1 Samuel 26:21

1 Samuel 26:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”

Context of 1 Samuel 26:21

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?” Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.” 22“Here is your spear, O king,” David replied. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one.

1 Samuel 26:21 word by word

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ שָׁא֨וּל חָטָ֜אתִי שׁ֣וּב בְּנִֽי־דָוִ֗ד כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אָרַ֤ע לְךָ֙ ע֔וֹד תַּ֠חַת אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָקְרָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֛י בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה הִנֵּ֥ה הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי וָאֶשְׁגֶּ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• I have sinnedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• my sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• for I will no more do thee harmרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• because my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• was preciousיָקַרyâqar · be preciousH3365
• in thine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• this dayיוֹםyôm · day: todayH3117
• behold, I have played the foolסָכַלsâkal · be foolishH5528
• and have erredשָׁגָהshâgâh · to wanderH7686
• exceedinglyמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• exceedinglyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:21

• 1 Samuel 15:24Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.
• 1 Samuel 24:17And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.
• Exodus 9:27Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he confessed. “The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong.
• Numbers 22:34Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.”
• Matthew 27:4“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”
• 1 Samuel 27:4Word soon reached Saul that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped hunting for him.
• 1 Samuel 26:24Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.”
• 1 Samuel 18:30Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.
• Psalms 49:8Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough
• Psalms 116:15The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I have sinned - Perhaps the word חטאתי chatathi, "I have sinned," should be read, I have erred, or, have been mistaken. I have taken thee to be a very different man from what I find thee to be. Taken literally it was strictly true. He often purposed the spilling of David's blood; and thus, again and again, sinned against his life.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-25Verses 21-25 Saul repeated his good words and good wishes. But he showed no evidence of true repentance towards God. David and Saul parted to meet no more. No reconciliation among men is firm, which is not founded in an cemented by peace with God through Jesus Christ. In sinning against God, men play the fool, and err exceedingly. Many obtain a passing view of these truths, who hate and close their eyes against the light. Fair professions do not entitle…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21I have sinned: Saul had realized his mistakes before (1 Samuel 24:16–19). David had no reason to trust him again (see 1 Samuel 27:1). I have played the fool: The Hebrew word used here (sakal) means “to act foolishly” or “to play the fool” (see also 1 Samuel 13:13). This word is different from the word for “fool” (nabal) used in 1 Samuel 25. Even though the words are different, they have similar meanings. This helps show that Saul and Nabal are parallel…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Hachilah
• Err; Error
• Fool; Folly
• Samuel, Books of

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