1 Samuel 24:12

1 Samuel 24:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
• New International Version (NIV)May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.

Context of 1 Samuel 24:12

10Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered you – this very day – into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, ‘I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’ 11Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn’t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life. May the Lord judge between the two of us, and may the Lord vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you. 13It’s like the old proverb says: ‘From evil people evil proceeds.’ But my hand will not be against you. 14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?

1 Samuel 24:12 word by word

יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט יְהוָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּנְקָמַ֥נִי יְהוָ֖ה מִמֶּ֑ךָּ וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶה־בָּֽךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• avengeנָקַםnâqam · to avengeH5358
• me of thee: but mine handיָדyâd · handH3027

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 24:12

• 1 Samuel 26:10David went on to say, “As the Lord lives, the Lord himself will strike him down. Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away.
• Genesis 16:5Then Sarai said to Abram, “You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!”
• Judges 11:27I have not done you wrong, but you are doing wrong by attacking me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites!’”
• Job 5:8“But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case.
• Psalms 7:8The Lord judges the nations. Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!
• Psalms 35:1O Lord, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me!
• Psalms 43:1Vindicate me, O God! Fight for me against an ungodly nation! Deliver me from deceitful and evil men!
• Romans 12:19Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
• 1 Peter 2:23When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.
• Revelation 6:10They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”
• 1 Samuel 26:11But may the Lord prevent me from extending my hand against the Lord’s chosen one! Now take the spear by Saul’s head and the jug of water, and let’s get out of here!”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The Lord judge between me and thee - Appeals of this kind to God are the common refuge of the poor and oppressed people. So also among the Hindoos: God will judge between us. Mother Kalee will judge. Sometimes this springs from a consciousness of innocence, and sometimes from a desire of revenge.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-15Verses 8-15 David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12May the LORD judge: There was no human authority who could decide what was right between Saul and David. Because of this, David asked God to judge the matter (see Genesis 16:5; 31:53; Exodus 5:21; Judges 11:27). may the LORD take vengeance on you: David trusted God's plan instead of trying to control it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-158-15. David also arose ... and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul--The closeness of the precipitous cliffs, though divided by deep wadies, and the transparent purity of the air enable a person standing on one rock to hear distinctly the words uttered by a speaker standing on another (Jud 9:7). The expostulation of David, followed by the visible tokens he furnished of his cherishing no evil design against either the person or the government of the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 24:12

• Forgiveness
• God Continued...
• Mercy
• Self-Control

In the dictionaries

• David
• Providence
• Reward
• Flea
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul
• avenge, avenger, revenge, vengeance
• proverb

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24

• 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