Bible Strands
1 Samuel 26:17
Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul speaks to David after David has exposed his presence and challenged his own guards. David answers directly, acknowledging Saul's royal status while maintaining his defensive posture.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יַּכֵּ֤ר (va/i.ya.Ker) translates literally as "and he recognized," marking Saul's sensory realization. The interrogative phrase הֲ/קוֹלְ/ךָ֥ זֶ֖ה (ha./kol./Cha zeh) renders as "is this your voice?"
The thread — This exchange mirrors 1 Samuel 24:16, where Saul again identifies David’s voice and breaks down in tears. It also recalls 1 Samuel 24:8, when David initially called out to Saul from the cave to prove his innocence.
Why it lands — The text records Saul's auditory recognition of David before any emotional or moral response follows. It asks the reader to observe how repeated exposure to mercy can force a pursuer to confront the reality of his own actions.
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 knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 24:16 When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
- 1 Samuel 24:8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence