1 Samuel 29:5

1 Samuel 29:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
• New International Version (NIV)Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “ ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

Context of 1 Samuel 29:5

3Then the Philistine commanders said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said to the Philistine commanders, “No! That’s David, servant of Israel’s King Saul—he’s been with me today for over a year, and I’ve not found any fault in him since the day he defected to me until now.” 4But the Philistine commanders got angry with him, and the Philistine commanders said to him, “Make this man go back—back to his place you assigned him. He must not go down with us to the battle, or in the battle he might become our adversary. For how would this fellow appease his lord? Wouldn’t it be with the heads of our men? Isn’t this one David, about whom they were singing in dances saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’” 6So Achish called David and said to him, “As Adonai lives, you have been upright and your going out and your coming in with me, in the army are pleasing in my eyes. For I never found fault with you since the day of your coming to me up to this day. However, the other lords do not approve of you. 7So now, turn around and go back in peace, and you won’t be doing anything to displease the Philistine lords.”

1 Samuel 29:5 word by word

הֲלוֹא־זֶ֣ה דָוִ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יַעֲנוּ־ל֛וֹ בַּמְּחֹל֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ בַּֽאֲלָפָ֔יו וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• not this Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• of whom they sangעָנָה‛ânâh · to singH6030
• one to another in dancesמְחוֹלָהmechôlâh · danceH4246
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• his thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• his ten thousandsרְבָבָהrebâbâh · myriadH7233

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 29:5

• 1 Samuel 18:6Upon their coming back, upon David’s return from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing in circles to greet King Saul, with timbrels, with joy and with three-stringed instruments.
• 1 Samuel 21:11Then David got up and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish, king of Gath.
• Proverbs 27:14If someone blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 29:5

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5This song referred to Philistines whom David had killed (1 Samuel 18:7). Because of this, it is surprising that David was able to find safety among them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-51Sa 29:1-5. David Marching with the Philistines to Fight with Israel. 1. Aphek--(Jos 12:8), in the tribe of Issachar, and in the plain of Esdraelon. A person who compares the Bible account of Saul's last battle with the Philistines, with the region around Gilboa, has the same sort of evidence that the account relates what is true, that a person would have that such a battle as Waterloo really took place. Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem, En-dor, are all found…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 29:5

• Integrity

In the dictionaries

• David
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Achish
• Games
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 29

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings