1 Samuel 29:5

1 Samuel 29:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
• New International Version (NIV)Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “ ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

Context of 1 Samuel 29:5

3The Philistine leaders asked, ‘Why are these Hebrew people here?’ Achish said to them, ‘This is David. He was the servant of Israel's King Saul. But he came to me more than a year ago. Since he turned against King Saul and came to me, he has always been faithful to me.’ 4But the Philistine leaders were angry with Achish. They said to him, ‘Send David back to the town that you gave to him. He must not go with us to fight the battle. He might turn against us and become our enemy. Then he would start to kill our own soldiers. That would make his master, Saul, very happy! Remember who this man David is! The Israelites sing this about him when they dance: “Saul has killed thousands of his enemies. And David has killed tens of thousands of his enemies.” ’ 6So Achish called David to come to him. He said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, I know that I can trust you. I would like you to go with me to fight the battle. Since the first day that you came to me, I have never found anything wrong with you. But the other leaders do not trust you. 7So return to your home and have peace in your mind. Do not do anything that will make the other Philistine leaders angry.’

1 Samuel 29:5 word by word

הֲלוֹא־זֶ֣ה דָוִ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יַעֲנוּ־ל֛וֹ בַּמְּחֹל֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ בַּֽאֲלָפָ֔יו וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• not this Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• of whom they sangעָנָה‛ânâh · to singH6030
• one to another in dancesמְחוֹלָהmechôlâh · danceH4246
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• his thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• his ten thousandsרְבָבָהrebâbâh · myriadH7233

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 29:5

• 1 Samuel 18:6After David had killed the Philistine, Goliath, he and the soldiers returned to their homes. Women came out from all the towns in Israel to meet King Saul. The women were happy as they sang songs and they danced. They made music with tambourines and lyres.
• 1 Samuel 21:11The servants of King Achish said to him, ‘This man is David, the king of his country! The people sing this song about him when they dance: “Saul has killed thousands of his enemies. But David has killed tens of thousands of his enemies.” ’
• Proverbs 27:14If you shout a blessing to your neighbour early in the morning, he will think it is no better than a curse.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 29:5

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5This song referred to Philistines whom David had killed (1 Samuel 18:7). Because of this, it is surprising that David was able to find safety among them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-51Sa 29:1-5. David Marching with the Philistines to Fight with Israel. 1. Aphek--(Jos 12:8), in the tribe of Issachar, and in the plain of Esdraelon. A person who compares the Bible account of Saul's last battle with the Philistines, with the region around Gilboa, has the same sort of evidence that the account relates what is true, that a person would have that such a battle as Waterloo really took place. Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem, En-dor, are all found…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 29:5

• Integrity

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Achish
• Games
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 29

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings