1 Samuel 24:9

1 Samuel 24:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
• New International Version (NIV)He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?

Context of 1 Samuel 24:9

7With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ 11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

1 Samuel 24:9 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל לָ֧מָּה תִשְׁמַ֛ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י אָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָעָתֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

• andדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• do you listenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• to the wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• Lookהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• intendsבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• to harm youרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 24:9

• 1 Samuel 26:19Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
• Leviticus 19:16You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
• Psalms 101:5Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
• Psalms 141:6When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
• Proverbs 16:28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
• Proverbs 17:4A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
• Proverbs 18:8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
• Proverbs 25:23As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
• Proverbs 26:20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
• Proverbs 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
• Ecclesiastes 7:21Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.
• James 3:6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24:9

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9David was quite aware that there were flatterers at Saul‘s court who were continually inflaming the King‘s mind by their false accusations against him. This explains the language of many of the Psalms, e. g. Psalm 11:1-7; Psalm 12:1-8; 35; and many more.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-15Verses 8-15 David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-158-15. David also arose ... and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul--The closeness of the precipitous cliffs, though divided by deep wadies, and the transparent purity of the air enable a person standing on one rock to hear distinctly the words uttered by a speaker standing on another (Jud 9:7). The expostulation of David, followed by the visible tokens he furnished of his cherishing no evil design against either the person or the government of the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 24:9

• Citizens
• Loyalty
• Magnanimity
• Self-Control
• Slander

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Providence
• Reward
• Flea
• Hurt
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings