1 Samuel 24
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
5And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.
11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- אֵתʼêthH85320× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- דָּוִדDâvidH173216× in this chapter
David, the youngest son of Jesse
- שָׁאוּלShâʼûwlH758615× in this chapter
Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
- יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâhH306812× in this chapter
Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
- אָמַרʼâmarH55912× in this chapter
to say (used with great latitude)
- יָדyâdH302711× in this chapter
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH83411× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- אַחַרʼacharH31010× in this chapter
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
- כִּיkîyH35887× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- לֹאlôʼH38087× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- אֵלʼêlH4137× in this chapter
near, with or among; often in general, to
- הָיָהhâyâhH19616× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- הִנֵּהhinnêhH20096× in this chapter
lo!
- אֱנוֹשׁʼĕnôwshH5826× in this chapter
a man in general (singly or collectively)
- יוֹםyôwmH31175× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- מְעָרָהmᵉʻârâhH46315× in this chapter
a cavern (as dark)
- עַלʻalH59215× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- קוּםqûwmH69655× in this chapter
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
- רָאָהrâʼâhH72005× in this chapter
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
- אַתָּהʼattâhH8595× in this chapter
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
- דָּבָרdâbârH16974× in this chapter
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
- זֶהzehH20884× in this chapter
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
- טוֹבṭôwbH28964× in this chapter
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
- כָּנָףkânâphH36714× in this chapter
an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle
- כָּרַתkârathH37724× in this chapter
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces)
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62134× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- בֵּיןbêynH9964× in this chapter
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
- אָדוֹןʼâdôwnH1133× in this chapter
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
- דֶּרֶךְderekH18703× in this chapter
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
- הָלַךְhâlakH19803× in this chapter
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
- הָרַגhâragH20263× in this chapter
to smite with deadly intent
- יָצָאyâtsâʼH33183× in this chapter
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
- יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêlH34783× in this chapter
Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
- מְעִילmᵉʻîylH45983× in this chapter
a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment)
- מָשִׁיחַmâshîyachH48993× in this chapter
anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah
- אִםʼimH5183× in this chapter
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
- נָתַןnâthanH54143× in this chapter
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
- רַעraʻH74513× in this chapter
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
- שָׁלַחshâlachH79713× in this chapter
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
- שָׁפַטshâphaṭH81993× in this chapter
to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)