1 Samuel 19:14
New International Version
When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, “He is ill.”

New Living Translation
When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn’t get out of bed.

English Standard Version
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

Berean Standard Bible
When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.”

King James Bible
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

New King James Version
So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

New American Standard Bible
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

NASB 1995
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

NASB 1977
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but she said, “He is sick.”

Amplified Bible
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

Christian Standard Bible
When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, “He’s sick.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, “He’s sick.”

American Standard Version
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

Contemporary English Version
The next morning, Saul sent guards to arrest David. But Michal told them, "David is sick."

English Revised Version
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Saul sent messengers to get David, Michal said, "He's sick."

Good News Translation
When Saul's men came to get David, Michal told them that he was sick.

International Standard Version
When Saul sent the messengers to take David, Michal said, "He's sick."

Majority Standard Bible
When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.”

NET Bible
When Saul sent messengers to arrest David, she said, "He's sick."

New Heart English Bible
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

World English Bible
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul sends messengers to take David, and she says, “He [is] sick.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul sendeth messengers to take David, and she saith, 'He is sick.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will send messengers to take David, and she will say, He sick.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul sent officers to seize David: and it was answered that he was sick.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul sent attendants to seize David. And it was answered that he was sick.

New American Bible
When Saul sent officers to arrest David, she said, “He is sick.”

New Revised Standard Version
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul sent Messengers to take David, and she said: “He is sick”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said: 'He is sick.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul sent messengers to take David; and they say that he is sick.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Michal Saves David
13Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. 14When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.” 15But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 18:11
and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

1 Samuel 20:31-33
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!” / “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?” / Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.

1 Samuel 22:17-19
Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. / So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. / He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

1 Samuel 23:15-18
While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. / And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, / saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” ...

1 Samuel 24:2-3
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. / Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.

2 Samuel 17:1-3
Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. / I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king / and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.”

2 Kings 11:1-3
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. / But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. / And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Psalm 59:1-4
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me. / Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed. / See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD. ...

Psalm 18:4-6
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. / The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. / In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Psalm 31:13-15
For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life. / But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” / My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Matthew 2:13-14
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,

Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.

Matthew 12:14
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Matthew 26:4
and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

Mark 3:6
At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

she said

Joshua 2:5
And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

2 Samuel 16:17-19
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? …

2 Samuel 17:20
And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

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Capture David Ill Messengers Michal Saul Sick
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1 Samuel 19
1. Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh
4. He cherishes Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah
9. Hannah in grief prays for a child
12. Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesses her
19. Hannah, having born Samuel, stays at home till he is weaned
24. She presents him, according to her vow, to the Lord














When Saul sent the messengers
This phrase highlights the persistent and aggressive pursuit of David by King Saul. The Hebrew root for "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) often implies a deliberate action, indicating Saul's determination to capture David. Historically, this reflects the intense jealousy and paranoia that had consumed Saul, as he saw David as a threat to his throne. Saul's repeated attempts to seize David underscore the spiritual decline of a king who once had God's favor but now acts out of fear and insecurity.

to seize David
The word "seize" (לָכַד, lakad) in Hebrew conveys a sense of capturing or taking by force. This reflects the hostile environment David was in, despite being anointed by God to be the future king of Israel. David's life at this point is marked by constant danger and reliance on God's protection. Theologically, this pursuit can be seen as a test of David's faith and character, shaping him into the leader God intended him to be.

Michal said, 'He is ill.'
Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter, plays a crucial role in this narrative. Her statement, "He is ill," is a strategic deception to protect David. The Hebrew word for "ill" (חֹלֶה, choleh) suggests a physical weakness or sickness. Michal's actions demonstrate her loyalty to David over her father, Saul, and highlight the theme of divine providence working through human actions. Her intervention is a reminder of the importance of courage and wisdom in the face of danger. Michal's role also foreshadows the complex dynamics of loyalty and family that will continue to unfold in David's life.

Verses 14-17. - When, after waiting till the usual hour for David's appearance, he came not, the watchers send and inform Saul, who now orders his open arrest. But Michal despatches a messenger to tell her father that he is sick. Upon this Saul orders bed and all to be brought, that he may slay him. As an Oriental bed is usually a mere strip of carpet, this would be easy enough. But when the messengers force their way through, in spite of every obstruction which Michal can devise to waste time, and come up close to the sleeping figure, "Lo, teraphim in the bed, and a goatskin at its head." They carry the news to Saul, who sends for Michal, and reproaches her for letting his enemy go. And she, afraid of bringing her father's anger upon herself, answers with a falsehood, such as we find David also too readily having resort to; for she tells Saul that his flight was David's own doing, and that she had taken part in it only to save her life. Why should I kill thee? She pretends that David had told her not to force him to kill her by refusing to give her aid in his escape. Saul, no doubt, saw that she had been a willing agent; but as she professed to have been driven to do what she had done by David's threats, he could say no more. DAVID'S FLIGHT TO SAMUEL AT RAMAH (vers. 18-24).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

the messengers
מַלְאָכִ֖ים (mal·’ā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

to seize
לָקַ֣חַת (lā·qa·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3947: To take

David,
דָּוִ֑ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

Michal said,
וַתֹּ֖אמֶר (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“He
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

[is] ill.”
חֹלֶ֥ה (ḥō·leh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2470: To be weak or sick


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OT History: 1 Samuel 19:14 When Saul sent messengers to take David (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 19:13
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