King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 26:10 Mean?

1 Samuel 26:10 in the King James Version says “David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend ... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

1 Samuel 26:10 · KJV


Context

8

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once , and I will not smite him the second time. delivered: Heb. shut up

9

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

10

David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11

The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

12

So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
David articulates three possible ends for Saul, all originating from the LORD rather than human agency. The threefold possibility (divine smiting, natural death, or death in battle) places Saul's fate entirely in God's hands. The Hebrew oath formula 'chai-YHWH' (as the LORD lives) invokes divine witness to David's commitment. This declaration reveals David's mature theology of providence: God controls the timing and means of all things, and human impatience must not preempt divine timing.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The oath 'As the LORD liveth' was the most solemn affirmation available in Israelite culture, invoking God's own life as guarantee. David's willingness to wait for one of three natural outcomes demonstrates his confidence that God's justice would ultimately prevail without his intervention.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you cultivate patience to wait for God's timing rather than forcing outcomes?
  2. What areas of your life require you to release control and trust God's sovereign ordering of events?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 16

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

דָּוִד֙2 of 16

David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

חַי3 of 16

liveth

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

יְהוָ֖ה4 of 16

furthermore As the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

כִּ֥י5 of 16
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אִם6 of 16
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

יְהוָ֖ה7 of 16

furthermore As the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

יִגָּפֶ֑נּוּ8 of 16

shall smite

H5062

to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease)

אֽוֹ9 of 16
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

יוֹמ֤וֹ10 of 16

him or his day

H3117

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 asso

יָבוֹא֙11 of 16

shall come

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וָמֵ֔ת12 of 16

to die

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

א֧וֹ13 of 16
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

בַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה14 of 16

into battle

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

יֵרֵ֖ד15 of 16

or he shall descend

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

וְנִסְפָּֽה׃16 of 16

and perish

H5595

properly, to scrape (literally, to shave; but usually figuratively) together (i.e., to accumulate or increase) or away (i.e., to scatter, remove, or r


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 26:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 26:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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