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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

1 Samuel 19:9

Then a bad spirit sent from the Lord came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Demons;   Holy Spirit;   Javelin;   Jealousy;   Michal;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Anger;   Demon;   Disease;   Evil;   Woman;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Harp;   Javelin;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Harp;   Minstrel;   Neginah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Arms and Armor;   Devil;   Persecution in the Bible;   Saul;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Evil Spirits;   Samuel, Books of;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Exorcism;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Javelin;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Minstrel;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Spirit;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Affliction;   Holy Spirit;   Samuel, Books of;   Saul;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Arms - armor;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now an evil spirit sent from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the lyre,
Hebrew Names Version
An evil spirit from the LORD was on Sha'ul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.
King James Version
And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
Lexham English Bible
Then the evil spirit from Yahweh came upon Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing a stringed instrument in his hand.
English Standard Version
Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre.
New Century Version
But once again an evil spirit from the Lord rushed upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp.
New English Translation
Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.
Amplified Bible
Then an evil spirit from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.
New American Standard Bible
Now there was an evil spirit from the LORD on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the euill spirit of the Lord was vpon Saul, as hee sate in his house hauing his speare in his hand, and Dauid played with his hand.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now there was an evil spirit from Yahweh on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.
Contemporary English Version
One night, David was in Saul's home, playing the harp for him. Saul was sitting there, holding a spear, when an evil spirit from the Lord took control of him. Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but David dodged, and it stuck in the wall. David ran out of the house and escaped.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then an evil spirit from Adonai came upon Sha'ul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing his lyre,
Darby Translation
And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul. And he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David played with his hand.
Easy-to-Read Version
Later, in Saul's house, David was playing the harp. Saul was there with his spear in his hand. Then an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul.
George Lamsa Translation
And an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand; and David played the harp in his presence.
Good News Translation
One day an evil spirit from the Lord took control of Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was there, playing his harp.
Literal Translation
And the evil spirit from Jehovah was on Saul. And he was sitting in his house, and his spear in his hand. And David was playing with the hand.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles ye euell sprete of the LORDE came vpon Saul, and he sat in his house, and had a iauelynge in his hande. But Dauid plaied vpon the instrument with his hade.
American Standard Version
And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.
Bible in Basic English
And an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul, when he was seated in his house with his spear in his hand; and David made music for him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the euyl spirite of the Lorde was vpon Saul as he sate in his house, hauing a iauelin in his hand: And Dauid played with his hand.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And an evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.
King James Version (1611)
And the euill spirit from the Lord was vpon Saul, as he sate in his house with his iauelin in his hand: and Dauid played with his hand.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And an evil spirit from God was upon Saul, and he was resting in his house, and a spear was in his hand, and David was playing on the harp with his hands.
English Revised Version
And an evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David played with his hand.
Berean Standard Bible
But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the yuel spirit of the Lord was maad on Saul; sotheli he sat in his hows, and helde a spere; certis Dauid harpide in his hond.
Young's Literal Translation
And a spirit of sadness [from] Jehovah is unto Saul, and he is sitting in his house, and his javelin in his hand, and David is playing with the hand,
Update Bible Version
And an evil spirit from Yahweh was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with [his] hand.
World English Bible
An evil spirit from Yahweh was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.
New King James Version
Now the distressing spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand.
New Living Translation
But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp,
New Revised Standard
Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing music.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
then came there a sad spirit of Yahweh unto Saul, he being in his house, seated, with his spear in his hand, - while, David, played with his hand,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul; and he sat in his house, and held a spear in his hand: and David played with his hand.
Revised Standard Version
Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing the lyre.
THE MESSAGE
But then a black mood from God settled over Saul and took control of him. He was sitting at home, his spear in his hand, while David was playing music. Suddenly, Saul tried to skewer David with his spear, but David ducked. The spear stuck in the wall and David got away. It was night.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now there was an evil spirit from the LORD on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.

Contextual Overview

8 When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines. He killed many of them, and the others ran away from him. 9 Then a bad spirit sent from the Lord came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp. 10 Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but David got out of the way. Saul hit the wall with the spear, and David ran away that night.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Samuel 16:14, 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 18:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 25:7 - a javelin Numbers 35:20 - by laying 1 Samuel 20:27 - Wherefore 1 Samuel 22:6 - spear

Cross-References

Genesis 11:6
And the Lord said, "See, they are one people, and they all have the same language. This is only the beginning of what they will do. Now all they plan to do will be possible for them.
Genesis 13:12
Abram made his home in the land of Canaan. Lot made his home in the cities of the valley and moved his tents as far as Sodom,
Genesis 19:7
He said, "My brothers, please do not be so sinful.
Genesis 19:8
See, I have two daughters who have never had a man. Let me bring them out to you. And do to them whatever you want. But do nothing to these men, for they have come to be safe under my roof."
Genesis 19:19
See, your servant has found favor in your eyes. You have shown me great kindness in what you have done for me by saving my life. But I cannot run to the mountains. For I will run into danger and die.
Genesis 19:22
Hurry and run there. For I cannot do anything until you get there." So the name given to the town was Zoar.
Genesis 19:26
But Lot's wife behind him turned and looked toward the cities. And she was changed into salt.
Genesis 19:28
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley. And he saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke from a place where there is much fire.
Exodus 2:14
But the man said, "Who made you a ruler and a judge among us? Do you plan to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid. He thought, "For sure the thing I have done is known."
1 Samuel 2:16
But if the man says to him, "Let them burn the fat first, then take as much as you want," then the religious leader's servant would say, "No, give it to me now; and if not, I will take it from you against your will."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul,.... His melancholy and frantic disorder returned upon those victories of David, and he grew envious, jealous, spiteful, and malicious:

as he sat in his house with his javelin his hand; which either describes the posture he was in when the evil spirit came upon him; or the effects of it, he became dull and melancholy, did not care to go abroad, but kept at home, and was suspicious of everybody; and therefore kept a javelin in his hand to defend himself; or it may be rather to dispatch David with it, when an opportunity should offer, which quickly did:

and David played with [his] hand; on some instrument of music, particularly the harp, to drive away the evil spirit, the melancholy disorder, from Saul; which showed his humility, that though he was an officer in the army, had a considerable post in it, yet deigned to act the part of a musician to Saul, and his great kindness and affection for him his sovereign, willing to serve him what he could to promote his health and comfort, and the trust and confidence he put in his promise and oath, or rather in the providence of God for his protection in the way of his duty, though he knew how spiteful and injurious Saul had been to him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 19:9. And the evil spirit from the Lord — His envy and jealousy again returned, producing distraction of mind, which was exacerbated by diabolic influence. See on 1 Samuel 16:14.


 
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