Lectionary Calendar
Monday, April 13th, 2026
the Second Week after Easter
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Chinese NCV (Simplified)

撒母耳记上 16:18

有一個僕人回答:“我見過伯利恆人耶西的一個兒子,他善於彈琴,是個大能的勇士,又是個戰士,談吐合宜,容貌俊美,耶和華也與他同在。”

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Beauty;   David;   Demons;   Saul;   Thompson Chain Reference - Young People;   Youthful Musicians;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prudence;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jesse;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Disease;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - David;   Demon;   Disease;   Psalms, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Saul;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - David;   Music;   Neginah;   Samuel, the Books of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - David;   Samuel, Books of;   Saul;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bethlehem;   David;   Jesse;   Ramah;   Samuel, Books of;   Saul;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Exorcism;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bethlehemite ;   Jesse ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Music;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Jesse;   Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Saul;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Da'vid;   Jes'se;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Emerods;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Beth-Lehemite;   Comeliness;   David;   Jesse;   Matter;   Person;   Prudence;   Psalms, Book of;   Samuel, Books of;   Speech;   Valiant;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Athletes, Athletics, and Field-Sports;   Doeg;   Exorcism;   Genesis, the Book of;   Jesse;   Jonathan, Jehonathan;   Music and Musical Instruments;   Samuel, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Chinese Union (Simplified)
其 中 有 一 个 少 年 人 说 : 我 曾 见 伯 利 恒 人 耶 西 的 一 个 儿 子 善 於 弹 琴 , 是 大 有 勇 敢 的 战 士 , 说 话 合 宜 , 容 貌 俊 美 , 耶 和 华 也 与 他 同 在 。

Contextual Overview

14 But the Lord 's Spirit had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 Saul's servants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Give us the command to look for someone who can play the harp. When the evil spirit from God troubles you, he will play, and you will feel better." 17 So Saul said to his servants, "Find someone who can play well and bring him to me." 18 One of the servants said, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem play the harp. He is brave and courageous. He is a good speaker and handsome, and the Lord is with him." 19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." 20 So Jesse loaded a donkey with bread, a leather bag full of wine, and a young goat, and he sent them with his son David to Saul. 21 When David came to Saul, he began to serve him. Saul liked David and made him the officer who carried his armor. 22 Saul sent a message to Jesse, saying, "Let David stay and serve me because I like him." 23 When the evil spirit from God troubled Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then the evil spirit would leave him, and Saul would feel better.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a mighty: 1 Samuel 17:32-36, 2 Samuel 17:8, 2 Samuel 17:10

and prudent: 2 Samuel 14:20

matters: or, speech.

a comely: 1 Samuel 16:12

the Lord: 1 Samuel 3:19, 1 Samuel 10:7, 1 Samuel 18:12-14, Genesis 39:2, Genesis 39:23, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 28:20

Reciprocal: Numbers 27:18 - a man 1 Samuel 16:13 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 17:12 - David 1 Samuel 17:31 - sent for him 1 Samuel 17:58 - I am the son 1 Samuel 18:14 - the Lord 1 Chronicles 9:20 - the Lord Psalms 89:19 - I have laid Psalms 131:1 - my heart Proverbs 12:8 - commended Haggai 2:4 - for Zechariah 10:5 - as Luke 1:66 - And the John 7:42 - where

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then answered one of the servants,.... Which the Jews say m was Doeg the Edomite, who out of envy and ill will to David spake of him, that Saul might have an opportunity of slaying him; but this is not at all likely; rather it was one of David's friends and acquaintance, that was desirous of promoting him at court, and no doubt was directed to that motion by the overruling providence of God:

and said, behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite; he does not mention the name of his son, but so describes him, that he might be easily known by those who knew anything of the family of Jesse; besides it was sufficient that he was one of Jesse's sons, to find him out:

[that is] cunning in playing; that is, on the harp; has good skill in music, and is expert in it:

and a mighty valiant man; as appeared by his encountering with and slaying the lion and the bear; an event now past, as very probable:

and a man of war some think this character of him was given after the affair of his fighting with Goliath and killing him, but here put by a prolepsis or anticipation; and indeed if David had been taken into Saul's court before that affair, it is difficult to account for Saul's ignorance of him, since he must be so near him, and so often with him, as his musician and armourbearer; though that difficulty may be removed, as may be observed in its proper place:

and prudent in matters; in his talk and conversation, and conduct and behaviour; knew how to carry himself, even in a prince's court: and a comely person; which always recommended to the courts of the eastern nations; :-.

and the Lord is with him; prospering and succeeding him in whatsoever he is engaged; and seeing the Lord was with him, it might be expected the evil spirit would depart from Saul, when this person, with whom the Lord was, was in his presence. The Targum is,

"the Word of the Lord is for his help;''

all that is said of him showed that he was fit to be in the palace of a king, and a proper person to be with Saul in his present circumstances.

m T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 2. So in Hieron. Trad. Heb in lib. Reg. fol. 76. C.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A mighty valiant man ... - David’s reputation for courage, skill, discretion, and manly beauty, was already great. Since “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him,” his natural qualities and powers had been greatly enhanced. His feat of killing the lion and the bear (see the marginal references) had been performed, like Samson’s feats of strength Judges 14:6, Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14, under the same supernatural influence, and was probably more or less known.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 16:18. I have seen a son of Jesse — Dr. Warburton supposes the story is anticipated from 1 Samuel 16:14-23, and that the true chronology of this part of David's life is the following: -

1. David is anointed by Samuel;

2. Carries provisions to his brethren in the army;

3. Fights with and kills Goliath;

4. Is received into the king's court,

5. Contracts a friendship with Jonathan;

6. Incurs Saul's jealousy;

7. Retires to his father's house;

8. Is after some time sent for by Saul to sooth his melancholy with his harp;

9. Again excites Saul's jealousy, who endeavours to smite him with his javelin. This anticipation between the 14th and 23d verse comes in, in the order of time, between verses 9 and 10, 1 Samuel 18:9; 1 Samuel 18:10, where the breach is apparent.


 
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