King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 30:15 Mean?

1 Samuel 30:15 in the King James Version says “And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neith...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.”

1 Samuel 30:15 · KJV

Context

13

And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite ; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

14

We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

15

And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

16

And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

17

And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. the next: Heb. their morrow

Read 1 Samuel 30 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
David's request for guidance and the Egyptian's condition for compliance reveal mutual vulnerability. The slave, having been abandoned to die, fears being returned to his master or killed. His demand for an oath 'by God' shows he understood the binding nature of Israelite religious commitment. David's willingness to swear demonstrates his integrity; he will not exploit this vulnerable person even when urgency demands quick action. Trust must be established even in crisis.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Oaths invoking deity were the strongest guarantees available in ancient society. The Egyptian's knowledge that Israelites honored oaths to their God reflects cultural awareness of Israel's religious distinctives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you build trust with vulnerable people who have reason to fear exploitation?
  2. What role do binding commitments play in relationships with those who have been betrayed?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר1 of 21

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלָיו֙2 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

דָּוִ֔ד3 of 21

“And David”

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

וְאוֹרִֽדְךָ֖4 of 21

“and I will bring thee down”

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

אֶל5 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַגְּד֥וּד6 of 21

“to this company”

H1416

a crowd (especially of soldiers)

הַזֶּ֑ה7 of 21
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וַיֹּ֡אמֶר8 of 21

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הִשָּֽׁבְעָה֩9 of 21

“Swear”

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

לִּ֨י10 of 21
H0
בֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים11 of 21

“unto me by God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וְאִם12 of 21

“me nor”

H518

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

תְּמִיתֵ֗נִי13 of 21

“that thou wilt neither kill”

H4191

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

וְאִם14 of 21

“me nor”

H518

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

תַּסְגִּרֵ֙נִי֙15 of 21

“deliver”

H5462

to shut up; figuratively, to surrender

בְּיַד16 of 21

“me into the hands”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

אֲדֹנִ֔י17 of 21

“of my master”

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

וְאוֹרִֽדְךָ֖18 of 21

“and I will bring thee down”

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

אֶל19 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַגְּד֥וּד20 of 21

“to this company”

H1416

a crowd (especially of soldiers)

הַזֶּֽה׃21 of 21
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 30:15 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 30:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Samuel 29:6Ezekiel 17:13Ezekiel 17:19Joshua 9:15Joshua 9:19-20Deuteronomy 23:15-16

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