What Does 1 Samuel 16:23 Mean in the King James?

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Samuel 16:23 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew word for “refreshed” echoes ruach, so relief is pictured as breathing freely as the oppressive presence leaves.

THE MEANING

You can be under what the verse names an evil spirit from God: its force is real, but it is not shown as permanent. David’s playing brings Saul relief and wellness, and the spirit departs.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that what is upon you must remain and define you gives way as Saul’s condition changes and the spirit departs.

THE ROOT

רָוַח

ravach

GROWS FROM

רוח

r-w-ḥ

To breathe freely; by extension, to find room or relief.

English gives “refreshed” and “spirit” separate shapes, while Hebrew lets ravach and ruach sound through the same root. Relief arrives as room to breathe: the burden departs, and Saul becomes well.

ALSO GROWS

ruach: Wind, breath, or spirit.

רוּחַ

The word names the presence upon Saul and also carries the sense of moving air and breath, linking that presence with the relief that follows.

revachah: Relief, respite, or room.

רְוָחָה

This relief word makes the verse’s change feel like space opening as the oppressive presence leaves.

THE PATTERN

In Scripture, sound can accompany a widening from distress into release.

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

2 Kings 3:15 · KJVThe minstrel’s playing opens the moment to a new movement of the LORD.

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 32:7 · KJVSongs surround the speaker in trouble as songs of deliverance.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Acts 16:25 · KJVSong rises inside the prison’s confinement before the doors open and the prisoners’ bonds are loosed.

THE THREAD

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:2 · KJV

Genesis uses the same Hebrew pairing, ruach Elohim, over the waters. The link lets you hear the breadth of ruach, wind, breath, spirit, while this verse’s word for relief pictures room opening as Saul’s burden departs.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us