1 Samuel 18:7
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽתַּעֲנֶ֛ינָה
answered
H6030
וַֽתַּעֲנֶ֛ינָה
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
הַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹת
one another as they played
H7832
הַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹת
one another as they played
Strong's:
H7832
Word #:
3 of 9
to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play
הִכָּ֤ה
hath slain
H5221
הִכָּ֤ה
hath slain
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
5 of 9
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
בַּֽאֲלָפָ֔ו
his thousands
H505
בַּֽאֲלָפָ֔ו
his thousands
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
7 of 9
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
Cross References
1 Samuel 21:11And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?Exodus 15:21And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.1 Samuel 29:5Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
Historical Context
Women's songs celebrating military victories were common in ancient cultures (cf. Exodus 15:20-21). Such folk songs spread quickly, forming public opinion. The numerical contrast followed standard Hebrew poetic convention but proved politically explosive.
Questions for Reflection
- How should we handle public recognition that might provoke jealousy in others?
- What does Saul's reaction teach about the dangers of comparing oneself to others?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
The women's song 'Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands' used Hebrew poetic parallelism with ascending numbers. While praising both, the comparison favored David, creating the seed of Saul's jealousy. Public acclaim, though deserved, triggered the darker impulses of an insecure leader. The song became a recurring symbol of Saul's fear (21:11; 29:5), demonstrating how success can generate opposition.