1 Samuel

1 Samuel 29:2–9

2As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

3Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”

Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men? 5Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances:

‘Saul has slain his thousands,

and David his tens of thousands’?”

6So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders. 7Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”

8“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’

Read all of 1 Samuel 29

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 29:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
As the Philistineפְלִשְׁתִּים֙p̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
leadersוְסַרְנֵ֤יwə·sar·nêConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural constructH5633 tyrant, lord
marched out withעֹֽבְרִ֔ים‘ō·ḇə·rîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
their units of hundredsלְמֵא֖וֹתlə·mê·’ō·wṯPreposition-l; Number - feminine pluralH3967 hundred
and thousandsוְלַאֲלָפִ֑יםwə·la·’ă·lā·p̄îmConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Number - masculine pluralH505 thousand
Davidוְדָוִ֣דwə·ḏā·wiḏConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֗יוwa·’ă·nā·šāwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH582 man, mankind
marchedעֹֽבְרִ֛ים‘ō·ḇə·rîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
behind themבָּאַחֲרֹנָ֖הbā·’a·ḥă·rō·nāhPreposition-b, Article; Adjective - feminine singularH314 coming after
withעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
Achishאָכִֽישׁ׃’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish

1 Samuel 29:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then the commandersשָׂרֵ֣יśā·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםp̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
askedוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙way·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
Whatמָ֖הmāhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
Hebrewsהָעִבְרִ֣יםhā·‘iḇ·rîmArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH5680 Hebrew
Achishאָכִ֜ישׁ’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish
repliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Is thisזֶ֨הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
notהֲלֽוֹא־hă·lō·w-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
Davidדָוִ֜דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
the servantעֶ֣בֶד׀‘e·ḇeḏNoun - masculine singular constructH5650 slave, servant
of Kingמֶֽלֶךְ־me·leḵ-Noun - masculine singular constructH4428 king
Saulשָׁא֣וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
Heאֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
has beenהָיָ֤הhā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
with meאִתִּי֙’it·tîPreposition; first person common singularH854 with
all theseזֶ֤הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
daysיָמִים֙yā·mîmNoun - masculine pluralH3117 day
evenאוֹ־’ōw-ConjunctionH176 or
yearsשָׁנִ֔יםšā·nîmNoun - feminine pluralH8141 year
and fromוְלֹֽא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
the dayמִיּ֥וֹםmî·yō·wmPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
he defectedנָפְל֖וֹnā·p̄ə·lōwVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH5307 fall, lie
until todayעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
I have foundמָצָ֤אתִיmā·ṣā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH4672 attain to, find
no faultמְא֔וּמָהmə·’ū·māhNoun - masculine singularH3972 anything
in himבוֹ֙ḇōwPreposition; third person masculine singular

1 Samuel 29:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But the commandersשָׂרֵ֣יśā·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםp̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
were angryוַיִּקְצְפ֨וּway·yiq·ṣə·p̄ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7107 be wroth
with Achishעָלָ֜יו‘ā·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH5921 height
and toldוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
himלוֹ֩lōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
Send that manהָאִ֗ישׁhā·’îšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
backהָשֵׁ֣בhā·šêḇVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
and let him returnוְיָשֹׁב֙wə·yā·šōḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the placeמְקוֹמוֹ֙mə·qō·w·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4725 standing, spot, condition
you assignedהִפְקַדְתּ֣וֹhip̄·qaḏ·tōwVerb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
himשָׁ֔םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither
He must notוְלֹֽא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
go downיֵרֵ֤דyê·rêḏVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3381 come or go down, descend
with usעִמָּ֙נוּ֙‘im·mā·nūPreposition; first person common pluralH5973 with
into battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הbam·mil·ḥā·māhPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH4421 battle, war
onlyוְלֹא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
to becomeיִֽהְיֶה־yih·yeh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
ourלָּ֥נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
adversaryלְשָׂטָ֖ןlə·śā·ṭānPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH7854 adversary
during the warבַּמִּלְחָמָ֑הbam·mil·ḥā·māhPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH4421 battle, war
What better wayוּבַמֶּ֗הū·ḇam·mehConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
for him to regain the favorיִתְרַצֶּ֥הyiṯ·raṣ·ṣehVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7521 be pleased with, accept favourably
of his masterאֲדֹנָ֔יו’ă·ḏō·nāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH113 lord
thanהֲל֕וֹאhă·lō·wAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
with the headsבְּרָאשֵׁ֖יbə·rā·šêPreposition-b; Noun - masculine plural constructH7218 head
of our menהָאֲנָשִׁ֥יםhā·’ă·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH582 man, mankind

1 Samuel 29:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Is thisזֶ֣הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
notהֲלוֹא־hă·lō·w-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
the Davidדָוִ֔דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
about whomאֲשֶׁ֧ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
they singיַעֲנוּ־ya·‘ă·nū-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6030 answer, respond
in their dancesבַּמְּחֹל֖וֹתbam·mə·ḥō·lō·wṯPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine pluralH4246 id.
Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
has slainהִכָּ֤הhik·kāhVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5221 smite
thousandsבַּֽאֲלָפָ֔יוba·’ă·lā·p̄āwPreposition-b; Number - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH505 thousand
and Davidוְדָוִ֖דwə·ḏā·wiḏConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
his tens of thousandsבְּרִבְבֹתוֹ׃סbə·ri·ḇə·ḇō·ṯōPreposition-b; Number - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singularH7233 multitude, myriad, ten thousand

