Christian Standard Bible
1 Samuel 27:11
11David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Or they will inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was David’s custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory.
1 Samuel 27:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
- New International Version (NIV)He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’ ” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines.
- New King James Version (NKJV)David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.
Context of 1 Samuel 27:11
9Whenever David attacked the land, he did not leave a single person alive, either man or woman, but he took flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he came back to Achish, 10who inquired, “Where did you raid today?” David replied, “The south country of Judah,” “The south country of the Jerahmeelites,” or “The south country of the Kenites.” David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Or they will inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was David’s custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory. 12So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself repulsive to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”
Read all of 1 Samuel 271 Samuel 27:11 word by word
וְאִ֨ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֜ה לֹֽא־יְחַיֶּ֣ה דָוִ֗ד לְהָבִ֥יא גַת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פֶּן־יַגִּ֥דוּ עָלֵ֖ינוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־עָשָׂ֤ה דָוִד֙ וְכֹ֣ה מִשְׁפָּט֔וֹ כָּל־הַ֨יָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָשַׁ֖ב בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- savedחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- neither manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- nor womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- to bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- to Gathגַּתgath · GathH1661
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Lest they should tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- So didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- his mannerמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: customH4941
- all the whileיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- he dwellethיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- in the countryשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 27:11
- 1 Samuel 22:22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s family.
- Proverbs 12:19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue, only a moment.
- Proverbs 29:25The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 27:11
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Tidings - The word is not in the original. The sense rather is “to bring them to Gath,” as captives and slaves. The prisoners taken would naturally have been part of the spoil, but David dared not to bring them to Gath lest his deceit should be discovered. Obviously these tribes were allies of the Philistines.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 While David was in the land of the Philistines, he attacked some remains of the devoted nations. The people whom he cut off were long before doomed to destruction. It is often wisdom to shun public notice, but we must in no situation be idle. We must always try to do somewhat in the cause of God. This expedition David hid from Achish. But an equivocation which serves the purpose of a lie, is as like to it as a hypocrite is to a profane person…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-12David fled to the Philistines to get away from Saul for good. Rather than killing Saul, David chose the dangerous life of a fugitive.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 27:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 27
- 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
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