1 Samuel 26:4

1 Samuel 26:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
• New International Version (NIV)he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
• English Standard Version (ESV)David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.
• New King James Version (NKJV)David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.

Context of 1 Samuel 26:4

2Saul went to the desert of Ziph, taking with him 3,000 of Israel’s best-trained men to search for David. 3Saul camped by the road at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he realized Saul had come to the desert for him, David sent spies to confirm that Saul had arrived. 5Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. David saw the place where Saul and Ner’s son Abner, the commander of the army, were lying. Saul was lying in the camp, and the troops were camped around him. 6David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai, who was Zeruiah’s son and Joab’s brother, “Who will go with me to Saul in the camp?” Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”

1 Samuel 26:4 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח דָּוִ֖ד מְרַגְּלִ֑ים וַיֵּ֕דַע כִּֽי־בָ֥א שָׁא֖וּל אֶל־נָכֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• therefore sent outשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• spiesרָגַלrâgal · to spyH7270
• and understoodיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• was comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• in very deedכּוּןkûn · to establish: rightH3559

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:4

• Joshua 2:1From Shittim Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent out two men as spies. He told them, “Go, look at that country, especially the city of Jericho.” So they went to Jericho and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab to spend the night there.
• Matthew 10:16“I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:4

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25This was the last time Saul and David were together. The Ziphites informed Saul again about David's hiding place (see 1 Samuel 23:19–20). David spared Saul's life again, just like he did in the cave at En-gedi (see 1 Samuel 24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. David ... sent out spies ... and David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched--Having obtained certain information of the locality, he seems, accompanied by his nephew (1Sa 26:6), to have hid himself, perhaps disguised, in a neighboring wood, or hill, on the skirts of the royal camp towards night, and waited to approach it under covert of the darkness. 1Sa 26:5-25. David Stays Abishai from Killing Saul, but Takes His Spear and Cruse.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 26:4

• Self-Control
• Spies

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Nacon, the Threshing Floor of
• Samuel, Books of
• War

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