King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 29:6 Mean?

1 Samuel 29:6 in the King James Version says “Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and t... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not. the lords: Heb. thou art not good in the eyes of the lords

1 Samuel 29:6 · KJV


Context

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?

6

Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not. the lords: Heb. thou art not good in the eyes of the lords

7

Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines. displease: Heb. do not evil in the eyes of the lords

8

And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king? with: Heb. before thee


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Achish's personal summons to David communicates the decision with remarkable diplomacy. His oath 'as the LORD liveth' (using YHWH, Israel's covenant name) may indicate genuine respect for David's faith or diplomatic courtesy. The assessment that David has been 'upright' (Hebrew: 'yashar') throughout his service is accurate as far as Achish knows. The phrase 'the lords favour thee not' (Hebrew: 'lo-tov attah be'eney seranim') places blame on others while expressing personal confidence. Achish genuinely believed David was loyal.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Achish's use of YHWH's name suggests familiarity with Israelite religion, perhaps from his relationship with David or broader cultural awareness. His personal favor toward David would prove advantageous when David later became king and maintained peace with Gath.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you respond when allies' actions, though limiting, are actually protective?
  2. What relationships with those outside your faith community has God used for your benefit?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 33 words
וַיִּקְרָ֨א1 of 33

called

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

אָכִ֜ישׁ2 of 33

Then Achish

H397

akish, a philistine king

אֶל3 of 33
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

דָּוִ֗ד4 of 33

David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר5 of 33

and said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵ֠לָיו6 of 33
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

חַי7 of 33

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

יְהוָ֞ה8 of 33

unto him Surely as the LORD

H3068

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

כִּֽי9 of 33
H3588

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

יָשָׁ֣ר10 of 33

thou hast been upright

H3477

straight (literally or figuratively)

אַתָּ֗ה11 of 33
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

ט֥וֹב12 of 33

favour

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

וּבְעֵינֵ֥י13 of 33

in my sight

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

צֵֽאתְךָ֙14 of 33

and thy going out

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

בֹּֽאֲךָ֥15 of 33

and thy coming in

H935

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

אִתִּי֙16 of 33
H854

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

בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה17 of 33

with me in the host

H4264

an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e

כִּ֠י18 of 33
H3588

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

לֹֽא19 of 33
H3808

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

מָצָ֤אתִֽי20 of 33

for I have not 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

בְךָ֙21 of 33
H0
רָעָ֔ה22 of 33

evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הַיּ֣וֹם23 of 33

in thee since the 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

בֹּֽאֲךָ֥24 of 33

and thy coming in

H935

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

אֵלַ֖י25 of 33
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

עַד26 of 33
H5704

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

הַיּ֣וֹם27 of 33

in thee since the 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

הַזֶּ֑ה28 of 33
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וּבְעֵינֵ֥י29 of 33

in my sight

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

הַסְּרָנִ֖ים30 of 33

nevertheless the lords

H5633

an axle

לֹא31 of 33
H3808

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

ט֥וֹב32 of 33

favour

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

אָֽתָּה׃33 of 33
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you


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 29:6 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 29:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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