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’?”
• 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’?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

Context of 1 Samuel 29:5

3the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day." 4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?" 6Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines."

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 18:6As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.
• 1 Samuel 21:11And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
• Proverbs 27:14Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.

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