Bible Strands
1 Samuel 18:12
So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records Saul’s reaction immediately after David twice evades Saul’s fatal spear throw. The observation occurs as Saul prepares to remove David from his immediate presence by assigning him military command.
The words — וַ/יִּרָ֥א (wayyira') denotes a sudden, dread-filled fear, while עִמּ֔/וֹ (immo) literally means "with him," anchoring the cause of that fear to divine presence.
The thread — This dynamic of God’s presence shifting the balance of power reappears in 1 Samuel 18:15, 1 Samuel 18:29, and 1 Samuel 16:13. Each reference tracks how divine favor directly alters Saul’s perception and David’s standing.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human success or failure hinges on divine alignment rather than personal merit. It forces the reader to observe how spiritual reality dictates political and military outcomes without offering comfort to the displaced.
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
And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 18:15 When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.
- 1 Samuel 18:29 he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.
- 1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
- 1 Samuel 28:15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
- 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.”
- Acts 7:9 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
- Acts 24:25 As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
- 1 Samuel 16:4 So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
- 1 Samuel 18:20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.
- 1 Samuel 22:13 And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”