1 Samuel 29:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Achishאָכִ֜ישׁ’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish
summonedוַיִּקְרָ֨אway·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
Davidדָּוִ֗דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
and told himוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
As surely as the LORDיְהוָ֞הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
livesחַי־ḥay-Noun - masculine singularH2416 alive, living
youאַתָּ֗ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
have been uprightיָשָׁ֣רyā·šārAdjective - masculine singularH3477 straight, right
and it seems rightוְט֣וֹבwə·ṭō·wḇConjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
in my sightבְּ֠עֵינַיbə·‘ê·nayPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; first person common singularH5869 eye
that you should march in and outצֵאתְךָ֨ṣê·ṯə·ḵāVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH3318 go or come out
with meאִתִּי֙’it·tîPreposition; first person common singularH854 with
in the armyבַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הbam·ma·ḥă·nehPreposition-b, Article; Noun - common singularH4264 encampment, camp
becauseכִּ֠יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I have foundמָצָ֤אתִֽיmā·ṣā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH4672 attain to, find
noלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
faultרָעָ֔הrā·‘āhAdjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
in youבְךָ֙ḇə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
from the dayמִיּ֛וֹםmî·yō·wmPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
you cameבֹּאֲךָ֥bō·’ă·ḵāVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to meאֵלַ֖י’ê·layPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to
untilעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
thisהַזֶּ֑הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
dayהַיּ֣וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
But youאָֽתָּה׃’āt·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
are notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
goodט֥וֹבṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
in the sightוּבְעֵינֵ֥יū·ḇə·‘ê·nêConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - cdcH5869 eye
of the leadersהַסְּרָנִ֖יםhas·sə·rā·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5633 tyrant, lord

1 Samuel 29:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Therefore turn backשׁ֖וּבšūḇVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
nowוְעַתָּ֥הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
and goוְלֵ֣ךְwə·lêḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
in peaceבְּשָׁל֑וֹםbə·šā·lō·wmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singularH7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
so that you will notוְלֹֽא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
do anythingתַעֲשֶׂ֣הṯa·‘ă·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH6213 do, make
to displeaseבְּעֵינֵ֖יbə·‘ê·nêPreposition-b; Noun - cdcH5869 eye
the leadersסַרְנֵ֥יsar·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH5633 tyrant, lord
of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃סp̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine

1 Samuel 29:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Butכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
whatמֶ֤הmehInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have I doneעָשִׂ֙יתִי֙‘ā·śî·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
Davidדָּוִ֜דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
repliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Whatוּמַה־ū·mah-Conjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have you foundמָּצָ֣אתָmā·ṣā·ṯāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH4672 attain to, find
against your servantבְעַבְדְּךָ֔ḇə·‘aḇ·də·ḵāPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
from the dayמִיּוֹם֙mî·yō·wmPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
I cameהָיִ֣יתִיhā·yî·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
to youלְפָנֶ֔יךָlə·p̄ā·ne·ḵāPreposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singularH6440 face, before
until todayעַ֖ד‘aḏPrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
toכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
keep me fromלֹ֤אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
going alongאָבוֹא֙’ā·ḇō·wVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to fightוְנִלְחַ֔מְתִּיwə·nil·ḥam·tîConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH3898 fight, do battle
against the enemiesבְּאֹיְבֵ֖יbə·’ō·yə·ḇêPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH341 be hostile to
of my lordאֲדֹנִ֥י’ă·ḏō·nîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH113 lord
the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king

1 Samuel 29:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Achishאָכִישׁ֮’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish
repliedוַיַּ֣עַןway·ya·‘anConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6030 answer, respond
I knowיָדַ֕עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3045 know
thatכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
youאַתָּ֛ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
as pleasingט֥וֹבṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
in my sightבְּעֵינַ֖יbə·‘ê·nayPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; first person common singularH5869 eye
as an angelכְּמַלְאַ֣ךְkə·mal·’aḵPreposition-k; Noun - masculine singular constructH4397 messenger
of Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
Butאַ֣ךְ’aḵAdverbH389 surely
the commandersשָׂרֵ֤יśā·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּים֙p̄ə·liš·tîmNoun - proper - masculine pluralH6430 Philistine
have saidאָֽמְר֔וּ’ā·mə·rūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH559 utter, say
He must notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
goיַעֲלֶ֥הya·‘ă·lehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5927 go up, ascend, climb
into battleבַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃bam·mil·ḥā·māhPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH4421 battle, war
with usעִמָּ֖נוּ‘im·mā·nūPreposition; first person common pluralH5973 with

Cross-references

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

1 Samuel 29:2 1 Samuel 28:1–2 · Joshua 13:3 · 1 Samuel 29:6–7

1 Samuel 29:3 Daniel 6:5 · 1 Samuel 27:7

1 Samuel 29:4 1 Samuel 14:21 · 1 Samuel 27:6 · 1 Chronicles 12:19

1 Samuel 29:5 1 Samuel 21:11 · Proverbs 27:14 · 1 Samuel 18:6–7

1 Samuel 29:6 2 Samuel 3:25 · 2 Kings 19:27 · 1 Samuel 20:3 · Psalm 121:8

1 Samuel 29:8 Matthew 6:13 · Psalm 34:13–14

1 Samuel 29:9 2 Samuel 14:17 · 2 Samuel 14:20 · 2 Samuel 19:27 · Galatians 4:14 · 1 Samuel 29:4

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.