New Living Translation
1 Samuel 26:23
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 26:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed.
- New King James Version (NKJV)May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.
Context of 1 Samuel 26:23
21Then 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. The 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. 24Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.” 25And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.
Read all of 1 Samuel 261 Samuel 26:23 word by word
וַֽיהוָה֙ יָשִׁ֣יב לָאִ֔ישׁ אֶת־צִדְקָת֖וֹ וְאֶת־אֱמֻנָת֑וֹ אֲשֶׁר֩ נְתָנְךָ֨ יְהוָ֤ה׀ הַיּוֹם֙ בְּיָ֔ד וְלֹ֣א אָבִ֔יתִי לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ יָדִ֖י בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- renderשׁוּבshûb · to return: payH7725
- to every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- his righteousnessצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
- and his faithfulnessאֱמוּנָה'ĕmûnâh 'ĕmûnâh · faithfulnessH530
- deliveredנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- to dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- but I wouldאָבָה'âbâh · be willingH14
- not stretch forthשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: reachH7971
- mine handיָדyâd · handH3027
- anointedמָשִׁיחַmâshîyach · anointedH4899
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:23
- 1 Kings 8:32then hear from heaven and judge between your servants—the accuser and the accused. Punish the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.
- Nehemiah 13:14Remember this good deed, O my God, and do not forget all that I have faithfully done for the Temple of my God and its services.
- Psalms 7:8The Lord judges the nations. Declare me righteous, O Lord, for I am innocent, O Most High!
- Psalms 18:20The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.
- 1 Samuel 26:9“No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one?
- 1 Samuel 24:6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:23
- 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. 23David did not harm Saul (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:9) because Saul was the Lord's anointed one (see study note on 1 Samuel 24:6).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 26:23
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries