Bible Strands
1 Samuel 16:18
One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — One of Saul’s servants responds to the king’s order to locate a harpist who can calm his distress. The speaker addresses Saul directly, offering a specific candidate from Bethlehem to enter the royal court.
The words — The text foregrounds בֵּן (ben) as “a son” and רָאִ֜יתִי (ra.'I.ti) as “I have seen,” anchoring the recommendation in direct observation and familial identification. These terms frame the proposal as a factual report rather than speculation.
The thread — The declaration that “the LORD is with him” parallels divine presence markers in 1 Samuel 3:19 and Genesis 39:2, 39:23. These passages similarly use the phrase to mark individuals whose lives are sustained and directed by God’s active presence.
Why it lands — The verse states that human qualifications like valor, eloquence, and appearance are listed before the assertion of divine accompaniment. It asks the reader to assess leadership and calling by recognizing that God’s presence is the operative reality behind human capability.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth–lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.
- Genesis 39:23 The 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.
- Genesis 39:2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.
- 1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him!”
- 1 Samuel 10:7 When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you.
- Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
- Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- 1 Samuel 18:12 So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
- 2 Samuel 14:20 Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”
- 2 Samuel 17:8 He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.