1 Samuel 16:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take the lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Now whan the sprete of God came vpo Saul, Dauid toke ye harpe, & played wt his hande: so was Saul refresshed, & eased, & the euell sprete departed from him.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    And so when the euil spirite of God came vpon Saul, Dauid tooke an harpe and plaied with his hande, and Saul was refreshed, and was eased: for the euill spirit departed from him.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    And so when the euill spirite of God came vpon Saul, Dauid toke an harpe and played with his hand: and so Saul was refreshed, & did amende, and the euyll spirite departed from him.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    It happened, when the [evil] spirit from God was on Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    And it hath come to pass, in the spirit of `sadness from' God being on Saul, that David hath taken the harp, and played with his hand, and Saul hath refreshment and gladness, and the spirit of sadness hath turned aside from off him.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    And it came to pass, when the `evil' spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    And whenever the evil spirit from God came on Saul, David took his instrument and made music: so new life came to Saul, and he got well, and the evil spirit went away from him.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    It happened, when the [evil] spirit from God was on Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 Sam 19:8-10
    3 verses
    87%

    8War broke out again. David went out to fight the Philistines and struck them with a great slaughter, causing them to flee before him.

    9But an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in hand, and David was playing music with his lyre.

    10Saul attempted to pin David to the wall with his spear, but David dodged, and the spear struck the wall. David fled and escaped that night.

  • 1 Sam 16:13-19
    7 verses
    86%

    13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel left and went to Ramah.

    14Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD began to torment him.

    15Saul's servants said to him, "Behold, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you."

    16Let our lord command your servants here to search for someone who can skillfully play the lyre. When the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he will play it, and you will feel better."

    17So Saul said to his servants, "Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me."

    18One of the young men answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a valiant warrior, eloquent, and handsome, and the LORD is with him."

    19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

  • 1 Sam 18:9-13
    5 verses
    86%

    9From that day onward, Saul kept a close and suspicious eye on David.

    10The next day, an evil spirit from God came powerfully upon Saul, and he raved inside the house while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand.

    11Saul hurled the spear, saying, "I’ll pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.

    12Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

    13So Saul removed David from his presence and appointed him as a commander over a thousand men. David led the troops out and brought them back in.

  • 1 Sam 16:21-22
    2 verses
    77%

    21When David came to Saul and stood before him, Saul loved him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

    22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight."

  • 1 Sam 17:31
    74%

    31When David's words were heard, they were reported to Saul, and he sent for him.

  • 1 Sam 19:20
    73%

    20Saul sent messengers to capture David. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they also began to prophesy.

  • 1 Sam 11:6
    73%

    6The Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul as he heard these words, and his anger burned greatly.

  • 2 Kgs 3:15
    72%

    15"But now, bring me a musician." While the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha.

  • 1 Sam 24:16
    72%

    16May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May He see and plead my case and vindicate me from your hand.

  • 1 Sam 18:5-6
    2 verses
    72%

    5David went out and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul gave him command over the soldiers, and he was well-liked by everyone, including Saul’s officers.

    6As David was returning after striking down the Philistine, women came from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, songs of joy, and musical instruments.

  • 2 Sam 22:1
    71%

    1David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day the LORD rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

  • 1 Sam 26:25
    71%

    25Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David. You will do great things and surely prevail." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

  • 1 Sam 10:26
    71%

    26Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.

  • 1 Sam 19:23
    71%

    23So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth.

  • 1 Sam 10:9-10
    2 verses
    71%

    9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all these signs came to pass that day.

    10When they arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets came to meet him. Then the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul, and he began to prophesy among them.

  • 1 Sam 24:1
    71%

    1David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

  • 1 Sam 14:46
    70%

    46Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.

  • 1 Sam 18:15
    70%

    15When Saul saw how successful David was, he became afraid of him.

  • 1 Sam 28:3
    70%

    3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his hometown. Meanwhile, Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.

  • 1 Sam 24:9
    70%

    9David got up afterward, went out of the cave, and called after Saul, 'My lord the king!' When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down with his face to the ground and paid homage.

  • 1 Sam 14:19
    70%

    19While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp kept increasing. So Saul said to the priest, 'Withdraw your hand.'

  • 1 Sam 23:13
    70%

    13So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and moved wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he stopped his pursuit.

  • 1 Sam 28:15
    69%

    15Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed. The Philistines are waging war against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, not by prophets or by dreams. Therefore, I have called upon you to tell me what I should do."

  • 1 Sam 17:37
    69%

    37David added, 'The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.' Saul said to David, 'Go, and may the LORD be with you.'

  • 1 Sam 19:14
    69%

    14When Saul sent messengers to capture David, Michal said, 'He is sick.'

  • 1 Sam 23:15-16
    2 verses
    69%

    15When David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life, he stayed in the Wilderness of Ziph, in the woods.

    16Then Jonathan, Saul's son, went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.

  • 1 Sam 27:1
    69%

    1David said to himself, "One day I will perish at the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up looking for me throughout the territory of Israel, and I will be safe from him."

  • 1 Sam 17:57
    69%

    57As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the Philistine's head still in his hand.

  • 1 Sam 24:5
    69%

    5David’s men said to him, 'This is the day the LORD spoke about when He said, "I will give your enemy into your hands, and you may do to him as you see fit."' Then David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

  • 1 Chr 13:8
    69%

    8David and all Israel celebrated with all their might before God, with songs, harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

  • 1 Sam 23:26
    69%

    26Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. But as Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them,

  • 1 Sam 18:30
    69%

    30The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, but every time they went out, David had more success than all of Saul’s servants, and he became highly esteemed.

  • 1 Sam 24:7
    69%

    7He said to his men, 'The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, by raising my hand against him, for he is the LORD’s anointed.'

  • 1 Sam 23:21
    68%

    21Saul replied, 'May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have shown compassion on me.'