1 Samuel 21:14

1 Samuel 21:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
• New International Version (NIV)Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me?

Context of 1 Samuel 21:14

12David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath. 13So he disguised his sanity while in their sight and acted insanely in their custody, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is behaving like an insane person. Why do you bring him to me? 15Do I lack insane people, that you have brought this one to behave like an insane person in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?”

1 Samuel 21:14 word by word

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָכִ֖ישׁ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הִנֵּ֤ה תִרְאוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ לָ֛מָּה תָּבִ֥יאוּ אֹת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי׃Read the interlinear

• Then Achishאָכִישׁ'âkîysh · AchishH397
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to his servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• Lookהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• you seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• is behavingשָׁגַעshâga‛ · be madH7696
• Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• do you bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 21:14

• Ecclesiastes 7:7For oppression makes a wise person look foolish, And a bribe corrupts the heart.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 21:14

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-15Verses 10-15 God's persecuted people have often found better usage from Philistines than from Israelites. David had reason to put confidence in Achish, yet he began to be afraid. His conduct was degrading, and discovered wavering in his faith and courage. The more simply we depend on God, and obey him, the more comfortably and surely we shall walk through this troublesome world.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15Gath, a major Philistine city and the hometown of Goliath, was a clever but dangerous place for David to seek refuge from Saul.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 21:14

• Achish
• David
• Deception
• Dissembling
• Falsehood
• Gath
• Insanity
• Malingering
• Philistines

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Achish
• David
• Judges, Book of
• Manner
• Require
• Barber
• Beard
• Ezekiel
• Mad; Madness

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 21

• 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