1 Samuel

1 Samuel 24:3–8

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.”

⁷With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

⁸After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!”

When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence

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 24:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Soon Saul came	וַ֠יָּבֹא	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the sheepfolds	הַצֹּ֤אן	haṣ·ṣōn	Article; Noun - common singular	H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
along	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the road	הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙	had·de·reḵ	Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
where there was	וְשָׁ֣ם	wə·šām	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H8033 there, thither
a cave	מְעָרָ֔ה	mə·‘ā·rāh	Noun - feminine singular	H4631 cave
and he	שָׁא֖וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
went in	וַיָּבֹ֥א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to relieve	לְהָסֵ֣ךְ	lə·hā·sêḵ	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H5526 overshadow, screen, cover
himself	רַגְלָ֑יו	raḡ·lāw	Noun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine singular	H7272 foot
And David	וְדָוִד֙	wə·ḏā·wiḏ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
and his men	וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו	wa·’ă·nā·šāw	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H582 man, mankind
were hiding	יֹשְׁבִֽים׃	yō·šə·ḇîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
in the recesses	בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י	bə·yar·kə·ṯê	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine dual construct	H3411 flank, side
of the cave	הַמְּעָרָ֖ה	ham·mə·‘ā·rāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4631 cave

1 Samuel 24:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So David’s	דָוִ֜ד	ḏā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
men	אַנְשֵׁ֨י	’an·šê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H376 man
said	וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to him	אֵלָ֗יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
This is	הִנֵּ֨ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
the day	הַיּ֜וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
about which	אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־	’ăšer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
said	אָמַ֧ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to you	אֵלֶ֗יךָ	’ê·le·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H413 motion to
Behold	הִנֵּ֨ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
I	אָנֹכִ֜י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
will deliver	נֹתֵ֤ן	nō·ṯên	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
your enemy	אֹיְבֶיךָ	ʾō·yə·ḇɛ·ḵå̄	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H341 be hostile to
into your hand	בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ	bə·yā·ḏe·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3027 hand
that you may do	וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ	wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
with him	לּ֔וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
you wish	יִטַ֣ב	yi·ṭaḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
Then David	דָּוִ֗ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
crept up	וַיָּ֣קָם	way·yā·qām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
and stealthily	בַּלָּֽט׃	bal·lāṭ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3909 secrecy, mystery
cut off	וַיִּכְרֹ֛ת	way·yiḵ·rōṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3772 cut off, cut down
a corner	כְּנַֽף־	kə·nap̄-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H3671 wing, extremity
of Saul’s	לְשָׁא֖וּל	lə·šā·’ūl	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
robe	הַמְּעִ֥יל	ham·mə·‘îl	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4598 robe

1 Samuel 24:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Afterward	אַֽחֲרֵי־	’a·ḥă·rê-	Preposition	H310 behind
David’s	דָּוִ֖ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
conscience	לֵב־	lêḇ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
was stricken	וַיַּ֥ךְ	way·yaḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
because	עַ֚ל	‘al	Preposition	H5921 height
he had cut off	כָּרַ֔ת	kā·raṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3772 cut off, cut down
the corner	כָּנָ֖ף	kā·nāp̄	Noun - feminine singular	H3671 wing, extremity
of Saul’s robe	לְשָׁאֽוּל׃ס	lə·šā·’ūl	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul

1 Samuel 24:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So he said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to his men	לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו	la·’ă·nā·šāw	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H582 man, mankind
The LORD	מֵֽיהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
forbid	חָלִ֧ילָה	ḥā·lî·lāh	Interjection; third person feminine singular	H2486 far be it
that	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
I	לִּ֣י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
should do	אֶעֱשֶׂה֩	’e·‘ĕ·śeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
such	הַזֶּ֤ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
a thing	הַדָּבָ֨ר	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
to my master	לַֽאדֹנִי֙	la·ḏō·nî	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H113 lord
the LORD’s	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
anointed	לִמְשִׁ֣יחַ	lim·šî·aḥ	Preposition-l; Adjective - masculine singular construct	H4899 anointed
May I never lift	לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ	liš·lō·aḥ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7971 send
my hand	יָדִ֖י	yā·ḏî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H3027 hand
against him	בּ֑וֹ	bōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
since	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
he	הֽוּא׃	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
is the LORD’s	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
anointed	מְשִׁ֥יחַ	mə·šî·aḥ	Adjective - masculine singular construct	H4899 anointed

1 Samuel 24:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
With these words	בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים	bad·də·ḇā·rîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
David	דָּוִ֤ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
restrained	וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע	way·šas·sa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8156 divide, cleave
his men	אֲנָשָׁיו֙	’ă·nā·šāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H376 man
and he did not	וְלֹ֥א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
let them	נְתָנָ֖ם	nə·ṯā·nām	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
rise up	לָק֣וּם	lā·qūm	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
against	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Saul	שָׁא֑וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
Then Saul	וְשָׁא֛וּל	wə·šā·’ūl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
left	קָ֥ם	qām	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
the cave	מֵהַמְּעָרָ֖ה	mê·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh	Preposition-m, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4631 cave
and went	וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
on his way	בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ס	bad·dā·reḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner

1 Samuel 24:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After	אַחֲרֵי־	’a·ḥă·rê-	Preposition	H310 behind
that	כֵ֗ן	ḵên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
David	דָּוִ֜ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
got up	וַיָּ֨קָם	way·yā·qām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
went out	וַיֵּצֵא֙	way·yê·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
of	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the cave	הַמְּעָרָה	ham·mə·ʿå̄·rå̄h	Preposition-m, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4631 cave
and called out	וַיִּקְרָ֧א	way·yiq·rā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
to	אַֽחֲרֵי־	’a·ḥă·rê-	Preposition	H310 behind
Saul	שָׁא֛וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
My lord	אֲדֹנִ֣י	’ă·ḏō·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H113 lord
the king	הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
When Saul	שָׁאוּל֙	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
looked	וַיַּבֵּ֤ט	way·yab·bêṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5027 look
behind him	אַֽחֲרָ֔יו	’a·ḥă·rāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H310 behind
David	דָּוִ֥ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
bowed	וַיִּקֹּ֨ד	way·yiq·qōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6915 bow down
facedown	אַפַּ֛יִם	’ap·pa·yim	Noun - md	H639 nostril, nose, face, anger
in reverence	וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ס	way·yiš·tā·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7812 bow down