1 Samuel 18:15
in 1 Samuel 18When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
KJV
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 18
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis 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
When Saul saw that David was very successful
The command Saul gave David to remove him from court makes David more admired. Matthew Henry observes that wise conduct earns fear from enemies and love from friends, and the chapter shows both at once. Saul fears him here, and Israel loves him in verse 16.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely,.... So that he could get no advantage against him, and he succeeded and was prosperous in all his enterprises, and was more and more in favour with the people: he was afraid of him; lest the time was drawing near that the kingdom should be rent from him, and given to David.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He was afraid of him - He saw that, by his prudent conduct, he was every day gaining increasing influence.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
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
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֣רְא | vaiyar' | and he saw | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| שָׁא֔וּל | shaul | Saul | H7586 → | 402 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| ה֖וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| מַשְׂכִּ֣יל | maskil | [was] successful | H7919 → | 62 times |
| מְאֹ֑ד | meod | exceedingly | H3966 → | 300 times |
| וַיָּ֖גָר | vaiyagor | and he was afraid | H1481 → | |
| מִפָּנָֽיו׃ | mipanav | of <before> him | H6440 → | 2123 times |
וַיַּ֣רְאand he saw
vaiyar'H7200 →1300 times
שָׁא֔וּלSaul
shaulH7586 →402 times
אֲשֶׁר־that
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
ה֖וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל[was] successful
maskilH7919 →62 times
מְאֹ֑דexceedingly
meodH3966 →300 times
וַיָּ֖גָרand he was afraid
vaiyagorH1481 →
מִפָּנָֽיו׃of <before> him
mipanavH6440 →2123 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
James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
it leads to
- Proverbs 2:3–6
if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Jeremiah 29:12–13
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
- Proverbs 3:5–7
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- 1 John 5:14–15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- Proverbs 2:3–6
Through
James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- Galatians 5:22–23
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Samuel

Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonUnited MonarchyDavidSecond king of united Israel, shepherd-turned-monarch, ancestor of the Messiah, and traditional author of many Psalms.
- PersonUnited monarchySaulIsrael's first king, head and shoulders above the people; began in humility, ended in rejection — sparing what God devoted, consul…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
