1 Samuel 26:21

1 Samuel 26:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.”

Context of 1 Samuel 26:21

19Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains." Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." 22And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed.

1 Samuel 26:21 word by word

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ שָׁא֨וּל חָטָ֜אתִי שׁ֣וּב בְּנִֽי־דָוִ֗ד כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אָרַ֤ע לְךָ֙ ע֔וֹד תַּ֠חַת אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָקְרָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֛י בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה הִנֵּ֥ה הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי וָאֶשְׁגֶּ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• I have sinnedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• my sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• for I will no more do thee harmרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• because my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• was preciousיָקַרyâqar · be preciousH3365
• in thine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• this dayיוֹםyôm · day: todayH3117
• behold, I have played the foolסָכַלsâkal · be foolishH5528
• and have erredשָׁגָהshâgâh · to wanderH7686
• exceedinglyמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• exceedinglyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:21

• 1 Samuel 15:24Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
• 1 Samuel 24:17He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
• Exodus 9:27Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, "This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.
• Numbers 22:34Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back."
• Matthew 27:4saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."
• 1 Samuel 27:4And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.
• 1 Samuel 26:24Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation."
• 1 Samuel 18:30Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
• Psalms 49:8for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,
• Psalms 116:15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I have sinned - Perhaps the word חטאתי chatathi, "I have sinned," should be read, I have erred, or, have been mistaken. I have taken thee to be a very different man from what I find thee to be. Taken literally it was strictly true. He often purposed the spilling of David's blood; and thus, again and again, sinned against his life.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-25Verses 21-25 Saul repeated his good words and good wishes. But he showed no evidence of true repentance towards God. David and Saul parted to meet no more. No reconciliation among men is firm, which is not founded in an cemented by peace with God through Jesus Christ. In sinning against God, men play the fool, and err exceedingly. Many obtain a passing view of these truths, who hate and close their eyes against the light. Fair professions do not entitle…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21I have sinned: Saul had realized his mistakes before (1 Samuel 24:16–19). David had no reason to trust him again (see 1 Samuel 27:1). I have played the fool: The Hebrew word used here (sakal) means “to act foolishly” or “to play the fool” (see also 1 Samuel 13:13). This word is different from the word for “fool” (nabal) used in 1 Samuel 25. Even though the words are different, they have similar meanings. This helps show that Saul and Nabal are parallel…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Hachilah
• Err; Error
• Fool; Folly
• Samuel, Books of

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