, he was afraid of him.
- NLT When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of 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
Seeing David's great success, Saul stands in dread of him. The king's fear grows as God's blessing on David becomes ever clearer.
Overview
Saul observes David's evident wisdom and is filled with awe and fear rather than gladness. What should have drawn the king's gratitude only deepens his dread. The verse underscores how Saul's heart, estranged from God, twists David's God-given success into a cause for terror, the bitter fruit of a life resisting the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Dan 6:4–5Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
- Jas 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
- Ps 112:5It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
- Col 4:5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
- Jas 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
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 18:15 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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