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Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/16-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/09_1Sa_16_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 16:16 - David Serves Saul" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. 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He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/16.htm">New Living Translation</a> Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.” <a href="/esv/1_samuel/16.htm">English Standard Version</a> Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Let 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.” <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/16.htm">King James Bible</a> Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/16.htm">New King James Version</a> Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> May our lord now command your servants who are before you. Have them search for a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall come about whenever the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will become well.” <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/16.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.” <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Let our lord now speak to your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall be that when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.” <a href="/amp/1_samuel/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Let our lord now command your servants who are here before you to find a man who plays skillfully on the harp; and when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.” <a href="/csb/1_samuel/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God comes on you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.” <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubles you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.&#8221 <a href="/asv/1_samuel/16.htm">American Standard Version</a> Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> "Your Majesty, let us go and look for someone who is good at playing the harp. He can play for you whenever the evil spirit from God bothers you, and you'll feel better." <a href="/erv/1_samuel/16.htm">English Revised Version</a> Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man who is a cunning player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Your Majesty, why don't you command us to look for a man who can play the lyre well? When the evil spirit from God comes to you, he'll strum a tune, and you'll feel better." <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/16.htm">Good News Translation</a> So give us the order, sir, and we will look for a man who knows how to play the harp. Then when the evil spirit comes on you, the man can play his harp, and you will be all right again." <a href="/isv/1_samuel/16.htm">International Standard Version</a> Let our lord order his servants who attend you to look for a man who is skilled in playing the lyre. And then when an evil spirit from God comes on you, he will play and you will be better." <a href="/msb/1_samuel/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Let 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.? <a href="/net/1_samuel/16.htm">NET Bible</a> Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre and you will feel better." <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. It shall happen, when the harmful spirit is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well, and it will give you relief." <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Let our lord now command thy servants, who are before thee, to seek a man who is a skillful player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he will play with his hand, and thou wilt be well. <a href="/web/1_samuel/16.htm">World English Bible</a> Let our lord now command your servants who are in front of you to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> now let our lord command your servants before you [that] they seek a skillful man playing on a harp, and it has come to pass, in the spirit of sadness [from] God being on you, that he has played with his hand and [it is] well with you.” <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> let our lord command, we pray thee, thy servants before thee, they seek a skilful man, playing on a harp, and it hath come to pass, in the spirit of sadness from God being upon thee, that he hath played with his hand, and it is well with thee.' <a href="/slt/1_samuel/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Will our lord now say to thy servants before thee, Seek out a man knowing to play upon the harp: and it was in the evil spirit of God being upon thee, and he playing with the hand and doing good to thee.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Let our lord give orders, and thy servants who are before thee will seek out a man skilful in playing on the harp, that when the evil spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayest bear it more easily. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> May our lord order, and your servants, who are before you, will seek a man skillful in playing a stringed instrument, so that when the evil spirit from the Lord assails you, he may play with his hand, and you may bear it more easily.” <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/16.htm">New American Bible</a> If your lordship will order it, we, your servants here attending to you, will look for a man skilled in playing the harp. When the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he will play and you will feel better.” <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Let our lord now command the servants who attend you to look for someone who is skillful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will feel better.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Let them seek out a man who can play well on the harp; and when the evil spirit is upon you, he will play with his hands, and you shall be well. