New King James Version
1 Samuel 21:13
13So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.
1 Samuel 21:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
- New International Version (NIV)So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
- New Living Translation (NLT)So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.
Context of 1 Samuel 21:13
11And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” 12Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 14Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? 15Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
Read all of 1 Samuel 211 Samuel 21:13 word by word
וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל בְּיָדָ֑ם וַיְתָיו֙ עַל־דַּלְת֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיּ֥וֹרֶד רִיר֖וֹ אֶל־זְקָנֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he changedשָׁנָהshânâh · to changeH8138
- his behaviourטַ֫עַםţa‛am · tasteH2940
- beforeעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: before(the eyes)H5869
- them, and feigned himself madהָלַלhâlal · to be foolishH1984
- in their handsיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- and scrabbledתָּוָהtâvâh · to markH8427
- on the doorsדֶּ֫לֶתdeleth · doorH1817
- of the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
- and let his spittleרִירrîyr · spittleH7388
- fall downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- upon his beardזָקָןzâqân · beardH2206
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 21:13
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 21:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13And he changed his behavior - Some imagine David was so terrified at the danger to which he was now exposed, that he was thrown into a kind of frenzy, accompanied with epileptic fits. This opinion is countenanced by the Septuagint, who render the passage thus: ; "Behold, ye see an epileptic man. Why have ye introduced him to me?" ; "Have I any need of epileptics, that ye have brought him to have his fits before me, ( ?") It is worthy of remark, that the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Scrabbled - literally, made marks (margin), namely, the mark of the “tau” (t), which in the ancient Hebrew and Phoenician was in the shape of a cross. (See Ezekiel 9:4.) On the doors of the gate - The gate of Achish‘s palace-yard or court, in which the attendants waited. The house itself stood in this court. (Compare Esther 2:19, Esther 2:21.)Read the comment
- 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. 12-13The long title of Psalm 34 mentions this event but calls the Philistine king Abimelech instead of Achish. "Abimelech" might have been a general title for Philistine kings (in Hebrew, it means "my father the king"). The name Abimelech also appears in Genesis 20:2 and 26:1.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. feigned himself mad--It is supposed to have been an attack of epilepsy, real or perhaps only pretended. This disease is relieved by foaming at the mouth. let his spittle fall down upon his beard--No wonder that Achish supposed him insane, as such an indignity, whether done by another, or one's self, to the beard, is considered in the East an intolerable insult.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 21:13
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries