Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Bible in Basic English
1 Samuel 16:15
And Saul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God is troubling you.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
Hebrew Names Version
Sha'ul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
Sha'ul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
King James Version
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Lexham English Bible
So the servants of Saul said to him, "Look please, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
So the servants of Saul said to him, "Look please, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
English Standard Version
And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.
And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.
New Century Version
Saul's servants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is troubling you.
Saul's servants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is troubling you.
New English Translation
Then Saul's servants said to him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!"
Then Saul's servants said to him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!"
Amplified Bible
Saul's servants said to him, "Behold, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
Saul's servants said to him, "Behold, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
New American Standard Bible
Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Sauls seruants said vnto him, Beholde nowe, the euill spirite of God vexeth thee.
And Sauls seruants said vnto him, Beholde nowe, the euill spirite of God vexeth thee.
Legacy Standard Bible
Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.
Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.
Contemporary English Version
"It's an evil spirit from God that's frightening you," Saul's officials told him.
"It's an evil spirit from God that's frightening you," Saul's officials told him.
Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul's servants said to him, "Do you notice that there's an evil spirit from God that suddenly comes over you?
Sha'ul's servants said to him, "Do you notice that there's an evil spirit from God that suddenly comes over you?
Darby Translation
And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles thee.
And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles thee.
Easy-to-Read Version
Saul's servants said to him, "An evil spirit from God is bothering you.
Saul's servants said to him, "An evil spirit from God is bothering you.
George Lamsa Translation
And Sauls servants said to him, Behold, your servants are before you;
And Sauls servants said to him, Behold, your servants are before you;
Good News Translation
His servants said to him, "We know that an evil spirit sent by God is tormenting you.
His servants said to him, "We know that an evil spirit sent by God is tormenting you.
Literal Translation
And Saul's servants said to him, Behold, now an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
And Saul's servants said to him, Behold, now an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde Sauls seruauntes vnto him: Beholde, an euell sprete from God vexeth the.
Then sayde Sauls seruauntes vnto him: Beholde, an euell sprete from God vexeth the.
American Standard Version
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Sauls seruauntes said vnto him: Beholde, an euill spirite [sent] of God vexeth thee.
And Sauls seruauntes said vnto him: Beholde, an euill spirite [sent] of God vexeth thee.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Saul's servants said unto him: 'Behold now, an evil spirit from God terrifieth thee.
And Saul's servants said unto him: 'Behold now, an evil spirit from God terrifieth thee.
King James Version (1611)
And Sauls seruants said vnto him, Behold now, an euill spirit from God troubleth thee.
And Sauls seruants said vnto him, Behold now, an euill spirit from God troubleth thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Saul’s servants said to him, Behold now, and evil spirit from the Lord torments thee.
And Saul’s servants said to him, Behold now, and evil spirit from the Lord torments thee.
English Revised Version
And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Berean Standard Bible
Saul's servants said to him, "Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.
Saul's servants said to him, "Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the seruauntis of Saul seiden to hym, Lo! an yuel spirit of the Lord traueilith thee;
And the seruauntis of Saul seiden to hym, Lo! an yuel spirit of the Lord traueilith thee;
Young's Literal Translation
and the servants of Saul say unto him, `Lo, we pray thee, a spirit of sadness [from] God is terrifying thee;
and the servants of Saul say unto him, `Lo, we pray thee, a spirit of sadness [from] God is terrifying thee;
Update Bible Version
And Saul's slaves said to him, Look now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
And Saul's slaves said to him, Look now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
World English Bible
Saul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
Saul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
New King James Version
And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
New Living Translation
Some of Saul's servants said to him, "A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.
Some of Saul's servants said to him, "A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you.
New Life Bible
Saul's servants said to him, "See, a bad spirit from God is bringing you trouble.
Saul's servants said to him, "See, a bad spirit from God is bringing you trouble.
