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.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)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."
• 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.”

Context of 1 Samuel 26:21

19Your Majesty, please listen to my words. If the Lord has turned you against me, let him be satisfied with an offering. But if mere mortals ⌞have turned you against me⌟, let them be cursed by the Lord. They have prevented me from having a share of the Lord’s inheritance. ‘Go and serve other gods,’ they tell me. 20Don’t let my blood fall to the ground, away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come to search for one flea like someone hunting a partridge in the hills.” “My servant David,” Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again, because you valued my life today. I’ve acted like a fool and made a terrible mistake.” 22David responded, “Here’s the king’s spear. One of the young men should come over and get it. 23The Lord will reward any person who is righteous and faithful. The Lord handed you over to me today, but I refused to attack the Lord’s anointed king.

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 15:24Then Saul told Samuel, “I have sinned by not following the Lord’s command or your instructions. I was afraid of the people and listened to them.
• 1 Samuel 24:17He told David, “You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly.
• Exodus 9:27Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he told them. “The Lord is right, and my people and I are wrong.
• Numbers 22:34Balaam said to the Messenger of the Lord, “I’ve sinned. I didn’t know you were standing there in the road to stop me. If you still think this trip is evil, I’ll go back.”
• Matthew 27:4He said, “I’ve sinned by betraying an innocent man.” They replied, “What do we care? That’s your problem.”
• 1 Samuel 27:4When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he didn’t search for him anymore.
• 1 Samuel 26:24As I placed great value on your life today, may the Lord place great value on my life and rescue me from all trouble.”
• 1 Samuel 18:30The Philistine generals still went out ⌞to fight Israel⌟. But whenever they went out ⌞to fight⌟, David was more successful than the rest of Saul’s officers. So David gained a good reputation.
• Psalms 49:8The price to be paid for his soul is too costly. He must always give up
• Psalms 116:15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.

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