Michal
femaleUnited KingdomMeaning: “Who is like God?”
A daughter of King Saul and the first wife of David, who loved him and saved his life but later despised him for his exuberant worship.
Biography
Michal, a daughter of King Saul, was David's first wife. Scripture says plainly that "Michal Saul's daughter loved David" (1 Samuel 18:20), and her father gave her to him — though partly as a snare.
Saving David's life
When Saul sent men to kill David, Michal let him down through a window and disguised an image in the bed to buy time for his escape (1 Samuel 19:11–17). During David's exile Saul gave her to another man, but David later reclaimed her (2 Samuel 3:13–16).
Estrangement
When David danced before the ark with abandon, Michal "despised him in her heart" and rebuked him; the narrative notes that "Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death" (2 Samuel 6:16, 23). Her story traces the painful collision of the houses of Saul and David.
Life Timeline
Marries David; loves him
Helps David escape Saul through a window
Despises David for dancing before the ark
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Michal
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Michal appears.
People they appear with
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
6 verses in 2 books1 Samuel3 verses
1 Samuel 18:20
And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
1 Samuel 18:27
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
1 Samuel 19:12
So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
2 Samuel3 verses
2 Samuel 3:14
And David sent messengers to Ish–bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
2 Samuel 6:16
And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
2 Samuel 6:23
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
Frequently asked about Michal
Who was Michal in the Bible?
A daughter of King Saul and the first wife of David, who loved him and saved his life but later despised him for his exuberant worship.
What does the name Michal mean?
The name Michal means “Who is like God?”.
What did Michal do in the Bible?
Michal served as princess.
Where does Michal appear in the Bible?
Michal is mentioned 6 times across 2 books: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel.
What can we learn from Michal?
The story of Michal touches on themes of michal, abner, circumcision, dancing — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Michal's life.
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