Lectionary Calendar
Friday, September 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

Young's Literal Translation

1 Samuel 18:26

And his servants declare to David these words, and the thing is right in the eyes of David, to be son-in-law to the king; and the days have not been full,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   David;   Jealousy;   Malice;   Michal;   Philistines;   Prudence;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Circumcision;   Philistines, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Michal;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   David;   Michal;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - David;   Saul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - David;   Dowry;   Michal;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Michal ;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Samuel, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,
Hebrew Names Version
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. The days were not expired;
King James Version
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
Lexham English Bible
So his servants told David these words, and the matter pleased David to become the son-in-law of the king as the specified time had not expired.
English Standard Version
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired,
New Century Version
When Saul's servants told this to David, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law.
New English Translation
So his servants told David these things and David agreed to become the king's son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired
Amplified Bible
When his servants told David these words, it pleased him to become the king's son-in-law. Before the time [for the marriage] arrived,
New American Standard Bible
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. So before the time had expired,
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when his seruantes tolde Dauid these wordes, it pleased Dauid well, to be the Kings sonne in law: and the dayes were not expired.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then his servants told David these words, and it was right in the eyes of David to become the king's son-in-law. So before the days had expired,
Contemporary English Version
The officials told David, and David wanted to marry the princess. King Saul had set a time limit, and before it ran out,
Complete Jewish Bible
When his servants said these words to David, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Even before the time [for him to be married],
Darby Translation
And his servants told David these words; and the thing was right in David's sight to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired,
Easy-to-Read Version
Saul's officers told this to David. David was happy that he had a chance to become the king's son-in-law, so immediately
George Lamsa Translation
And when the servants of Saul told David these words, it pleased David well to be the kings son-in-law; but the time had not come.
Good News Translation
Saul's officials reported to David what Saul had said, and David was delighted with the thought of becoming the king's son-in-law. Before the day set for the wedding,
Literal Translation
And his servants told David these words. And the thing was right in David's eyes, to be son-in-law to the king. And the days had not been fulfilled.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then his seruauntes tolde Dauid these wordes, and Dauid was contente with the matter, to mary the kynges doughter.
American Standard Version
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired;
Bible in Basic English
And when his servants said these words to David, he was well pleased to be the son-in-law of the king. And the days were still not past.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when his seruauntes tolde Dauid these wordes, it pleased Dauid wel to be the kinges sonne in lawe: And the dayes were not expired.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired;
King James Version (1611)
And when his seruants told Dauid these wordes, it pleased Dauid well to be the kings sonne in lawe: and the dayes were not expired.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the servants of Saul report these words to David, and David was well pleased to become the son-in-law to the king.
English Revised Version
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law. And the days were not expired;
Berean Standard Bible
When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne the seruauntis of Saul hadden teld to Dauid the wordis, whiche Saul hadde seid, the word pleside `in the iyen of Dauid, that he schulde be maad the kyngis son in lawe.
Update Bible Version
And when his slaves told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired;
Webster's Bible Translation
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law: and the days had not expired.
World English Bible
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. The days were not expired;
New King James Version
So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king's son-in-law. Now the days had not expired;
New Living Translation
David was delighted to accept the offer. Before the time limit expired,
New Life Bible
When his servants told this to David, it pleased him to become the king's son-in-law. Before the time was finished,
New Revised Standard
When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So, when his servants told David these words, the thing was right in the eyes of David, to become son-in-law unto the king, - and the days had not expired.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when his servants had told David the words that Saul had said, the word was pleasing in the eyes of David to be the king’s son in law.
Revised Standard Version
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired,
THE MESSAGE
On receiving this message, David was pleased. There was something he could do for the king that would qualify him to be his son-in-law! He lost no time but went right out, he and his men, killed the hundred Philistines, brought their evidence back in a sack, and counted it out before the king—mission completed! Saul gave Michal his daughter to David in marriage.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Before the days had expired

Contextual Overview

12 And Saul is afraid of the presence of David, for Jehovah hath been with him, and from Saul He hath turned aside; 13 and Saul turneth him aside from him, and appointeth him to himself head of a thousand, and he goeth out an cometh in, before the people. 14 And David is in all his ways acting wisely, and Jehovah [is] with him, 15 and Saul seeth that he is acting very wisely, and is afraid of him, 16 and all Israel and Judah love David when he is going out and coming in before them. 17 And Saul saith unto David, `Lo, my elder daughter Merab -- her I give to thee for a wife; only, be to me for a son of valour, and fight the battles of Jehovah;' and Saul said, `Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.' 18 And David saith unto Saul, `Who [am] I? and what my life -- the family of my father in Israel -- that I am son-in-law to the king?' 19 And it cometh to pass, at the time of the giving of Merab daughter of Saul to David, that she hath been given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. 20 And Michal daughter of Saul loveth David, and they declare to Saul, and the thing is right in his eyes, 21 and Saul saith, `I give her to him, and she is to him for a snare, and the hand of the Philistines is on him;' and Saul saith unto David, `By the second -- thou dost become my son-in-law to-day.'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the days: 1 Samuel 18:21

expired: Heb. fulfilled

Cross-References

Isaiah 6:13
And yet in it a tenth, and it hath turned, And hath been for a burning, As a teil-tree, and as an oak, that in falling, Have substance in them, The holy seed [is] its substance!'
Isaiah 10:22
For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, A remnant doth return of it, A consumption determined, Overflowing [with] righteousness.
Isaiah 19:24
In that day is Israel third, After Egypt, and after Asshur, A blessing in the heart of the earth.
Isaiah 65:8
Thus said Jehovah: As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one hath said, `Destroy it not for a blessing [is] in it,' So I do for My servants' sake, not to destroy the whole.
Jeremiah 5:1
Go to and fro in streets of Jerusalem, And see, I pray you, and know, And seek in her broad places, if ye find a man, If there be one doing judgment, seeking stedfastness -- Then am I propitious to her.
Ezekiel 22:30
And I seek of them a man making a fence, And standing in the breach before Me, In behalf of the land -- not to destroy it, And I have not found.
Matthew 24:22
And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen, shall those days be shortened.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when his servants told David these words,.... That the king desired no other dowry than an hundred foreskins of the Philistines:

it pleased David well to be the king's son in law; on such conditions; partly because of the honour of it, and partly because of his love to Michal; and chiefly because it would give him an opportunity of destroying the enemies of God, and of his people, as well as such a match would lead the way, and be a step in Providence to ascend the throne designed for him in due time:

and the days were not expired; neither for the bringing in of the foreskins, nor for the consummation of the marriage.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The days were not expired - David was so rapid in his attack upon the Philistines that he was able to bring the required dowry within the time, and to receive his wife (Michal), before the time had expired within which he was to receive Merab.


 
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