1 Samuel 19:16

Verse

And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head.

American Standard Version (1901)

And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at the head thereof.

Bible in Basic English

And when the men came in, there was the image in the bed, with the cushion of goat's hair at its head

Free Bible Version

But when the messengers went into the bedroom, there was the idol in the bed with the goat hair wig on its head.

King James (Authorized) Version

And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.

Translation for Translators

But when those men entered David’s house, they saw that there was only an idol in the bed, with goat’s hair on its head.

Unlocked Literal Bible

When the messengers came in, behold, the household idol was in the bed along with the pillow of goats' hair at its head.

Noah Webster Bible

And when the messengers had come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster.

World English Bible

When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head.

Young's Literal Translation

And the messengers come in, and lo, the teraphim [are] on the bed, and the mattress of goats' [hair], [for] his pillows.

Context

Saul Tries to Kill David

¹⁵But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.”¹⁶And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head.

Summary

In this verse, we see how Michal, David's wife and King Saul's daughter, helps David escape from Saul's men who were sent to kill him. Michal deceives the messengers by telling them that David is sick in bed. This act of deception shows the lengths to which Michal was willing to go to protect David, even though her father, Saul, was seeking to harm him. It also highlights the complex and challenging dynamics within Saul's family and the political intrigue surrounding David's rise to power.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And when the messengers were come in,.... To David's house, and into the room where he was supposed to lie: behold, there was an image in the bed to their great surprise; they expected to see David, but instead of him the teraphim, as in Sa1 19:13; if they had been in the room before, and thought they had seen David in the bed, they might be the more surprised to find that it was only an image they saw: with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster; See Gill on Sa1 19:13.