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’?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten 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’?”

Context of 1 Samuel 29:5

3The Philistine officers asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish asked the Philistine officers, “Isn’t this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me now for a year or two? I’ve found nothing wrong with him from the day he defected until now.” 4But the Philistine officers were angry with Achish. “Send the man back,” the Philistine officers told him. “Return him to the place you assigned him. He shouldn’t go with us into battle. He shouldn’t ⌞be allowed to⌟ become our enemy during the battle. Is this man going to try to regain his master’s favor? He’ll do it with the lives of our men! Isn’t this David of whom people sing in dances: ‘Saul has defeated thousands but David tens of thousands’?” 6Then Achish called David and told him, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, you are a dependable man. I consider your campaigning with me a good thing, because I’ve never found anything wrong with you from the day you came to me until now. But the rulers don’t approve of you. 7So leave peacefully without doing anything to displease the Philistine rulers.”

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 arrived, David was returning from a campaign against the Philistines. Women from all of Israel’s cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced, accompanied by tambourines, joyful music, and triangles.
• 1 Samuel 21:11Achish’s officers asked, “Isn’t this David, the king of ⌞his⌟ country? He’s the one they used to sing about in the dances: ‘Saul has defeated thousands but David tens of thousands.’ ”
• Proverbs 27:14Whoever blesses his friend early in the morning with a loud voice— his blessing is considered a curse.

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