1 Samuel
1 Samuel 23:7–13
7When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
8Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. 11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand?a Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”
“He will,” said the LORD.
12So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?”
“They will,” said the LORD.
13Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.
Footnotes
- a 23:11 Some manuscripts omit this question.
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
1 Samuel 23:7
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When Saul | לְשָׁא֔וּל | lə·šā·’ūl | Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| was told | וַיֻּגַּ֣ד | way·yug·gaḏ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H5046 be conspicuous |
| that | כִּי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| David | דָוִ֖ד | ḏā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| had gone | בָ֥א | ḇā | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| to Keilah | קְעִילָ֑ה | qə·‘î·lāh | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H7084 Keilah |
| he | שָׁא֗וּל | šā·’ūl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| said | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| God | אֱלֹהִים֙ | ’ĕ·lō·hîm | Noun - masculine plural | H430 God |
| has delivered | נִכַּ֨ר | nik·kar | Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H5234 regard, recognize |
| him | אֹת֤וֹ | ’ō·ṯōw | Direct object marker; third person masculine singular | H853 mark of the accusative |
| into my hand | בְּיָדִ֔י | bə·yā·ḏî | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular | H3027 hand |
| for | כִּ֚י | kî | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| he has trapped himself | נִסְגַּ֣ר | nis·gar | Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H5462 shut, close |
| by entering | לָב֔וֹא | lā·ḇō·w | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| a town | בְּעִ֖יר | bə·‘îr | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct | H5892 excitement |
| with gates | דְּלָתַ֥יִם | də·lā·ṯa·yim | Noun - fd | H1817 door |
| and bars | וּבְרִֽיחַ׃ | ū·ḇə·rî·aḥ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H1280 bar |
1 Samuel 23:8
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then Saul | שָׁא֛וּל | šā·’ūl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| summoned | וַיְשַׁמַּ֥ע | way·šam·ma‘ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H8085 hear |
| all | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| his troops | הָעָ֖ם | hā·‘ām | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H5971 people |
| to go | לָרֶ֣דֶת | lā·re·ḏeṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H3381 come or go down, descend |
| to war | לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה | lam·mil·ḥā·māh | Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular | H4421 battle, war |
| at Keilah | קְעִילָ֔ה | qə·‘î·lāh | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H7084 Keilah |
| and besiege | לָצ֥וּר | lā·ṣūr | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H6696 confine, bind, besiege |
| David | דָּוִ֖ד | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| and his men | אֲנָשָֽׁיו׃ | ’ă·nā·šāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H582 man, mankind |
1 Samuel 23:9
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When David | דָּוִ֔ד | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| learned | וַיֵּ֣דַע | way·yê·ḏa‘ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3045 know |
| that | כִּ֣י | kî | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| Saul | שָׁא֖וּל | šā·’ūl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| was plotting | מַחֲרִ֣ישׁ | ma·ḥă·rîš | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular | H2790 cut in, engrave, plough, devise |
| evil | הָרָעָ֑ה | hā·rā·‘āh | Article; Adjective - feminine singular | H7451 bad, evil |
| against him | עָלָ֔יו | ‘ā·lāw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | H5921 height |
| he said | וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| Abiathar | אֶבְיָתָ֣ר | ’eḇ·yā·ṯār | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H54 Ebjathar |
| the priest | הַכֹּהֵ֔ן | hak·kō·hên | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3548 priest |
| Bring | הַגִּ֖ישָׁה | hag·gî·šāh | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular | H5066 draw near, approach |
| the ephod | הָאֵפֽוֹד׃ס | hā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H646 ephod |
1 Samuel 23:10
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And David | דָּוִד֒ | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| said | וַיֹּאמֶר֮ | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| O LORD | יְהוָה֙ | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
| God | אֱלֹהֵ֣י | ’ĕ·lō·hê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H430 God |
| of Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yiś·rā·’êl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3478 Israel |
| Your servant | עַבְדְּךָ֔ | ‘aḇ·də·ḵā | Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| has heard | שָׁמֹ֤עַ | šā·mō·a‘ | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute | H8085 hear |
| that | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| Saul | שָׁא֖וּל | šā·’ūl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| intends | מְבַקֵּ֥שׁ | mə·ḇaq·qêš | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular | H1245 seek |
| to come | לָב֣וֹא | lā·ḇō·w | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| to | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| Keilah | קְעִילָ֑ה | qə·‘î·lāh | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H7084 Keilah |
