King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 29:3 Mean?

1 Samuel 29:3 in the King James Version says “Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistine... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

1 Samuel 29:3 · KJV


Context

1

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

2

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

3

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

4

And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

5

Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The Philistine princes' challenge, 'What do these Hebrews here?' uses the ethnic designation 'Ivrim' (Hebrews) with apparent contempt. Their suspicion of David despite Achish's testimony shows that political alliances cannot overcome deep ethnic and religious divisions. Achish's defense of David, noting his time of service 'these days, or these years,' indicates David had been faithful in his visible duties. The confrontation exposes the tension between Achish's personal trust and the other lords' institutional suspicion.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Philistine pentapolis (five cities) operated as a confederation with shared military command. The 'princes' (seranim) of the other cities could overrule Achish's individual decisions in matters affecting the coalition. This political structure inadvertently provided David's deliverance.

Reflection Questions

  1. How have political or organizational structures unexpectedly worked for your benefit?
  2. What does it suggest when enemies' suspicions prove more protective than their trust?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 35 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 35

Then said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שָׂרֵ֣י2 of 35

the princes

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים3 of 35

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

מָ֖ה4 of 35
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

הָֽעִבְרִ֣ים5 of 35

What do these Hebrews

H5680

an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber

הָאֵ֑לֶּה6 of 35
H428

these or those

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר7 of 35

Then said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אָכִ֜ישׁ8 of 35

here And Achish

H397

akish, a philistine king

אֶל9 of 35
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

שָׂרֵ֣י10 of 35

the princes

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים11 of 35

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

הֲלֽוֹא12 of 35
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

זֶ֨ה13 of 35
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

דָוִ֜ד14 of 35

Is not this David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

עֶ֣בֶד׀15 of 35

the servant

H5650

a servant

שָׁא֣וּל16 of 35

of Saul

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

מֶֽלֶךְ17 of 35

the king

H4428

a king

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל18 of 35

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֲשֶׁ֨ר19 of 35
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הָיָ֤ה20 of 35
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

אִתִּי֙21 of 35
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

זֶ֤ה22 of 35
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

הַיּ֥וֹם23 of 35

in him since

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

אוֹ24 of 35
H176

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

זֶ֣ה25 of 35
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

שָׁנִ֔ים26 of 35

or these years

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

וְלֹֽא27 of 35
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

מָצָ֤אתִי28 of 35

and I have found

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

בוֹ֙29 of 35
H0
מְא֔וּמָה30 of 35

no fault

H3972

properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing

הַיּ֥וֹם31 of 35

in him since

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

נָפְל֖וֹ32 of 35

he fell

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

עַד33 of 35
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

הַיּ֥וֹם34 of 35

in him since

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

הַזֶּֽה׃35 of 35
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that


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 29:3 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 29:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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