Revised Literal Translation
1 Samuel 26:20
20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of Yhwh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
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
18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? 19Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If Yhwh have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before Yhwh; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of Yhwh, saying, Go, serve other gods. Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of Yhwh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains. 21Then 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. 22And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch 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
- Now therefore, let not my bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
- fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- to the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- before the faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- of Yhwhיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · 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 will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
- 1 Samuel 25:29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Yhwh thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
- 1 Samuel 24:14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
- Matthew 26:47And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from 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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries