1 Samuel 16:16
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.
Original Language Analysis
נָ֤א
H4994
נָ֤א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
2 of 20
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
אֲדֹנֵ֙נוּ֙
Let our lord
H113
אֲדֹנֵ֙נוּ֙
Let our lord
Strong's:
H113
Word #:
3 of 20
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ
which are before
H6440
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ
which are before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 20
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ
thee to seek out
H1245
יְבַקְשׁ֕וּ
thee to seek out
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
6 of 20
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
אִ֕ישׁ
a man
H376
אִ֕ישׁ
a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 20
a 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)
יֹדֵ֖עַ
who is a cunning
H3045
יֹדֵ֖עַ
who is a cunning
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
8 of 20
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וְנִגֵּ֥ן
is upon thee that he shall play
H5059
וְנִגֵּ֥ן
is upon thee that he shall play
Strong's:
H5059
Word #:
9 of 20
properly, to thrum, i.e., beat a tune with the fingers; expectation. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music
וְהָיָ֗ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֗ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
11 of 20
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בִּֽהְי֨וֹת
H1961
בִּֽהְי֨וֹת
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
12 of 20
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עָלֶ֤יךָ
H5921
עָלֶ֤יךָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֽוּחַ
spirit
H7307
רֽוּחַ
spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
14 of 20
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
אֱלֹהִים֙
from God
H430
אֱלֹהִים֙
from God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
15 of 20
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
רָעָ֔ה
and it shall come to pass when the evil
H7451
רָעָ֔ה
and it shall come to pass when the evil
Strong's:
H7451
Word #:
16 of 20
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וְנִגֵּ֥ן
is upon thee that he shall play
H5059
וְנִגֵּ֥ן
is upon thee that he shall play
Strong's:
H5059
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, to thrum, i.e., beat a tune with the fingers; expectation. to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music
בְּיָד֖וֹ
with his hand
H3027
בְּיָד֖וֹ
with his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
18 of 20
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
Cross References
2 Kings 3:15But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.1 Kings 10:8Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.1 Samuel 19:9And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.1 Samuel 18:10And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.Genesis 41:46And 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.1 Samuel 10:5After 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:
Historical Context
Harp therapy was practiced throughout the ancient Near East. Egyptian and Mesopotamian texts describe music's use in healing contexts. The Israelite harp (kinnor) was a portable lyre-type instrument suitable for both worship and therapeutic purposes.
Questions for Reflection
- How might music ministry serve as a means of spiritual comfort and healing today?
- What natural remedies has God provided that work alongside spiritual realities?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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.
The servants' proposal reveals ancient therapeutic wisdom: music's capacity to soothe troubled spirits. The Hebrew naggan (to play a stringed instrument) specifically refers to skilled performance. The promise 'thou shalt be well' (tov - good, well) reflects confidence in music's healing power. This remedy would providentially bring God's anointed into the presence of God's rejected king, advancing divine purposes through natural means.