New English Translation
1 Samuel 26:20
20Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country.”
1 Samuel 26:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
- New International Version (NIV)Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."
- New King James Version (NKJV)So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
Context of 1 Samuel 26:20
18He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done? 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!’ Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country.” 21Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!” 22David replied, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it.
Read all of 1 Samuel 261 Samuel 26:20 word by word
וְעַתָּ֗ה אַל־יִפֹּ֤ל דָּֽמִי֙ אַ֔רְצָה מִנֶּ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כִּֽי־יָצָ֞א מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֣שׁ אֶחָ֔ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִרְדֹּ֥ף הַקֹּרֵ֖א בֶּהָרִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now therefore, let not my bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
- fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- to the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- before the faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- for the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- is come outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- to seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- aאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- fleaפַּרְעֹשׁpar‛ôsh · fleaH6550
- as when one doth huntרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
- a partridgeקֹרֵאqôrê' · partridgeH7124
- in the mountainsהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:20
- 1 Samuel 2:9He watches over his holy ones, but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness, for it is not by one’s own strength that one prevails.
- 1 Samuel 25:29When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the Lord your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling’s pocket!
- 1 Samuel 24:14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?
- Matthew 26:47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20As when one doth hunt a partridge - It is worthy of remark that the Arabs, observing that partridges, being put up several times, soon become so weary as not to be able to fly; they in this manner hunt them upon the mountains, till at last they can knock them down with their clubs. It was in this manner that Saul hunted David, coming hastily upon him, and putting him up from time to time, in hopes that he should at length, by frequent repetitions of it…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-20Verses 13-20 David reasoned seriously and affectionately with Saul. Those who forbid our attendance on God's ordinances, do what they can to estrange us from God, and to make us heathens. We are to reckon that which exposes us to sin the greatest injury that can be done us. If the Lord stirred thee up against me, either in displeasure to me, taking this way to punish me for my sins against him, or in displeasure to thee, if it be the effect of that evil…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20a flea: Compare 1 Samuel 24:14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2013-20. Then David ... stood on the top of an hill afar off ... and cried to the people--(See on Jud 9:7). The extraordinary purity and elasticity of the air in Palestine enable words to be distinctly heard that are addressed by a speaker from the top of one hill to people on that of another, from which it is separated by a deep intervening ravine. Hostile parties can thus speak to each other, while completely beyond the reach of each other's attack. It…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 26:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26
- 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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