New English Translation
1 Samuel 24:9
9David said to Saul, “Why do you pay attention when men say, ‘David is seeking to do you harm’?
1 Samuel 24:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
- New International Version (NIV)He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?
- English Standard Version (ESV)And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'?
- New King James Version (NKJV)And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?
Context of 1 Samuel 24:9
7David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road. 8Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out after Saul, “My lord, O king!” When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground. David said to Saul, “Why do you pay attention when men say, ‘David is seeking to do you harm’? 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.
Read all of 1 Samuel 241 Samuel 24:9 word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל לָ֧מָּה תִשְׁמַ֛ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י אָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָעָתֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 24:9
- 1 Samuel 26:19So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may he take delight in an offering. But if men have instigated this, may they be cursed before the Lord! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the Lord’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go on, serve other gods!’
- Leviticus 19:16You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. You must not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord.
- Psalms 101:5I will destroy anyone who slanders his neighbor in secret. I will not tolerate anyone who has a cocky demeanor and an arrogant attitude.
- Psalms 141:6They will be thrown down the side of a cliff by their judges. They will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
- Proverbs 16:28A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.
- Proverbs 17:4One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue.
- Proverbs 18:8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the person’s innermost being.
- Proverbs 25:23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.
- Proverbs 26:20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.
- Proverbs 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all his ministers will be wicked.
- Ecclesiastes 7:21Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.
- James 3:6And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24:9
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9David was quite aware that there were flatterers at Saul‘s court who were continually inflaming the King‘s mind by their false accusations against him. This explains the language of many of the Psalms, e. g. Psalm 11:1-7; Psalm 12:1-8; 35; and many more.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
- 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 24:9
In the dictionaries
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
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