It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
Parallel translations
- KJV And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
- BSB When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
- ESV As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
- NKJV So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
- NASB When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept.
- NLT When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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, moved by David's words, weeps and calls him 'my son.' Even a hardened heart is briefly softened by undeserved mercy.
Overview
Hearing David's appeal, Saul recognizes his voice, addresses him affectionately, and breaks into tears. The moment shows the convicting power of demonstrated mercy on even a troubled conscience. Yet as the narrative will reveal, Saul's emotion is not lasting repentance, warning that sorrow and tears are not the same as a transformed heart.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Sam 26:17Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”
- Acts 6:10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
- Job 6:25How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
- Gen 33:4Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.
- Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Prov 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
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 24:16 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.