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> We will seek a man who knows to play on the harp, and when the evil spirit is upon you, he will play with his hands, and it shall be good for you”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp; and it shall be, when the evil spirit from God cometh upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.' <a href="/sep/1_samuel/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Let now thy servants speak before thee, and let them seek for our lord a man skilled to play on the harp; and it shall come to pass when an evil spirit comes upon thee and he shall play on his harp, that thou shalt be well, and he shall refresh thee. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/16-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=4544" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/16.htm">David Serves Saul</a> …15Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you. 16<a href="/hebrew/113.htm" title="113: ’ă·ḏō·nê·nū (N-msc:: 1cp) -- Lord. Or adon; from an unused root; sovereign, i.e. Controller.">Let our lord</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: yō·mar- (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">command</a> <a href="/hebrew/4994.htm" title="4994: nā (Interjection) -- I (we) pray, now. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">your servants</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā (Prep-l:: N-cpc:: 2ms) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">here</a> <a href="/hebrew/1245.htm" title="1245: yə·ḇaq·šū (V-Piel-Imperf-3mp) -- To seek. A primitive root; to search out; by implication, to strive after.">to seek out</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">someone</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yō·ḏê·a‘ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">who can skillfully</a> <a href="/hebrew/5059.htm" title="5059: mə·nag·gên (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to thrum, i.e. Beat a tune with the fingers; expec. To play on a stringed instrument; hence, to make music.">play</a> <a href="/hebrew/3658.htm" title="3658: bak·kin·nō·wr (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- A lyre. From a unused root meaning to twang; a harp.">the harp.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: bih·yō·wṯ (Prep-b:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">Whenever</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: rū·aḥ- (N-csc) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">the spirit</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: rā·‘āh (Adj-fs) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">of distress</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">from God</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·le·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">is upon you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5059.htm" title="5059: wə·nig·gên (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to thrum, i.e. Beat a tune with the fingers; expec. To play on a stringed instrument; hence, to make music.">he is to play it,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: bə·yā·ḏōw (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)"></a> <a href="/hebrew/lāḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- ">and you</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: wə·ṭō·wḇ (Conj-w:: Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">will be well.”</a> 17And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/2_kings/3-15.htm">2 Kings 3:15</a> But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha <a href="/2_chronicles/5-13.htm">2 Chronicles 5:13-14</a> 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 / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. <a href="/psalms/33-2.htm">Psalm 33:2-3</a> 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. <a href="/psalms/92-1.htm">Psalm 92:1-3</a> 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. <a href="/psalms/98-5.htm">Psalm 98:5-6</a> Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp. / With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King. <a href="/psalms/144-9.htm">Psalm 144:9</a> I will sing to You a new song, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will make music to You— <a href="/psalms/150-3.htm">Psalm 150:3-5</a> 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. <a href="/isaiah/38-20.htm">Isaiah 38:20</a> The LORD will save me; we will play songs on stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the LORD. <a href="/daniel/3-5.htm">Daniel 3:5</a> As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. <a href="/daniel/3-7.htm">Daniel 3:7</a> Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. <a href="/matthew/9-23.htm">Matthew 9:23-24</a> 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. <a href="/mark/5-38.htm">Mark 5:38-40</a> 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. <a href="/luke/8-51.htm">Luke 8:51-53</a> When He entered the house, He did not allow anyone to go in with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. / Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” / And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. <a href="/acts/16-25.htm">Acts 16:25</a> About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. <a href="/romans/15-9.htm">Romans 15:9</a> so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Let our lord now command your servants, which are before you, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well.before thee<a href="/1_samuel/16-21.htm">1 Samuel 16:21,22</a> And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer… <a href="/genesis/41-46.htm">Genesis 41:46</a> And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.<a href="/1_kings/10-8.htm">1 Kings 10:8</a> Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.play<a href="/1_samuel/16-23.htm">1 Samuel 16:23</a> 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.<a href="/1_samuel/10-5.htm">1 Samuel 10:5</a> After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:<a href="/2_kings/3-15.htm">2 Kings 3:15</a> But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/15-24.htm">Command</a> <a href="/exodus/39-8.htm">Cunning</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-15.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-2.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/10-5.htm">Harp</a> <a href="/judges/16-25.htm">Play</a> <a href="/ezekiel/33-32.htm">Player</a> <a href="/1_samuel/10-21.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-15.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/exodus/39-8.htm">Skilful</a> <a href="/exodus/39-8.htm">Skillful</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-15.htm">Spirit</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/18-13.htm">Command</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-18.htm">Cunning</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-23.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-20.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-23.htm">Harp</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-17.htm">Play</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-17.htm">Player</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-15.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-17.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-18.htm">Skilful</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-18.htm">Skillful</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-23.htm">Spirit</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 16</div>1. <a href="/1_samuel/16-1.htm">Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem</a> 6. <a href="/1_samuel/16-6.htm">His human judgment is reproved</a> 11. <a href="/1_samuel/16-11.htm">He anoints David</a> 15. <a href="/1_samuel/16-15.htm">Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/16.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/16.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Let our lord command your servants here This phrase reflects the hierarchical structure of ancient Israelite society, where servants or attendants were expected to follow the commands of their master. In this context, "our lord" refers to King Saul, who was experiencing distress due to a troubling spirit. The servants' initiative to suggest a solution indicates their concern for Saul's well-being and their role in providing counsel. This reflects the cultural norm of servants being closely involved in the daily life and personal affairs of their master.to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp Music played a significant role in ancient Near Eastern cultures, often used for worship, celebration, and therapeutic purposes. The harp, a stringed instrument, was commonly used in Israelite worship and is frequently mentioned in the Psalms. The request for a skilled harpist suggests an understanding of music's calming and restorative effects, which aligns with modern studies on music therapy. This also foreshadows David's introduction to Saul's court, as David was known for his musical talent and later composed many of the Psalms.Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you The "spirit of distress" indicates a troubling or harmful spirit that afflicted Saul, sent by God as a form of judgment or discipline. This reflects the belief in divine sovereignty, where God can use various means to accomplish His purposes, including allowing distress to bring about repentance or change. Theologically, this raises questions about the nature of God's involvement in human suffering and the purpose behind such afflictions. It also highlights the spiritual dimension of mental and emotional distress, which was often attributed to spiritual causes in the ancient world.he is to play it, and you will be well. The proposed solution of using music to alleviate Saul's distress underscores the therapeutic power of music, which was recognized even in ancient times. The expectation that Saul would be "well" suggests a belief in the efficacy of music to influence mood and mental state positively. This anticipates the role of David, whose harp playing would indeed bring relief to Saul, establishing a connection between David and Saul that would have significant implications for Israel's future. This also serves as a type of Christ, as David, the anointed king, brings peace and relief, prefiguring Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of peace and healing.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a> The first king of Israel, who is troubled by an evil spirit sent by God due to his disobedience and rejection as king. 2. <a href="/topical/s/servants_of_saul.htm">Servants of Saul</a> Advisers to King Saul who suggest finding a harp player to soothe him when the evil spirit troubles him. 3. <a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a> Although not mentioned in this specific verse, David is the young shepherd who is later brought to Saul to play the harp, eventually becoming a key figure in Saul's court. 4. <a href="/topical/e/evil_spirit_from_god.htm">Evil Spirit from God</a> A troubling spirit allowed by God to afflict Saul, serving as a consequence of his disobedience and rejection. 5. <a href="/topical/h/harp.htm">Harp</a> A musical instrument suggested by Saul's servants to help alleviate his distress caused by the evil spirit.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> Saul's torment by an evil spirit serves as a reminder of the spiritual consequences of turning away from God's commands. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_music.htm">The Power of Music</a> Music is shown to have a profound impact on the human spirit, capable of bringing peace and comfort in times of distress. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a> Even in Saul's distress, God's sovereignty is evident as He uses David's musical talent to fulfill His purposes and prepare David for future leadership. <a href="/topical/s/seeking_godly_counsel.htm">Seeking Godly Counsel</a> Saul's servants provide wise counsel by suggesting a solution to his distress, highlighting the importance of surrounding oneself with godly advisers. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_spiritual_gifts.htm">The Role of Spiritual Gifts</a> David's ability to play the harp is a spiritual gift used by God to minister to Saul, encouraging believers to use their gifts for God's glory and the benefit of others.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 16</a> <a href="/q/why_is_david_merciful_to_saul_in_1_sam_24.htm">Why does David's mercy toward Saul in 1 Samuel 24 contradict other violent actions David takes elsewhere in Scripture?</a> <a href="/q/which_bible_verses_support_exorcism.htm">What Bible verses support Christian exorcism practices?</a> <a href="/q/how_reconcile_1_sam_16_7,_16_12_on_looks.htm">How do we reconcile 1 Samuel 16:7's emphasis on God looking at the heart with David's 'handsome' description in 16:12, suggesting external attributes mattered?