King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 18:25 Mean?

1 Samuel 18:25 in the King James Version says “And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines,...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 18:25 · KJV

Context

23

And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

24

And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. On: Heb. According to these words

25

And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired. expired: Heb. fulfilled

27

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

Read 1 Samuel 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

The bride-price of 'an hundred foreskins of the Philistines' was designed as a death sentence. Saul expected David to die attempting to collect such a gruesome dowry. The demand combined ritual humiliation of enemies with maximum danger to David. Yet what Saul intended for death became testimony to God's protection, as David returned with double the requirement (v.27).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Bride-prices were customary in ancient Near Eastern marriages. Extraordinary requirements sometimes tested the groom's devotion or capability. Collecting enemy foreskins proved kills while humiliating uncircumcised opponents.

Reflection Questions

  1. When have impossible demands become opportunities for God to demonstrate His power?
  2. What does David's excess (200 instead of 100) teach about whole-hearted response to challenges?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
תֹאמְר֣וּ1 of 23

“Thus shall ye say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

וְשָׁא֣וּל2 of 23

“And Saul”

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

כֹּֽה3 of 23
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

תֹאמְר֣וּ4 of 23

“Thus shall ye say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

דָּוִ֖ד5 of 23

“to David”

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

אֵֽין6 of 23
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

חֵ֤פֶץ7 of 23

“desireth”

H2656

pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)

הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ8 of 23

“The king”

H4428

a king

בְּמֹ֔הַר9 of 23

“not any dowry”

H4119

a price (for a wife)

כִּ֗י10 of 23
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

בְּמֵאָה֙11 of 23

“but an hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

עָרְל֣וֹת12 of 23

“foreskins”

H6190

the prepuce

פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃13 of 23

“of the Philistines”

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם14 of 23

“to be avenged”

H5358

to grudge, i.e., avenge or punish

בְּאֹֽיְבֵ֣י15 of 23

“enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ16 of 23

“The king”

H4428

a king

וְשָׁא֣וּל17 of 23

“And Saul”

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

חָשַׁ֔ב18 of 23

“thought”

H2803

properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou

לְהַפִּ֥יל19 of 23

“fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

אֶת20 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

דָּוִ֖ד21 of 23

“to David”

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

בְּיַד22 of 23

“by the hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃23 of 23

“of the Philistines”

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 18:25 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 18:25 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Samuel 14:241 Samuel 18:17Genesis 34:12Genesis 17:11-141 Samuel 17:262 Samuel 17:8-11

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