| and destroy | לְשַׁחֵ֥ת | lə·ša·ḥêṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | H7843 go to ruin (?) |
| the city | לָעִ֖יר | lā·‘îr | Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular | H5892 excitement |
| on my account | בַּעֲבוּרִֽי׃ | ba·‘ă·ḇū·rî | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular | H5668 crossed, transit, account |
1 Samuel 23:11
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will the citizens | בַעֲלֵי֩ | ḇa·‘ă·lê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H1167 owner, lord |
| of Keilah | קְעִילָ֨ה | qə·‘î·lāh | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H7084 Keilah |
| surrender me | הֲיַסְגִּרֻ֣נִי | hă·yas·gi·ru·nî | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; first person common singular | H5462 shut, close |
| into his hand | בְיָד֜וֹ | ḇə·yā·ḏōw | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H3027 hand |
| Will Saul | שָׁא֗וּל | šā·’ūl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| come down | הֲיֵרֵ֣ד | hă·yê·rêḏ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3381 come or go down, descend |
| as | כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ | ka·’ă·šer | Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative | H834 particle of relation |
| Your servant | עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ | ‘aḇ·de·ḵā | Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| has heard | שָׁמַ֣ע | šā·ma‘ | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H8085 hear |
| O LORD | יְהוָה֙ | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
| God | אֱלֹהֵ֣י | ’ĕ·lō·hê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H430 God |
| of Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yiś·rā·’êl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3478 Israel |
| please | נָ֖א | nā | Interjection | H4994 I (we) pray, now |
| tell | הַגֶּד־ | hag·geḏ- | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | H5046 be conspicuous |
| Your servant | לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָס | lə·ʿaḇ·dɛ·ḵå̄s | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| He will | יֵרֵֽד׃ | yê·rêḏ | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | H3381 come or go down, descend |
| said | וַיֹּ֥אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| the LORD | יְהוָ֖ה | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
1 Samuel 23:12
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So David | דָּוִ֔ד | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| asked | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| Will the citizens | בַּעֲלֵ֧י | ba·‘ă·lê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H1167 owner, lord |
| of Keilah | קְעִילָ֛ה | qə·‘î·lāh | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H7084 Keilah |
| surrender | הֲיַסְגִּ֜רוּ | hă·yas·gi·rū | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | H5462 shut, close |
| me | אֹתִ֥י | ’ō·ṯî | Direct object marker; first person common singular | H853 mark of the accusative |
| and | וְאֶת־ | wə·’eṯ- | Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker | H853 mark of the accusative |
| my men | אֲנָשַׁ֖י | ’ă·nā·šay | Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular | H582 man, mankind |
| into the hand | בְּיַד־ | bə·yaḏ- | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct | H3027 hand |
| of Saul | שָׁא֑וּל | šā·’ūl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| They will | יַסְגִּֽירוּ׃ס | yas·gî·rū | Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | H5462 shut, close |
| said | וַיֹּ֥אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| the LORD | יְהוָ֖ה | Yah·weh | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3068 Yahweh |
1 Samuel 23:13
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then David | דָּוִ֨ד | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| and his men | וַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו | wa·’ă·nā·šāw | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H582 man, mankind |
| about six | כְּשֵׁשׁ־ | kə·šêš- | Preposition-k; Number - feminine singular | H8337 six |
| hundred | מֵא֣וֹת | mê·’ō·wṯ | Number - feminine plural | H3967 hundred |
| set out | וַיָּקָם֩ | way·yā·qām | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H6965 arise, stand up, stand |
| and departed | וַיֵּצְאוּ֙ | way·yê·ṣə·’ū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H3318 go or come out |
| from Keilah | מִקְּעִלָ֔ה | miq·qə·‘i·lāh | Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H7084 Keilah |
| moving from place to place | וַיִּֽתְהַלְּכ֖וּ | way·yiṯ·hal·lə·ḵū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H1980 go, come, walk |
| When Saul | וּלְשָׁא֣וּל | ū·lə·šā·’ūl | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7586 Shaul |
| was told | הֻגַּ֗ד | hug·gaḏ | Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H5046 be conspicuous |
| that | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| David | דָּוִד֙ | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| had escaped | נִמְלַ֤ט | nim·laṭ | Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H4422 slip away |
| from Keilah | מִקְּעִילָ֔ה | miq·qə·‘î·lāh | Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H7084 Keilah |
| he declined | וַיֶּחְדַּ֖ל | way·yeḥ·dal | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H2308 cease |
| to go forth | לָצֵֽאת׃ | lā·ṣêṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H3318 go or come out |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
1 Samuel 23:7 1 Samuel 24:4–6 · Psalm 71:10–11 · 1 Samuel 23:14 · 1 Samuel 26:8–9 · Job 20:5
1 Samuel 23:9 1 Samuel 30:7 · 1 Samuel 23:6 · Numbers 27:21
1 Samuel 23:12 1 Samuel 23:20 · Psalm 62:1 · Psalm 31:8
1 Samuel 23:13 1 Samuel 22:2 · 1 Samuel 25:13 · 1 Samuel 30:9–10
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.