1 Samuel 26:18

1 Samuel 26:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
• New International Version (NIV)And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?

Context of 1 Samuel 26:18

16What you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, the Lord’s anointed. Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?” 17Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed? 19Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have banished me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go and worship other gods.’ 20So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”

1 Samuel 26:18 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֛ה אֲדֹנִ֥י רֹדֵ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י עַבְדּ֑וֹ כִּ֚י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתִי וּמַה־בְּיָדִ֖י רָעָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Wherefore doth my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• thus pursueרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• his servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• for what have I doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• or what evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• in mine handיָדyâd · handH3027

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:18

• 1 Samuel 24:9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
• Psalms 7:3Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice on my hands,
• Psalms 35:7They hid their net for me without cause; they dug a pit for me without cause.
• Psalms 69:4Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
• 1 Samuel 17:29“What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.”
• John 8:46Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
• John 10:32Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these works are you stoning me?”
• John 18:23“If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me?”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-20Verses 13-20 David reasoned seriously and affectionately with Saul. Those who forbid our attendance on God's ordinances, do what they can to estrange us from God, and to make us heathens. We are to reckon that which exposes us to sin the greatest injury that can be done us. If the Lord stirred thee up against me, either in displeasure to me, taking this way to punish me for my sins against him, or in displeasure to thee, if it be the effect of that evil…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25This was the last time Saul and David were together. The Ziphites informed Saul again about David's hiding place (see 1 Samuel 23:19–20). David spared Saul's life again, just like he did in the cave at En-gedi (see 1 Samuel 24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2013-20. Then David ... stood on the top of an hill afar off ... and cried to the people--(See on Jud 9:7). The extraordinary purity and elasticity of the air in Palestine enable words to be distinctly heard that are addressed by a speaker from the top of one hill to people on that of another, from which it is separated by a deep intervening ravine. Hostile parties can thus speak to each other, while completely beyond the reach of each other's attack. It…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 26:18

• Malice
• Self-Control

In the dictionaries

• David
• Hachilah
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26

• 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