Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. New Living Translation Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you. English Standard Version And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Berean Standard Bible Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you. King James Bible And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. New King James Version And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. New American Standard Bible Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you. NASB 1995 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. NASB 1977 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. Legacy Standard Bible Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. Amplified Bible Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Christian Standard Bible so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Holman Christian Standard Bible so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. American Standard Version And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Contemporary English Version "It's an evil spirit from God that's frightening you," Saul's officials told him. English Revised Version And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. GOD'S WORD® Translation Saul's officials told him, "An evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Good News Translation His servants said to him, "We know that an evil spirit sent by God is tormenting you. International Standard Version Saul's servants told him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. Majority Standard Bible Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you. NET Bible Then Saul's servants said to him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!" New Heart English Bible Saul's servants said to him, "See now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Webster's Bible Translation And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. World English Bible Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the servants of Saul say to him, “Now behold, a spirit of sadness [from] God is terrifying you; Young's Literal Translation and the servants of Saul say unto him, 'Lo, we pray thee, a spirit of sadness from God is terrifying thee; Smith's Literal Translation And Saul's servants will say to him, Behold now, an evil spirit of God terrifying thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the servants of Saul said to him: Behold now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Catholic Public Domain Version And the servants of Saul said to him: “Behold, an evil spirit from God disturbs you. New American Bible So the servants of Saul said to him: “Look! An evil spirit from God is tormenting you. New Revised Standard Version And Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Saul's servants said to him, Behold, your servants are before you; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Servants of Shaul said to him: “Behold, your Servants are before you OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Saul's servants said unto him: 'Behold now, an evil spirit from God terrifieth thee. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, and evil spirit from the Lord torments thee. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context David Serves Saul14After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him. 15Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you. 16Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”… Cross References 1 Samuel 18:10 The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, Judges 9:23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully, 1 Samuel 19:9 But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp, 1 Kings 22:22 And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ 2 Kings 3:15 But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha Job 1:12 “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Job 2:6 “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.” 2 Corinthians 12:7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Luke 4:33-35 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice, / “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” / But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him. Mark 5:2-13 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs. / This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains. / Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him. ... Matthew 12:43-45 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. / Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order. / Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.” Acts 16:16-18 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Treasury of Scripture And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles you. Jump to Previous Attendants Evil Sadness Saul Saul's Servants Spirit Terrifying Troubles Troubleth TroublingJump to Next Attendants Evil Sadness Saul Saul's Servants Spirit Terrifying Troubles Troubleth Troubling1 Samuel 16 1. Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem6. His human judgment is reproved 11. He anoints David 15. Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit Saul’s servants said to him This phrase introduces the role of Saul's attendants, who are close enough to observe his condition and feel compelled to speak. In the ancient Near Eastern context, servants often held positions of influence, acting as advisors or intermediaries. Their willingness to address Saul directly indicates a level of trust and concern. The Hebrew word for "servants" (עֲבָדִים, 'avadim) can also mean "slaves" or "attendants," suggesting a range of roles from menial tasks to significant advisory positions. This reflects the communal and hierarchical nature of ancient Israelite society, where even those in servitude could have a voice in the king's court. Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you There is no doubt but that King Saul's nervous, excitable temperament was peculiarly subject to such influences. We have some striking instances of this power exercised by sacred music over the king in the incidents related in 1Samuel 10:10; 1Samuel 19:23-24, where the songs and chaunts of the pupils of the prophetic schools had so powerful an influence over Saul. The solemn declaration of God through his prophet Samuel, that the kingdom was taken away from him and his house, weighed upon his naturally nervous and excitable mind. He became gloomy, and suspicious of his dearest friends, and, as we know, at times sought to take their lives; at times would command terrible massacres, such as that of the priests at Nob (1Samuel 22:17-19). As the sad life advanced, we see the nobler traits in his character growing fainter, and the evil becoming more and more obvious. It was a species of insanity, fatal alike to the poor victim of the malady and to the prosperity of the kingdom over which he ruled. History gives us not a few similar instances of monarchs given up to the "evil spirit from God," and who, in consequence, became a prey to insanity in one form or other. Hebrew Saul'sשָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites servants עַבְדֵֽי־ (‘aḇ·ḏê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5650: Slave, servant said וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say to him, אֵלָ֑יו (’ê·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to “Surely הִנֵּה־ (hin·nêh-) Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! a spirit רֽוּחַ־ (rū·aḥ-) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit of distress רָעָ֖ה (rā·‘āh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil from God אֱלֹהִ֛ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative is tormenting you. מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃ (mə·ḇa·‘it·te·ḵā) Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 1204: To fall upon, startle, terrify Links 1 Samuel 16:15 NIV1 Samuel 16:15 NLT 1 Samuel 16:15 ESV 1 Samuel 16:15 NASB 1 Samuel 16:15 KJV 1 Samuel 16:15 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 16:15 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 16:15 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 16:15 French Bible 1 Samuel 16:15 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 16:15 Saul's servants said to him See now (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |