Overview
The Bible addresses michal across 26 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Philistines, Abner, Circumcision and Ish-Bosheth. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Saul, Michal and Ishbosheth.
Key Bible verses about michal
Old Testament
1 Samuel
And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. On: Heb. According to these words
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired. expired: Heb. fulfilled
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.
And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
And 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.
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. image: Heb. teraphim
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
2 Samuel
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. that is: Heb. saying
And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. along: Heb. going and weeping
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.
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! shamelessly: or, openly
And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. of the: or, of the handmaids of my servants
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
People in the Bible and michal
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying michal for yourself
- Begin with 1 Samuel 18:22, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of David, Saul and Michal and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Philistines, Abner, Circumcision and Ish-Bosheth.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about michal?
The Bible addresses michal across 26 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Philistines, Abner, Circumcision and Ish-Bosheth. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Saul, Michal and Ishbosheth.
How many Bible verses are about michal?
The Bible references michal in 26 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention michal?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is 1 Samuel 18:22: “And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with michal?
David, Saul, Michal, Ishbosheth and Abner.
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