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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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New Living Translation

1 Samuel 18:15

When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Jealousy;   Malice;   Prudence;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Saul, king of israel;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Disease;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - David;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Saul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Awe;   Merab;   Samuel, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him.
Hebrew Names Version
When Sha'ul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
King James Version
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
Lexham English Bible
but when Saul saw that he was very successful, he was severely threatened by him.
English Standard Version
And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.
New Century Version
When Saul saw that David was very successful, he feared David even more.
New English Translation
When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him.
Amplified Bible
When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he was afraid of him.
New American Standard Bible
When Saul saw that he was very successful, he was afraid of him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore when Saul saw that he was very wise, he was afrayde of him.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, so he dreaded him.
Contemporary English Version
This made Saul even more afraid of David.
Complete Jewish Bible
When Sha'ul saw how very successful he was, he became afraid of him.
Darby Translation
And Saul saw that he prospered well, and he stood in awe of him.
Easy-to-Read Version
Saul saw how successful David was and became even more afraid of him.
George Lamsa Translation
And when Saul saw that he was exceedingly wise, he was afraid of him.
Good News Translation
Saul noticed David's success and became even more afraid of him.
Literal Translation
And Saul saw that he was acting wisely, and was afraid of him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan Saul sawe that he was so exceadynge wyse, he stode in feare of him.
American Standard Version
And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
Bible in Basic English
And when Saul saw how wisely he did, he was in fear of him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherefore when Saul sawe that he was so exceeding wise, he was afrayde of him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.
King James Version (1611)
Wherefore when Saul saw that hee behaued himselfe very wisely, hee was afraid of him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Saul saw that he was very wise, and he was afraid of him.
English Revised Version
And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
Berean Standard Bible
When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and so Saul siy that Dauid was ful prudent, and he bigan to be war of Dauid.
Young's Literal Translation
and Saul seeth that he is acting very wisely, and is afraid of him,
Update Bible Version
And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
World English Bible
When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
New King James Version
Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.
New Life Bible
When Saul saw how well he did, he was afraid of him.
New Revised Standard
When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when Saul saw that, he, was acting very prudently, he was afraid of him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul saw that he was exceeding prudent, and began to beware of him.
Revised Standard Version
And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him.

Contextual Overview

12 Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul. 13 Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle. 14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle. 17 One day Saul said to David, "I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the Lord 's battles." For Saul thought, "I'll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself." 18 "Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king's son-in-law?" David exclaimed. "My father's family is nothing!" 19 So when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah. 20 In the meantime, Saul's daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it. 21 "Here's another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!" Saul said to himself. But to David he said, "Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

wisely: Psalms 112:5, Daniel 6:4, Daniel 6:5, Colossians 4:5, James 1:5, James 3:17

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 18:5 - behaved 1 Samuel 18:12 - afraid 1 Samuel 18:29 - yet the Psalms 101:2 - behave Proverbs 27:21 - so Ezekiel 31:9 - envied 1 John 3:12 - And

Cross-References

Genesis 4:9
Afterward the Lord asked Cain, "Where is your brother? Where is Abel?" "I don't know," Cain responded. "Am I my brother's guardian?"
Genesis 12:13
So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you."
Genesis 18:25
Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"
Genesis 18:27
Then Abraham spoke again. "Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.
Job 2:10
But Job replied, "You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
Psalms 44:21
God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
Proverbs 12:19
Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
Proverbs 28:13
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Mark 2:8
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts?
John 2:25
No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person's heart.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely,.... So that he could get no advantage against him, and he succeeded and was prosperous in all his enterprises, and was more and more in favour with the people:

he was afraid of him; lest the time was drawing near that the kingdom should be rent from him, and given to David.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 18:15. He was afraid of him. — He saw that, by his prudent conduct, he was every day gaining increasing influence.


 
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