1 Samuel 26:18

1 Samuel 26:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
• New International Version (NIV)And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?

Context of 1 Samuel 26:18

16This isn’t good at all! I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?” 17Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?” And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? 19But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ 20Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”

1 Samuel 26:18 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֛ה אֲדֹנִ֥י רֹדֵ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י עַבְדּ֑וֹ כִּ֚י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתִי וּמַה־בְּיָדִ֖י רָעָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Wherefore doth my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• thus pursueרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• his servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• for what have I doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• or what evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• in mine handיָדyâd · handH3027

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:18

• 1 Samuel 24:9Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?
• Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice,
• Psalms 35:7I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.
• Psalms 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.
• 1 Samuel 17:29“What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”
• John 8:46Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?
• John 10:32Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
• John 18:23Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:18

• 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. 1-25This was the last time Saul and David were together. The Ziphites informed Saul again about David's hiding place (see 1 Samuel 23:19–20). David spared Saul's life again, just like he did in the cave at En-gedi (see 1 Samuel 24).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 26:18

• Malice
• Self-Control

In the dictionaries

• David
• Hachilah
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul

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