1 Samuel 16:17
New International Version
So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

New Living Translation
“All right,” Saul said. “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.”

English Standard Version
So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

Berean Standard Bible
And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”

King James Bible
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

New King James Version
So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

New American Standard Bible
So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

NASB 1995
So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

NASB 1977
So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

Amplified Bible
So Saul told his servants, “Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

American Standard Version
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

Contemporary English Version
"All right," Saul answered. "Find me someone who is good at playing the harp and bring him here."

English Revised Version
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul told his officials, "Please find me a man who can play well and bring him to me."

Good News Translation
Saul ordered them, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me."

International Standard Version
Saul told his servants, "Find a man for me who can play well and bring him to me."

Majority Standard Bible
And Saul commanded his servants, ?Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.?

NET Bible
So Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me."

New Heart English Bible
Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

World English Bible
Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul says to his servants, “Now provide for me a man playing well—then you have brought [him] to me.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith unto his servants, 'Provide, I pray you, for me a man playing well -- then ye have brought him in unto me.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will say to his servants, See, now, a man to me being good to play, and bring to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said to his servants: Provide me then some man that can play well, and bring him to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul said to his servants, “Then provide for me someone who can play well, and bring him to me.”

New American Bible
Saul then told his servants, “Find me a good harpist and bring him to me.”

New Revised Standard Version
So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me someone who can play well, and bring him to me.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul said to his Servants: “Look for a man for me who plays well and bring him to me”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Saul said unto his servants: 'Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said to his servants, Look now out for me a skillful player, and bring him to me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Serves Saul
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.” 17And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.” 18One 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.”…

Cross References
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.”

1 Samuel 17:55-58
As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.” / “Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king. / So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. ...

1 Samuel 18:10-12
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, / and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. / So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 19:9-10
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, / Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded him and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

2 Kings 3:15
But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha

1 Chronicles 25:1-7
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service: / From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. / From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD. ...

2 Chronicles 5:12-13
all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. / The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud

Psalm 33:2-3
Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with ten strings. / Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 92:1-3
A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, / to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night / with the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.

Psalm 150:3-5
Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. / Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. / Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Amos 6:5
You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.

Matthew 9:23-24
When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd. / “Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.

Mark 5:38-40
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly. / He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.” / And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.

Luke 15:25
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

Acts 16:25
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.


Treasury of Scripture

And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

Jump to Previous
Attendants Expert Play Player Playing Plays Provide Saul Servants Someone
Jump to Next
Attendants Expert Play Player Playing Plays Provide Saul Servants Someone
1 Samuel 16
1. Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem
6. His human judgment is reproved
11. He anoints David
15. Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit














And Saul said
This phrase introduces us to King Saul, the first king of Israel, who was chosen by God but later rejected due to his disobedience. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is a common verb used throughout the Old Testament to denote speech or command. Saul's authority as king is evident here, as he issues a directive to his servants. Historically, Saul's reign was marked by turmoil and his eventual mental distress, which sets the stage for the events in this chapter.

to his servants
The term "servants" in Hebrew is "עֲבָדִים" (avadim), which can refer to attendants, officials, or those who serve in a royal court. In the context of ancient Israel, these servants would have been trusted individuals who carried out the king's orders. This highlights the hierarchical structure of Saul's court and the reliance on his inner circle to fulfill his needs.

Find me someone
The Hebrew verb "רָאָה" (ra'ah) is used here, meaning "to see" or "to find." Saul's request is urgent and specific, indicating his need for immediate relief from his distress. This search for a musician is not just a casual request but a mission to find someone with a particular skill set that could provide solace to the troubled king.

who plays well
The phrase "plays well" refers to musical skill, specifically the ability to play the lyre, an ancient stringed instrument. The Hebrew word "נָגַן" (nagan) means "to play" or "to make music." Music held significant cultural and spiritual importance in ancient Israel, often used in worship and to soothe the soul. Saul's request underscores the therapeutic power of music, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible.

and bring him to me
This command reflects Saul's desperation for relief and his willingness to bring someone into his presence who could provide comfort. The Hebrew verb "בּוֹא" (bo) means "to come" or "to bring," indicating an action that requires initiative and effort. This phrase also foreshadows the introduction of David, who would not only play music for Saul but eventually become a central figure in Israel's history.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Saul
שָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

commanded
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

his servants,
עֲבָדָ֑יו (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

“Find
רְאוּ־ (rə·’ū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

me
לִ֗י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

someone
אִ֚ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who plays
לְנַגֵּ֔ן (lə·nag·gên)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5059: To touch or play a stringed instrument

well,
מֵיטִ֣יב (mê·ṭîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing

and bring
וַהֲבִיאוֹתֶ֖ם (wa·hă·ḇî·’ō·w·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

him to me.”
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


Links
1 Samuel 16:17 NIV
1 Samuel 16:17 NLT
1 Samuel 16:17 ESV
1 Samuel 16:17 NASB
1 Samuel 16:17 KJV

1 Samuel 16:17 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 16:17 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 16:17 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 16:17 French Bible
1 Samuel 16:17 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 16:17 Saul said to his servants Provide me (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 16:16
Top of Page
Top of Page