1 Samuel 16:21

Modern

When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.

Traditional

And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

Literal

And David came to Saul and stood before his face, and he loved him greatly, and he became to him a bearer of weapons.

Latin

Et venit David ad Saul, et stetit coram eo: at ille dilexit eum nimis, et factus est ejus armiger.

Hebrew

English

When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.

At first, Saul loved David very much, but this love soon became intense jealousy and hatred (see 1 Samuel 18:8–14).
An armor bearer in ancient Israel was the personal assistant of a warrior leader (see 1 Samuel 14:1–15; 31:4–6; Judges 9:54; 2 Samuel 18:15).

David replaced Saul as king. David and Saul were alike in these ways:

Samuel anointed both.
Neither was pursuing the position of king.
Both were unlikely choices (Saul was from the smallest tribe, and David was the youngest son).
They were both good-looking (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:12).
The Spirit rushed upon each when anointed as king (1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6; 16:13).

The main difference was that David was "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; compare 16:7), while Saul was not.

Theme notes and profiles

Genesis 41:46
Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Psalm 146:3
Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.
Psalm 118:9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.
1 Kings 10:8
How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!
Deuteronomy 1:38
Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.
Psalm 62:9
Lowborn men are but a vapor; the exalted are but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor.

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Saul: First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel