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

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. 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. 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. 22And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23Yhwh render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for Yhwh delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against Yhwh's anointed.

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

• 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 15:24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of Yhwh, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
• 1 Samuel 24:17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
• Exodus 9:27And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: Yhwh is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
• Numbers 22:34And Balaam said unto the angel of Yhwh, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
• Matthew 27:4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
• 1 Samuel 27:4And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
• 1 Samuel 26:24And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yhwh, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
• 1 Samuel 18:30Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
• Psalms 49:8(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
• Psalms 116:15Precious in the sight of Yhwh is the death of his saints.

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