1 Samuel 18:23

Contemporary English Version

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor commoner.”

Hebrew Names Version
Sha'ul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, Seems it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

King James Version
And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

Lexham English Bible
And Saul's servants spoke these words to David privately. But David said, "Is it insignificant in your sight to become the son-in-law of the king, as I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?"

English Standard Version
And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?"

New Century Version
Saul's servants said these words to David, but David answered, "Do you think it is easy to become the king's son-in-law? I am poor and unimportant."

New English Translation
So Saul's servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied, "Is becoming the king's son-in-law something insignificant to you? I'm just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!"

Amplified Bible
So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. But David said, "Is it a trivial thing in your sight to become a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and insignificant?"

New American Standard Bible
So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. But David said, "Is it trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law, since I am only a poor man and insignificant?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Sauls seruantes spake these wordes in the eares of Dauid. And Dauid sayd, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a Kings sonne in lawe, seeing yt I am a poore man & of smal reputation?

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul's servants spoke these words in David's hearing. But David said, "Is it trivial in your eyes to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?"

Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul's servants said this to David; but David replied, "Do you think being the king's son-in-law is something to be treated so casually, given that I'm a poor man without social standing?"

Darby Translation
And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Is it a light thing in your eyes to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

Easy-to-Read Version
Saul's officers said these things to David, but David answered, "Do you think it is easy to become the king's son-in-law? I am just a poor, ordinary man."

George Lamsa Translation
And Sauls servants spoke these words to David. And David said, Seems it to you a light thing to be a kings son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and despised?

Good News Translation
So they told this to David, and he answered, "It's a great honor to become the king's son-in-law, too great for someone poor and insignificant like me."

Literal Translation
And Saul's servants spoke these words in David's ears. And David said, Is it a light thing in your eyes to be son-in-law to the king? And I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Sauls seruauntes spake these wordes in the eares of Dauid. But Dauid saide: Thynke ye it but a small matter, to mary the kynges doughter? As for me, I am but a poore symple man.

American Standard Version
And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

Bible in Basic English
And Saul's servants said these things to David. And David said, Does it seem to you a small thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, of no great name?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Sauls seruauntes spake those wordes in the eares of Dauid. And Dauid said: semeth it to you a light thing to be a kinges sonne in lawe? seeing that I am a poore man, and of smal reputation.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said: 'Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?'

King James Version (1611)
And Sauls seruants spake those wordes in the eares of Dauid: And Dauid said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a kings sonne in law, seeing that I am a poore man, and lightly esteemed?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the servants of Saul spoke these words in the ears of David; and David said, Is it a light thing in your eyes to become son-in-law to the king? Whereas I am an humble man, an not honourable?

English Revised Version
And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

Berean Standard Bible
But when Saul's servants relayed these words to David, he replied, "Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the seruauntis of Saul spaken alle these wordis in the eeris of Dauid. And Dauid seide, Whether it semeth litil to you `to be sone in lawe of the kyng? Forsothe Y am a pore man, and a feble.

Young's Literal Translation
And the servants of Saul speak in the ears of David these words, and David saith, `Is it a light thing in your eyes to be son-in-law to the king -- and I a poor man, and lightly esteemed?'

Update Bible Version
And Saul's slaves spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I [am] a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

World English Bible
Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, Seems it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

New King James Version
So Saul's servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?"

New Living Translation
When Saul's men said these things to David, he replied, "How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?"

New Life Bible
So Saul's servants said this to David. But David said, "Is it not important to you to become the king's son-in-law? I am only a poor man and am not very respected."

New Revised Standard
So Saul's servants reported these words to David in private. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the servants of Saul spake, in the ears of David, these words. And David said - Seemeth it a light thing, in your eyes, to become son-in-law to the king, seeing that, I, am a poor man and lightly esteemed?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the servants of Saul spoke all these words in the ear of David. And David said: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king’s son in law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability.

Revised Standard Version
And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?"

THE MESSAGE
The king's servants told all this to David, but David held back. "What are you thinking of? I can't do that. I'm a nobody; I have nothing to offer."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. But David said, "Is it trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?"

Contextual Overview

¹² Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was helping David and was no longer helping him. ¹³ Saul put David in charge of a thousand soldiers and sent him out to fight. ¹⁴ The Lord helped David, and he and his soldiers always won their battles. ¹⁵ This made Saul even more afraid of David. ¹⁶ But everyone else in Judah and Israel was loyal to David, because he led the army in battle. ¹⁷ One day, Saul told David, "If you'll be brave and fight the Lord 's battles for me, I'll let you marry my oldest daughter Merab." But Saul was really thinking, "I don't want to kill David myself, so I'll let the Philistines do it for me." ¹⁸ David answered, "How could I possibly marry your daughter? I'm not very important, and neither is my family." ¹⁹ But when the time came for David to marry Saul's daughter Merab, Saul told her to marry Adriel from the town of Meholah. ²⁰ Saul had another daughter. Her name was Michal, and Saul found out that she was in love with David. This made Saul happy, ²¹ and he thought, "I'll tell David he can marry Michal, but I'll set it up so that the Philistines will kill him." He told David, "I'm going to give you a second chance to marry one of my daughters."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a light: 1 John 3:1

a poor man: 1 Samuel 9:21, Proverbs 14:20, Proverbs 19:6, Proverbs 19:7, Ecclesiastes 9:15, Ecclesiastes 9:16

and lightly: Psalms 119:141

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:9 - Seemeth it but Judges 1:12 - And Caleb Judges 6:15 - my family is poor 1 Samuel 18:18 - Who am I Psalms 131:1 - my heart

Cross-References

Genesis 18:4
I'll have some water brought, so you can wash your feet, then you can rest under the tree.

Genesis 18:5
Let me get you some food to give you strength before you leave. I would be honored to serve you." "Thank you very much," they answered. "We accept your offer."

Genesis 18:6
Abraham quickly went to his tent and said to Sarah, "Hurry! Get a large sack of flour and make some bread."

Genesis 18:7
After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared.

Genesis 18:25
You surely wouldn't let them be killed when you destroy the evil ones. You are the judge of all the earth, and you do what is right."

Genesis 20:4
Abimelech said to the Lord, "Don't kill me! I haven't slept with Sarah. Didn't they say they were brother and sister? I am completely innocent."

2 Samuel 24:17
David saw the angel killing everyone and told the Lord , "These people are like sheep with me as their shepherd. I have sinned terribly, but they have done nothing wrong. Please, punish me and my family instead of them!"

Job 8:3
Does God All-Powerful stand in the way of justice?

Job 34:17
The mighty God is the one who brings about justice, and you are condemning him.

Psalms 73:28
It is good for me to be near you. I choose you as my protector, and I will tell about your wonderful deeds.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Saul's servants spake these words in the ears of David,.... Those before related, which Saul commanded them to speak, which they delivered exactly according to their orders, with an audible voice, clearly, plainly, and distinctly, so that David might hear and understand them:

and David said, seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to be a king's son in law; a small a trifling matter, an easy thing to come into, every thing requisite to it:

seeing that I [am] a poor man; and not able to give a dowry suitable to the daughter of a king; it being usual in those times for a man to give a dowry to, and not receive a portion with a wife; and which also was the custom of the Germans, as Tacitus x relates; and this was to be according to the rank and quality of the person married, and which in this case David was not equal to:

and lightly esteemed? not by the people of Israel and Judah, who loved him, as he was loved even by the servants of Saul, at least in profession; but by Saul himself, who had slighted him in giving his elder daughter to another man, when he had promised her to him, which was discouraging to David, and resented by him.

x De Moribus German. c. 18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A poor man and lightly esteemed - Compare Psalms 119:141. Poor, and therefore unable to pay a sufficient dowry. See 1 Samuel 18:25.