New Revised Standard
And Saul's servants said to him, "See now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
And Saul's servants said to him, "See now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said the servants of Saul unto him, - Lo! we pray thee, a sad superhuman spirit, doth terrify thee:
Then said the servants of Saul unto him, - Lo! we pray thee, a sad superhuman spirit, doth terrify thee:
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the servants of Saul said to him: Behold now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
And the servants of Saul said to him: Behold now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Revised Standard Version
And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
THE MESSAGE
Saul's advisors said, "This awful tormenting depression from God is making your life miserable. O Master, let us help. Let us look for someone who can play the harp. When the black mood from God moves in, he'll play his music and you'll feel better."
Saul's advisors said, "This awful tormenting depression from God is making your life miserable. O Master, let us help. Let us look for someone who can play the harp. When the black mood from God moves in, he'll play his music and you'll feel better."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.
Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.
Contextual Overview
14 Now the spirit of the Lord had gone from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord was troubling him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Now give orders to your servants who are here before you to go in search of a man who is an expert player on a corded instrument: and it will be that when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will make music for you on his instrument, and you will get well. 17 And Saul said to his servants, Then get me a man who is an expert player, and make him come to me. 18 Then one of the servants in answer said, I have seen a son of Jesse, the Beth-lehemite, who is expert at playing, and a strong man and a man of war; and he is wise in his words, and pleasing in looks, and the Lord is with him. 19 So Saul sent his servants to Jesse and said, Send me your son David who is with the sheep. 20 And Jesse took five cakes of bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them to Saul by David. 21 And David came to Saul, waiting before him: and he became very dear to Saul, who made him his servant, giving him the care of his arms. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse saying, Let David be with me, for he is pleasing to me. 23 And whenever the evil spirit from God came on Saul, David took his instrument and made music: so new life came to Saul, and he got well, and the evil spirit went away from him.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 16:1 - seeing 1 Samuel 18:10 - the evil spirit
Cross-References
Genesis 16:9
And the angel said to her, Go back, and put yourself under her authority.
And the angel said to her, Go back, and put yourself under her authority.
Genesis 16:11
And the angel of the Lord said, See, you are with child and will give birth to a son, to whom you will give the name Ishmael, because the ears of the Lord were open to your sorrow.
And the angel of the Lord said, See, you are with child and will give birth to a son, to whom you will give the name Ishmael, because the ears of the Lord were open to your sorrow.
Genesis 17:18
And Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael's life might be your care!
And Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael's life might be your care!
Genesis 17:20
As for Ishmael, I have given ear to your prayer: truly I have given him my blessing and I will make him fertile and give him great increase; he will be the father of twelve chiefs, and I will make him a great nation.
As for Ishmael, I have given ear to your prayer: truly I have given him my blessing and I will make him fertile and give him great increase; he will be the father of twelve chiefs, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 25:9
And Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, put him to rest in the hollow rock of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, near Mamre;
And Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, put him to rest in the hollow rock of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, near Mamre;
Genesis 25:12
Now these are the generations of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, whose mother was Hagar the Egyptian, the servant of Sarah:
Now these are the generations of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, whose mother was Hagar the Egyptian, the servant of Sarah:
Genesis 28:9
So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath, the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.
So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath, the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.
Genesis 37:27
Let us give him to these Ishmaelites for a price, and let us not put violent hands on him, for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brothers gave ear to him.
Let us give him to these Ishmaelites for a price, and let us not put violent hands on him, for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brothers gave ear to him.
1 Chronicles 1:28
The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Saul's servants said unto him,.... His courtiers, who observing him to act in a frantic manner, to be dull and melancholy, timorous, and irresolute, unsteady, divided, and distressed; or his physicians, who were called in to assist him, and remove his disorder from him:
behold, now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee: the disorder was not from any natural cause, or any bodily disease, and therefore out of the reach of physicians to do any service, but was from an evil spirit suffered of God to harass and disturb him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The “evil” or “melancholy” spirit here spoken of was “the Spirit of God,” or “of Jehovah,” as being God’s messenger and minister, sent by Him to execute His righteous purpose upon Saul (see 1 Kings 22:19-22 note).
