God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 27:11
11He did not bring a single man or woman back to Gath alive. He thought, “They could tell Achish what I ⌞really⌟ did.” This was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.
1 Samuel 27:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
- New International Version (NIV)He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’ ” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines.
- New King James Version (NKJV)David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’ ” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.
Context of 1 Samuel 27:11
9Whenever David attacked the territory, he left no man or woman alive. He also took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and returned to Achish. 10Achish would ask, “Whom did you raid today?” And David would answer, “the Negev in Judah,” or “the portion of the Negev where the descendants of Jerahmeel live,” or “the portion of the Negev where the Kenites live.” He did not bring a single man or woman back to Gath alive. He thought, “They could tell Achish what I ⌞really⌟ did.” This was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12And Achish believed David. Achish thought, “He has definitely made his own people in Israel despise him. He’ll be my servant from now on.”
Read all of 1 Samuel 271 Samuel 27:11 word by word
וְאִ֨ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֜ה לֹֽא־יְחַיֶּ֣ה דָוִ֗ד לְהָבִ֥יא גַת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פֶּן־יַגִּ֥דוּ עָלֵ֖ינוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־עָשָׂ֤ה דָוִד֙ וְכֹ֣ה מִשְׁפָּט֔וֹ כָּל־הַ֨יָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָשַׁ֖ב בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- savedחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- neither manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- nor womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- to bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- to Gathגַּתgath · GathH1661
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Lest they should tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- So didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- his mannerמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: customH4941
- all the whileיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- he dwellethיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- in the countryשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 27:11
- 1 Samuel 22:22David told Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible for all the lives of your family.
- Proverbs 12:19The word of truth lasts forever, but lies last only a moment.
- Proverbs 29:25A person’s fear sets a trap ⌞for him⌟, but one who trusts the Lord is safe.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 27:11
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Tidings - The word is not in the original. The sense rather is “to bring them to Gath,” as captives and slaves. The prisoners taken would naturally have been part of the spoil, but David dared not to bring them to Gath lest his deceit should be discovered. Obviously these tribes were allies of the Philistines.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 While David was in the land of the Philistines, he attacked some remains of the devoted nations. The people whom he cut off were long before doomed to destruction. It is often wisdom to shun public notice, but we must in no situation be idle. We must always try to do somewhat in the cause of God. This expedition David hid from Achish. But an equivocation which serves the purpose of a lie, is as like to it as a hypocrite is to a profane person…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-12David fled to the Philistines to get away from Saul for good. Rather than killing Saul, David chose the dangerous life of a fugitive.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 27:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 27
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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