King James Version

1 Samuel 16:18

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

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Hebrew

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וַיַּעַן֩vayaanand shoutעָנָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and shout”, the next action in the storyH6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announcegive account, afflict (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter,…אֶחָ֨דechadfirstאֶחָדadjective, cardinal, masculine, singular, absolute — “first”, the ordinary formH259properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) firsta, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,מֵהַנְּעָרִ֜יםmehanarimfrom the boyנַעַרpreposition, definite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “from the boy”, the ordinary formH5288(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).וַיֹּ֗אמֶרvayomerand sayאָמַרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and say”, the next action in the storyH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…הִנֵּ֨הhinehloהִנֵּהparticle, demonstrative — “lo”H2009lo!behold, lo, see.רָאִ֜יתִיraitiseeרָאָהverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “see”, a completed actionH7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), m…בֵּ֣ןbensonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “son”, the ordinary formH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […לְיִשַׁי֮leyishayto Jesseיִשַׁיpreposition, noun, proper name — “to Jesse”H3448Jishai, David's fatherJesse.בֵּ֣יתbeytBethlehemiteבֵּית הַלַּחְמִיnoun, gentilic, masculine, singular, absolute — “Bethlehemite”, the ordinary formH1022a Beth-lechemite, or native of BethlechemBethlehemite.הַלַּחְמִי֒halachmiBethlehemiteבֵּית הַלַּחְמִיnoun, gentilic, masculine, singular, absolute — “Bethlehemite”, the ordinary formH1022a Beth-lechemite, or native of BethlechemBethlehemite.יֹדֵ֣עַyodeaknowיָדַעverb, qal, participle, absolute — “know”, a verb used as a describing wordH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…נַ֠גֵּןnagenplayנָגַןverb, piel, infinitive construct — “play”, the to-form of the verbH5059properly, to thrum, i.e. beat atune with the fingers; expectation. to play on astringed instrument; hence (generally), to make musicplayer on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, play(-er, -ing).וְגִבּ֨וֹרvegiborand championגִּבּוֹרconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “and champion”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1368powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrantchampion, chief, [idiom] excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.חַ֜יִלchayilarmyחַיִלnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “army”, the ordinary formH2428probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strengthable, activity, ([phrase]) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, ([phrase]) valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war, worthy(-ily).וְאִ֧ישׁveishand a certainאִישׁconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…מִלְחָמָ֛הmilchamahbattleמִלְחָמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “battle”, the ordinary formH4421a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior).וּנְב֥וֹןunevonand understandבִּיןconjunction, verb, niphal, participle, construct — “and understand”, a verb used as a describing wordH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…דָּבָ֖רdavarcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “cause”, the ordinary formH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…וְאִ֣ישׁveishand a certainאִישׁconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…תֹּ֑אַרtoarcountenanceתֹּאַרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “countenance”, the ordinary formH8389outline, i.e. figure or appearance[phrase] beautiful, [idiom] comely, countenance, [phrase] fair, [idiom] favoured, form, [idiom] goodly, [idiom] resemble, visage.וַיהוָ֖הvayhvahand Jehovahיְהֹוָהconjunction, noun, proper name — “and Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).עִמּֽוֹimvowithעִםpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “with”H5973adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Then answered one of the young men, and said: 'Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and prudent in affairs, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Jehovah is with him.

Young’s Literal Translation

And one of the servants answereth and saith, 'Lo, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-Lehemite, skilful in playing, and a mighty virtuous man, and a man of battle, and intelligent in word, and a man of form, and Jehovah [is] with him.'

World English Bible

Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and Yahweh is with him.”

Darby Translation

And one of the young men answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilled in playing, and he is a valiant man and a man of war, and skilled in speech, and of good presence, and Jehovah is with him.

Douay-Rheims

And one of the servants answering, said: Behold I have seen a son of Isai the Bethlehemite, a skillful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And one of his servants answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jessæ the Bethleemite, and he understands playing on the harp , and the man is prudent, and a warrior, and wise in speech, and the man is handsome, and the Lord is with him.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη εἷς τῶν παιδαρίων αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ἑώρακα υἱὸν τῷ Ἰεσσαὶ Βηθλεεμίτην, καὶ αὐτὸν εἰδότα ψαλμὸν, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ συνετὸς, καὶ πολεμιστὴς, καὶ σοφὸς λόγῳ, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς τῷ εἴδει, καὶ Κύριος μετʼ αὐτοῦ.