1 Samuel 28:2

1 Samuel 28:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
• New International Version (NIV)David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.” Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”

Context of 1 Samuel 28:2

1At that time, the Philistines gathered their military units into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army with me.” David replied to Achish, “Good, you will find out what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.” 3By this time Samuel had died, all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city, and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4The Philistines gathered and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.

1 Samuel 28:2 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־אָכִ֔ישׁ לָכֵן֙ אַתָּ֣ה תֵדַ֔ע אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָכִישׁ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד לָכֵ֗ן שֹׁמֵ֧ר לְרֹאשִׁ֛י אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to Achishאָכִישׁ'âkîysh · AchishH397
• Surelyכֵּןkên · rightH3651
• thou shalt knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• what thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• can doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• Therefore will I makeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• thee keeperשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• of mine headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• for everיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 28:2

• 1 Samuel 27:10who 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.”
• 2 Samuel 16:16When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
• Romans 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do - This was another equivocal answer; and could only be understood by his succeeding conduct. It might imply what he could do in favor of the Philistines against Israel; or in favor of Israel against the Philistines. Achish understood it in the former sense; and therefore he said to David, I will make thee keeper of my head for ever; i.e., Thou shalt be captain of my life-guards.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Thou shalt know … - David dissembled (compare also 1 Samuel 29:8), hoping, no doubt, that something would happen to prevent his fighting against his king and country. Keeper of mine head - Captain of his bodyguard.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do--This answer, while it seemed to express an apparent cheerfulness in agreeing to the proposal, contained a studied ambiguity--a wary and politic generality. Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever--or, "my life"; that is, "captain of my bodyguard," an office of great trust and high honor.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 28:2

• Achish
• David
• Philistines

In the dictionaries

• David
• Achish
• Along
• Disquiet
• Divination
• Warfare
• Witchcraft
• Astrology
• Chronicles, Books of
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings