1 Samuel 24:16
New International Version
When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud.

New Living Translation
When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.

English Standard Version
As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

Berean Standard Bible
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

New King James Version
So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

New American Standard Bible
When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept.

NASB 1995
When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

NASB 1977
Now it came about when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

Amplified Bible
When David had finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept.

Christian Standard Bible
When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son? ” Then Saul wept aloud

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

Contemporary English Version
"David, my son--is that you?" Saul asked. Then he started crying

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that you speaking, my servant David?" and Saul cried loudly.

Good News Translation
When David had finished speaking, Saul said, "Is that really you, David my son?" And he started crying.

International Standard Version
When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly

Majority Standard Bible
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, ?Is that your voice, David my son?? Then Saul wept aloud

NET Bible
When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Saul wept loudly.

New Heart English Bible
It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

World English Bible
It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, when David completes to speak these words to Saul, that Saul says, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifts up his voice, and weeps.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, when David completeth to speak these words unto Saul, that Saul saith, 'Is this thy voice, my son David?' and Saul lifteth up his voice, and weepeth.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be as David finished speaking these words to Saul, and Saul will say, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul will lift up his voice and weep.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul said: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when David had completed speaking words in this way to Saul, Saul said, “Could this be your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice, and he wept.

New American Bible
When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And he wept freely.

New Revised Standard Version
When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said to him, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when David finished saying these words to Shaul, Shaul said to him: “Is this your voice, my son, David?” And Shaul lifted up his voice and wept
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said: 'Is this thy voice, my son David?' And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, Son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Oath to Saul
16 When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud 17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.…

Cross References
Genesis 45:1-5
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. / But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it. / Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence. ...

Genesis 50:15-21
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” / So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, / ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. ...

Exodus 10:16-17
Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. / Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

2 Samuel 19:18-23
and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king / and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. / For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” ...

1 Kings 21:27-29
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. / Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: / “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Psalm 51:1-4
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. / Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. / For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ...

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

Luke 6:27-28
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 15:18-21
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. / I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ / So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

Is this

1 Samuel 26:17
And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

Job 6:25
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Saul lifted

Genesis 33:4
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

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Aloud Completeth David End Ended Lifted Overcome Saul Soon Speak Speaking Voice Weepeth Weeping Wept Words
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Aloud Completeth David End Ended Lifted Overcome Saul Soon Speak Speaking Voice Weepeth Weeping Wept Words
1 Samuel 24
1. David, in a cave at En Gedi, spares his life
8. He shows thereby his innocence,
16. Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs.














When David had finished saying these things
David had just spared Saul's life in the cave at En Gedi, demonstrating mercy and restraint. This act of grace is significant in the biblical narrative, highlighting David's respect for God's anointed king despite Saul's pursuit to kill him. David's speech to Saul emphasizes his innocence and loyalty, contrasting with Saul's unjust actions. This moment foreshadows the New Testament teaching of loving one's enemies (Matthew 5:44).

Saul called back
Saul's response indicates a moment of vulnerability and recognition of David's righteousness. This interaction occurs in the wilderness of En Gedi, a rugged area near the Dead Sea, known for its caves and strongholds. Saul's acknowledgment of David's voice signifies a temporary softening of his heart, a rare moment of clarity amidst his jealousy and paranoia.

“Is that your voice, David my son?”
Saul's use of "my son" reflects a complex relationship. Although Saul is David's father-in-law, his pursuit of David has been relentless. This phrase suggests a momentary return to familial affection and a recognition of David's rightful place. It echoes the earlier relationship they shared, where David was a favored member of Saul's court (1 Samuel 16:21).

Then Saul wept aloud
Saul's weeping indicates a deep emotional response, possibly a mix of regret, shame, and realization of his own failings. This public display of emotion contrasts with his usual kingly demeanor and suggests an internal conflict. Saul's tears can be seen as a moment of repentance, though not leading to lasting change. This scene parallels other biblical instances where individuals are confronted with their sin, such as Peter's weeping after denying Christ (Luke 22:62).

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel, who is currently fleeing from King Saul. David is known for his faithfulness to God and his respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed.

