1 Samuel 16:22
New International Version
Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

New Living Translation
Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”

English Standard Version
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

King James Bible
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

New King James Version
Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

New American Standard Bible
So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.”

NASB 1995
Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

NASB 1977
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

Amplified Bible
Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David be my attendant, for he has found favor in my sight.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

American Standard Version
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.

Contemporary English Version
Not long after this, Saul sent another message to Jesse: "I really like David. Please let him stay with me."

English Revised Version
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul sent [this message] to Jesse, "Please let David stay with me because I have grown fond of him."

Good News Translation
Then Saul sent a message to Jesse: "I like David. Let him stay here in my service."

International Standard Version
Saul sent a messenger to Jesse to tell him, "Allow David to serve me, because I'm pleased with him."

Majority Standard Bible
Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, ?Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.?

NET Bible
Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, "Let David be my servant, for I really like him."

New Heart English Bible
Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.

World English Bible
Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul sends to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found grace in my eyes.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul sendeth unto Jesse, saying, 'Let David, I pray thee, stand before me, for he hath found grace in mine eyes.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will send to Jesse, saying, David shall stand now before me, for he found grace in mine eyes.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul sent to Isai, saying: Let David stand before me: for he hath found favour in my sight.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying: “Let David remain before my sight. For he has found favor in my eyes.”

New American Bible
Saul sent Jesse the message, “Let David stay in my service, for he meets with my approval.”

New Revised Standard Version
Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David attend me; for he has found favor in my sight.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul sent to Iyshay and said to him: “David shall stand before me, because he has found affection in my eyes”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying: 'Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul sent to Jessae, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me, for he has found grace in my eyes.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Serves Saul
21When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:55-58
As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.” / “Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king. / So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. ...

1 Samuel 18:2
And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

1 Samuel 18:5
So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

1 Samuel 18:13-16
Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, / and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him. / When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him. ...

1 Samuel 19:9-10
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, / Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded him and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

1 Samuel 20:31
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”

1 Samuel 24:2
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

1 Samuel 26:2
So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

2 Samuel 5:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

2 Samuel 7:8
Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.

2 Samuel 22:51
Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

Psalm 78:70-72
He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; / from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance. / So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.

Psalm 89:20
I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him.

Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’

Acts 13:36
For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.


Treasury of Scripture

And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray you, stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.

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1 Samuel 16
1. Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem
6. His human judgment is reproved
11. He anoints David
15. Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit














Then Saul sent word to Jesse
This phrase marks a significant moment in the narrative of David's rise to prominence. Saul, the first king of Israel, is reaching out to Jesse, David's father. The act of sending word indicates a formal communication, which in ancient Israelite culture, was a sign of respect and recognition. The Hebrew root for "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) often implies a mission or a purposeful action. Saul's initiative here is not just a casual request but a deliberate decision to engage with Jesse's family, acknowledging David's growing importance.

saying, 'Let David remain in my service'
The phrase "Let David remain" suggests a transition from a temporary arrangement to a more permanent role. The Hebrew word for "remain" (יָשַׁב, yashab) can mean to dwell or to sit, implying stability and ongoing presence. David's service to Saul is not merely as a musician or armor-bearer but as someone who is becoming integral to the king's court. This reflects God's providential plan, as David is being positioned for future leadership. Historically, this period marks the beginning of David's exposure to royal life, preparing him for his eventual kingship.

for I am pleased with him
Saul's expression of pleasure in David is significant. The Hebrew root for "pleased" (חָפֵץ, chaphets) conveys delight or favor. This favor is not just personal but also divinely orchestrated, as God is working through these circumstances to elevate David. Saul's pleasure in David is ironic, given the future tension between them, but it underscores the initial harmony and God's hand in David's journey. This phrase also highlights David's character and abilities, which earn him favor in the eyes of the king, setting the stage for his future successes and challenges.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Saul
שָׁא֔וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

word to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jesse,
יִשַׁ֖י (yi·šay)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3448: Jesse -- father of David

saying,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Let David
דָוִד֙ (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

remain in my service,
יַעֲמָד־ (ya·‘ă·māḏ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I am pleased with
מָ֥צָא (mā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

him.”
בְּעֵינָֽי׃ (bə·‘ê·nāy)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain


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OT History: 1 Samuel 16:22 Saul sent to Jesse saying Please let (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 16:21
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