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Saturday, September 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

1 Samuel 16:17

And Saul said unto his servants, - I pray you, look out for me a man that excelleth in playing, and bring him in unto me.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Demons;   Saul;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Music;  

Dictionaries:

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

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - David;   Jesse;   Psalms, Book of;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Exorcism;   Samuel, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
Hebrew Names Version
Sha'ul said to his servants, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.
King James Version
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Lexham English Bible
So Saul said to his servants, "Please select a man who plays a stringed instrument well and bring him to me."
English Standard Version
So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me."
New Century Version
So Saul said to his servants, "Find someone who can play well and bring him to me."
New English Translation
So Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me."
Amplified Bible
So Saul told his servants, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me."
New American Standard Bible
So Saul said to his servants, "Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Saul then saide vnto his seruantes, Prouide me a man, I pray you, that can play well, & bring him to me.
Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me."
Contemporary English Version
"All right," Saul answered. "Find me someone who is good at playing the harp and bring him here."
Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul said to his servants, "Find me a man who can play well, and bring him to me."
Darby Translation
And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Saul said to his servants, "Find someone who plays music well and bring him to me."
George Lamsa Translation
And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.
Good News Translation
Saul ordered them, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me."
Literal Translation
And Saul said to his servants, Now look for a man who is good at playing for me, and bring him to me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde Saul vnto his seruautes: Prouyde me a ma, that can playe well vpon the instrumente, & brynge him vnto me.
American Standard Version
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Bible in Basic English
And Saul said to his servants, Then get me a man who is an expert player, and make him come to me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Saul sayd vnto his seruauntes: Prouide me a man then that can play well, and bring him to me.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Saul said unto his servants: 'Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.'
King James Version (1611)
And Saul said vnto his seruants, Prouide mee now a man, that can play well, and bring him to me.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Saul said to his servants, Look now out for me a skillful player, and bring him to me.
English Revised Version
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Berean Standard Bible
And Saul commanded his servants, "Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Saul seide to hise seruauntis, Puruey ye to me sum man syngynge wel, and brynge ye hym to me.
Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith unto his servants, `Provide, I pray you, for me a man playing well -- then ye have brought [him] in unto me.'
Update Bible Version
And Saul said to his slaves, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me.
World English Bible
Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.
New King James Version
So Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me."
New Living Translation
"All right," Saul said. "Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here."
New Life Bible
So Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who can play well, and bring him to me."
New Revised Standard
So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me someone who can play well, and bring him to me."
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said to his servants: Provide me then some man that can play well, and bring him to me.
Revised Standard Version
So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me."
THE MESSAGE
Saul told his servants, "Go ahead. Find me someone who can play well and bring him to me."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me."

Contextual Overview

14 But, the spirit of Yahweh, departed from Saul, - and there terrified him a sad spirit, from Yahweh. 15 Then said the servants of Saul unto him, - Lo! we pray thee, a sad superhuman spirit, doth terrify thee: 16 Pray let our lord bid thy servants before thee, seek out a man, skilled in playing on the lyre, - so shall it be, when a sad superhuman spirit cometh on thee, then shall he play with his hand, and thou shalt be joyful. 17 And Saul said unto his servants, - I pray you, look out for me a man that excelleth in playing, and bring him in unto me. 18 Then responded one of the young men and said - Lo! I have seen - a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, skilled in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and of intelligent speech, and a handsome man, and, Yahweh, is with him. 19 So Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, - and said, Send, unto me - David thy son, who is with the sheep. 20 Then took Jesse an ass laden with bread, and a skin of wine, and one kid, - and sent by the hand of David his son, unto Saul. 21 And David came in unto Saul, - and stood before him, - and he loved him greatly, and he became his armour-bearer. 22 And Saul sent unto Jesse, saying, - I pray thee, let David stand before me, for he hath found favour in mine eyes. 23 And so it used to be, when a superhuman spirit came unto Saul, then would David take the lyre, and play with his hand, - and Saul would be refreshed, and be joyful, and, the sad spirit, would depart from him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Saul said unto his servants,.... Approving of, and pleased with the advice they gave:

provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me; for being a sovereign prince, he could command whom he would to attend to his person and service.


 
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