2. Saul
The first king of Israel, who has become increasingly paranoid and hostile towards David, seeing him as a threat to his throne.

3. The Cave at En Gedi
A location in the wilderness where David and his men were hiding. It is here that David spares Saul's life, demonstrating his integrity and respect for God's anointed king.

4. The Act of Mercy
David's decision not to kill Saul when he had the chance, showing his trust in God's timing and justice.

5. Saul's Response
Saul's emotional reaction upon realizing David's mercy, which leads to a temporary reconciliation between the two.
Teaching Points
Respect for Authority
David's respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed teaches us the importance of respecting those in authority, even when they are unjust.

Trust in God's Timing
David's restraint shows his trust in God's timing and justice, reminding us to wait on the Lord rather than taking matters into our own hands.

Mercy Over Revenge
David's choice to spare Saul's life exemplifies the power of mercy over revenge, encouraging us to show kindness to those who wrong us.

Emotional Honesty
Saul's weeping demonstrates the impact of genuine acts of mercy and integrity, highlighting the importance of emotional honesty in reconciliation.

The Power of Words
David's words to Saul reveal the power of speaking truth and seeking peace, encouraging us to use our words to build bridges rather than walls.(16) These words.--L. Philippson (in the Israelitish Bible, Leipzig) sums up strikingly the general effect of David's moving but natural words to Saul. "This appeal possesses so much natural eloquence, such warmth, such true earnestness, that no one who has any love for the simple beauties of the Bible can read it unmoved. There is a striking grandeur, too, in the whole scene. We see David standing on some peak in this wilderness of rocks, holding up the trophy of his romantic generosity, gazing at and addressing the melancholy Saul, whom he loved as a father, paid homage to as a king, and reverenced as the Lord's Anointed, but who, for his part, hated him without a cause, and hunted him down with a restless, murderous zeal; and (as David stood there and gazed on Saul) he seized the opportunity, and tried to touch his royal enemy's heart with words, hurried, indeed, and quickly spoken, but breathing the intense earnestness of his inward feeling. He was overwhelmed with the consciousness of a sorrow too deep for words, yet he spoke as one inspired with the knowledge of a noble deed just done."

And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.--And for a time the words, but still more the forbearance, of David in the cave touched Saul to the quick. He not only spoke kindly to the hated David, but even wept. There is nothing strange in this sudden change of feeling in one so nervous and excitable as was Saul. It is clear that for the moment Saul meant to alter his conduct to David, but the sad sequel shows that the impression made was only transitory; and David, by his conduct, clearly saw this, for he made--as the last verse of the chapter shows us--no effort to return to his old home and position with Saul, but maintained his independent, though precarious, position as an outlaw.

Verse 16. - This address of David produced a lively effect upon Saul. Philippson says of it, "The speech of David has so much natural eloquence, such warmth and persuasiveness, that it can be read by no one who has any feeling for the simple beauties of the Bible without emotion. The whole situation, moreover, has much of sublimity about it. We see David, standing on the summit of some rock in the wilderness, raising on high the trophy of his magnanimity, while addressing the melancholy Saul, whom he loved as a father, obeyed as king, and honoured as the Lord's anointed, but who nevertheless hated him without reason, and followed him with unremitting energy to put him to death; using his opportunity of touching the heart of his enemy with words hurried, but expressive of his innermost feelings, and showing himself full of humility, oppressed by unutterable sorrows, bowed down by the feeling of his powerlessness, yet inspirited by the consciousness of a noble deed." So affected is Saul by David's words that he breaks into tears, affectionately addresses David as his son, and acknowledges his innocence and the uprightness of his cause.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

had finished
כְּכַלּ֣וֹת (kə·ḵal·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

saying
לְדַבֵּ֞ר (lə·ḏab·bêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

these
הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

things,
הַדְּבָרִ֤ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

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

called back,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Is that
זֶ֖ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

your voice,
הֲקֹלְךָ֥ (hă·qō·lə·ḵā)
Article | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

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

my son?”
בְּנִ֣י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

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

wept
וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ (way·yê·ḇək)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

aloud
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א (way·yiś·śā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take


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OT History: 1 Samuel 24:16 It came to pass when David had (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 24:15
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