1 Samuel 18:7

7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

1 Samuel 18:7 in Other Translations

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

7 This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”

7 In playful frolic the women sang, Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!

7 And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.

7 The women who were celebrating sang, "Saul has defeated thousands but David tens of thousands!"

7 As they celebrated, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.

7 As they danced, they sang, "Saul has killed thousands of men. David has killed tens of thousands."

1 Samuel 18:7 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:7

And the women answered [one another] as they played
They sung vocally to their instruments, and that by turns, one rehearsing one line or verse in the song, and then the other another:

and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands;
which, if to be referred to the battle in the preceding chapter, as it commonly is, must be understood thus, that though Saul, in pursuit of the Philistines, slew many thousands of them, and David but one, even Goliath; yet the slaying of him was the occasion of slaying ten thousands, and therefore it is ascribed to him: but it seems rather that in some after battles David had been more prosperous and victorious than Saul, and therefore superior commendations are given him by the author of the song the women sung; which, however just it might be to give them, was not wise, since it served to irritate their king, as follows.

1 Samuel 18:7 In-Context

5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.

7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?”

9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 15:21
• 2. 1 Samuel 21:11; 1 Samuel 29:5; 2 Samuel 18:3