1 Samuel 18:14
in 1 Samuel 18and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Jehovah was with him.
KJV
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 18
Commentary
4 notes on this verseAnd David behaved himself wisely in all his ways,.... Both in the court and in the camp, in whatsoever service he was employed; or "prospered" (u), as the word also signifies; for, generally speaking, those that behave wisely succeed well; in this he was a type of Christ, Isa 52:13; the reason of it follows: and the Lord was with him; from whom he had his wisdom and success; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was for his help.'' (u) משכיל "prospere admodum res gerebat", Vatablus; "secundabatur", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so the Targum and Jarchi.
This site's exposition
Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men
on 1 Samuel 18:13-16
Saul’s promotion is exile dressed as honor, sending David into the field where a Philistine sword might do what Saul will not. David prospers "because the LORD was with him," and "all Israel and Judah loved David." Gill notes the Vatican copy of the Septuagint lacks some of these verses.
This site's exposition
he continued to prosper in all his ways
John Gill notes that the word for prosper also means to act wisely, and David did both at court and in battle. The Targum reads the LORD with him as the Word of the LORD for his help. Saul sees this in the next verse and is afraid.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
2 , where it is David's promise, I will behave myself wisely; and that promise he here performed; and it is his prayer, O, when wilt thou come unto me? And that prayer God here answered: The Lord was with him.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Succeeded. Succeeded. 3 Although ‘ שֵׂבֶל ’ usually indicates wisdom, here it is used to indicate success.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֥י | vayhi | and he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| דָוִ֛ד | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | to all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| דְּרָכָ֖יו | darekhav | ways his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| מַשְׂכִּ֑יל | maskil | successful | H7919 → | 62 times |
| וַֽיהוָ֖ה | vayahweh | and Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| עִמּֽוֹ׃ | imo | [was] with him | H5973 → | 1050 times |
וַיְהִ֥יand he was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
דָוִ֛דDavid
davidH1732 →999 times
לְכָל־to all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
דְּרָכָ֖יוways his
darekhavH1870 →707 times
מַשְׂכִּ֑ילsuccessful
maskilH7919 →62 times
וַֽיהוָ֖הand Yahweh
vayahwehH3068 →6520 times
עִמּֽוֹ׃[was] with him
imoH5973 →1050 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 28:20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
it leads to
- Joshua 1:5
No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Acts 18:9–10
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
- John 14:18–23
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
- Psalms 46:7
The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- Joshua 1:5
Through
Genesis 39:23The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched;…
- Psalms 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
- Genesis 39:2–3
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
- Isaiah 43:2
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Samuel
This page draws on Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.