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_saul_prophesy_in_1_samuel_19_23.htm">Why does Saul suddenly prophesy (1 Samuel 19:23) despite being portrayed as abandoned by God in earlier chapters?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) And it shall come to pass . . . thou shalt be well.--It has been a well-known fact in all ages that music exerts a powerful influence on the mind. We have several instances in ancient Greek literature, where this influence is recommended to soothe the passions or to heal mental disease. Pythagoras, whenever he would steep his mind in Divine power, was in the habit before he slept of having a harp played to him; 'sculapius, the physician, would often restore such sick souls with music. (See reference from Censorinus, De die natali, quoted by Keil.) "Priests would callOn Heaven for aid: but then his brow would lowerWith treble gloom. Peace! Heaven is good to all.To all, he sighed, but one--God hears no prayers for SaulAt length one spake of music."--HANKINSON.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 16-18. - A cunning player on an harp. Literally, one skilful in striking the chords on the harp. In Saul's case music would have a soothing influence, and turn the current of his thoughts. His officers suggest, therefore, that search should be made for an expert musician, and Saul consents; whereupon one of the servants recommended the son of Jesse. The word used here is not the same as that found in vers. 15, 16, 17. There we have Saul's officers; here it is na'arim, "young men." Thus it was a youth of David's own age, who had probably been with him at Naioth in Ramah, that described him to Saul. The description is full and interesting, but it has its difficulties. David is not only skilful in music, of which art he would have had ample scope to manifest his powers in the service of the sanctuary at Ramah, but he is also a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, or, rather, intelligent in speech (see margin), as well as handsome and successful. Nevertheless, in <a href="/1_samuel/17-33.htm">1 Samuel 17:33-36</a> David appears as a youth about to make his first essay in fighting; and though the two exploits mentioned there, of killing the lion and the bear, might justify his friend in calling him a mighty valiant man, literally, "a hero of valour," they do not justify the words a man of war. It is strange, moreover, that Saul should be so entirely ignorant of David's person and lineage as he is represented in the narrative in ch. 17, if thus David was court musician, though reference is made there to this visit of David to Saul in ver. 15. Possibly, however, David and this youth may have served together in repelling some marauding expedition of the Philistines, and though David may not have actually done much, - nothing, at all events, so well worth repeating to Saul as the combats with the wild beasts, - yet he may have achieved enough to convince his friend that he had in him the qualities of a man of war, i.e. of a good soldier. For the rest, we must conclude that this first visit of David was a very short one, and that after playing before Saul and being approved of, he then returned home, ready to come again whenever summoned, but that Saul's malady did not immediately return, and so a sufficient interval elapsed for Saul not to recognise him when he saw him under altered circumstances. Saul's question, "Whose son is this stripling?" (<a href="/1_samuel/17-56.htm">1 Samuel 17:56</a>) seems to imply that he had a sort of confused idea about him, without being able exactly to recall who he was. The ultimate consequences of this introduction to Saul, as well as its immediate effect, are all narrated here after the usual manner of Old Testament history (see <a href="/1_samuel/7-13.htm">1 Samuel 7:13</a>). <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/16-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Let our lord אֲדֹנֵ֙נוּ֙ (’ă·ḏō·nê·nū) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_113.htm">Strong's 113: </a> Sovereign, controller command יֹאמַר־ (yō·mar-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say your servants עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> Slave, servant here לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> The face to seek out יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ (yə·ḇaq·šū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1245.htm">Strong's 1245: </a> To search out, to strive after someone אִ֕ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person who can skillfully יֹדֵ֖עַ (yō·ḏê·a‘) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> To know play מְנַגֵּ֣ן (mə·nag·gên) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5059.htm">Strong's 5059: </a> To touch or play a stringed instrument the harp. בַּכִּנּ֑וֹר (bak·kin·nō·wr) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3658.htm">Strong's 3658: </a> A harp Whenever בִּֽהְי֨וֹת (bih·yō·wṯ) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be the spirit רֽוּחַ־ (rū·aḥ-) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit of distress רָעָ֔ה (rā·‘āh) Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> Bad, evil from God אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative is upon you, עָלֶ֤יךָ (‘ā·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against he is to play it, וְנִגֵּ֥ן (wə·nig·gên) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5059.htm">Strong's 5059: </a> To touch or play a stringed instrument and you לָֽךְ׃ (lāḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> [will be] well.” וְט֥וֹב (wə·ṭō·wḇ) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2895.htm">Strong's 2895: </a> To be pleasing or good <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/16-16.htm">1 Samuel 16:16 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/16-16.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord now command your servants (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/16-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 16:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 16:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/16-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 16:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 16:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>