1 Samuel

1 Samuel 24:1–6

1After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” 2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

3Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself.a And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. 4So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’”

Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 6So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

Footnotes

  • a 24:3 Literally cover his feet, a euphemism for relieving oneself

Read all of 1 Samuel 24

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 24:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Afterכַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
Saulשָׁא֔וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
had returnedשָׁ֣בšāḇVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
from pursuingמֵאַחֲרֵ֖יmê·’a·ḥă·rêPreposition-mH310 behind
the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
he was toldוַיַּגִּ֤דוּway·yag·gi·ḏūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5046 be conspicuous
Davidדָוִ֔דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
is in the wildernessבְּמִדְבַּ֖רbə·miḏ·barPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH4057 mouth
of En-gediגֶּֽדִי׃סge·ḏîNoun - proper - feminine singularH5872 En-Gedi

1 Samuel 24:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Saulשָׁא֗וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
tookוַיִּקַּ֣חway·yiq·qaḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3947 take
threeשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁתšə·lō·šeṯNumber - masculine singular constructH7969 a three, triad
thousandאֲלָפִ֛ים’ă·lā·p̄îmNumber - masculine pluralH505 thousand
chosenבָּח֖וּרbā·ḥūrVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH977 choose
menאִ֥ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
from allמִכָּל־mik·kālPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
and wentוַיֵּ֗לֶךְway·yê·leḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
to look forלְבַקֵּ֤שׁlə·ḇaq·qêšPreposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructH1245 seek
Davidדָּוִד֙dā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
and his menוַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יוwa·’ă·nā·šāwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH582 man, mankind
inעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the regionפְּנֵ֖יpə·nêNoun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
of the Rocksצוּרֵ֥יṣū·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH6697 rock, cliff
of the Wild Goatsהַיְּעֵלִֽים׃hay·yə·‘ê·lîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3277 mountain-goat

1 Samuel 24:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Soon Saul cameוַ֠יָּבֹאway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the sheepfoldsהַצֹּ֤אןhaṣ·ṣōnArticle; Noun - common singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
alongעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the roadהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙had·de·reḵArticle; Noun - common singularH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
where there wasוְשָׁ֣םwə·šāmConjunctive waw; AdverbH8033 there, thither
a caveמְעָרָ֔הmə·‘ā·rāhNoun - feminine singularH4631 cave
and heשָׁא֖וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
went inוַיָּבֹ֥אway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to relieveלְהָסֵ֣ךְlə·hā·sêḵPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5526 overshadow, screen, cover
himselfרַגְלָ֑יוraḡ·lāwNoun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine singularH7272 foot
And Davidוְדָוִד֙wə·ḏā·wiḏConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֔יוwa·’ă·nā·šāwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH582 man, mankind
were hidingיֹשְׁבִֽים׃yō·šə·ḇîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH3427 sit, remain, dwell
in the recessesבְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥יbə·yar·kə·ṯêPreposition-b; Noun - feminine dual constructH3411 flank, side
of the caveהַמְּעָרָ֖הham·mə·‘ā·rāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH4631 cave

1 Samuel 24:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So David’sדָוִ֜דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
menאַנְשֵׁ֨י’an·šêNoun - masculine plural constructH376 man
saidוַיֹּאמְרוּ֩way·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
to himאֵלָ֗יו’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
This isהִנֵּ֨הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
the dayהַיּ֜וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
about whichאֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־’ăšer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saidאָמַ֧ר’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
to youאֵלֶ֗יךָ’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to
Beholdהִנֵּ֨הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
Iאָנֹכִ֜י’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
will deliverנֹתֵ֤ןnō·ṯênVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
your enemyאֹיְבֶיךָʾō·yə·ḇɛ·ḵå̄Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH341 be hostile to
into your handבְּיָדֶ֔ךָbə·yā·ḏe·ḵāPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3027 hand
that you may doוְעָשִׂ֣יתָwə·‘ā·śî·ṯāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH6213 do, make
with himלּ֔וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
asכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
you wishיִטַ֣בyi·ṭaḇVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
Then Davidדָּוִ֗דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
crept upוַיָּ֣קָםway·yā·qāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
and stealthilyבַּלָּֽט׃bal·lāṭPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3909 secrecy, mystery
cut offוַיִּכְרֹ֛תway·yiḵ·rōṯConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3772 cut off, cut down
a cornerכְּנַֽף־kə·nap̄-Noun - feminine singular constructH3671 wing, extremity
of Saul’sלְשָׁא֖וּלlə·šā·’ūlPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
robeהַמְּעִ֥ילham·mə·‘îlArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4598 robe

1 Samuel 24:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Afterwardאַֽחֲרֵי־’a·ḥă·rê-PrepositionH310 behind
David’sדָּוִ֖דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
conscienceלֵב־lêḇ-Noun - masculine singular constructH3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
was strickenוַיַּ֥ךְway·yaḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5221 smite
becauseעַ֚ל‘alPrepositionH5921 height
he had cut offכָּרַ֔תkā·raṯVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3772 cut off, cut down
the cornerכָּנָ֖ףkā·nāp̄Noun - feminine singularH3671 wing, extremity
of Saul’s robeלְשָׁאֽוּל׃סlə·šā·’ūlPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul

1 Samuel 24:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So he saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
to his menלַאֲנָשָׁ֜יוla·’ă·nā·šāwPreposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH582 man, mankind
The LORDמֵֽיהוָ֗הYah·wehPreposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
forbidחָלִ֧ילָהḥā·lî·lāhInterjection; third person feminine singularH2486 far be it
thatאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
Iלִּ֣יlîPreposition; first person common singular
should doאֶעֱשֶׂה֩’e·‘ĕ·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
suchהַזֶּ֤הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
a thingהַדָּבָ֨רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
to my masterלַֽאדֹנִי֙la·ḏō·nîPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH113 lord
the LORD’sיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
anointedלִמְשִׁ֣יחַlim·šî·aḥPreposition-l; Adjective - masculine singular constructH4899 anointed
May I never liftלִשְׁלֹ֥חַliš·lō·aḥPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7971 send
my handיָדִ֖יyā·ḏîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH3027 hand
against himבּ֑וֹbōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
sinceכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
heהֽוּא׃hūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
is the LORD’sיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
anointedמְשִׁ֥יחַmə·šî·aḥAdjective - masculine singular constructH4899 anointed

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 24:1 1 Samuel 23:28–29 · Ezekiel 22:9 · Hosea 7:3 · 1 Samuel 23:19 · Proverbs 25:5 · Proverbs 29:12

1 Samuel 24:2 1 Samuel 26:2

1 Samuel 24:3 Judges 3:24 · Psalm 142:1–7 · Psalm 57:1–11

1 Samuel 24:4 1 Samuel 26:8–11 · 1 Samuel 26:23 · 1 Samuel 24:10 · 1 Samuel 25:28–30 · 1 Samuel 23:7 · 1 Samuel 24:18 · 1 Samuel 23:17

1 Samuel 24:5 2 Samuel 24:10 · 1 John 3:20–21 · 2 Samuel 12:9 · 2 Kings 22:19

1 Samuel 24:6 2 Samuel 1:14 · Job 31:29–30 · Romans 12:14–13:2 · 1 Samuel 26:9–11 · 1 Kings 21:3 · Matthew 5:44 · 1 Thessalonians 5:15

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.