1 Samuel 18 11

1 Samuel 18:11 kjv

And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

1 Samuel 18:11 nkjv

And Saul cast the spear, for he said, "I will pin David to the wall!" But David escaped his presence twice.

1 Samuel 18:11 niv

and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.

1 Samuel 18:11 esv

And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.

1 Samuel 18:11 nlt

and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 11 Meaning

King Saul, filled with irrational rage under the influence of an evil spirit, actively attempted to kill David by hurling his spear at him, intending to impale him against the wall. This lethal assault occurred not once, but twice, from which David was supernaturally able to escape without harm each time.

1 Samuel 18 11 Context

This verse occurs at a critical juncture in the deteriorating relationship between King Saul and David. Following David's victory over Goliath and his subsequent military successes, he gained immense popularity, culminating in the women singing, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Sam 18:7). This song sparked profound jealousy in Saul, leading to his paranoia and an "evil spirit from God" tormenting him, as described in 1 Sam 18:10. David, while attempting to soothe Saul with his lyre, becomes the direct target of the king's murderous rage. This incident in 1 Samuel 18:11 is the first overt physical attempt on David's life by Saul, marking a dramatic escalation of Saul's malevolence from plotting and manipulation to direct violence. Historically, Saul was Israel's first king, anointed by Samuel, but later rejected by God for his disobedience (1 Sam 15). David was secretly anointed as Saul's successor (1 Sam 16), which likely intensified Saul's spiritual distress and personal animosity as he subconsciously recognized God's hand moving away from him and toward David. The court setting underscores Saul's abuse of his royal power, turning his personal weapon (a king's spear) into an instrument of terror within his own palace. This episode implicitly critiques pagan kingship, where royal authority might be associated with unbridled rage or destructive supernatural influence; in contrast, here the "evil spirit" is specifically "from the Lord," highlighting divine sovereignty even over the demonic, while the outcome is clearly negative and against God's purposes for Saul's kingship.

1 Samuel 18 11 Word analysis

• And Saul (וְשָׁאוּל, veSha'ul): "And" links to the preceding verse where an evil spirit seized Saul. Saul, meaning "asked for," underscores the tragedy of the king initially desired by Israel now attempting to destroy God's chosen one.
• threw (וַיְּטִל, vay'yil): From the verb טוּל (ṭûl), to hurl or cast. The Hiphil imperfect form suggests a decisive, sudden, and forceful action, not a hesitant or accidental release.
• the spear (הַחֲנִית, hachanith): A "spear" or "javelin" was a common weapon, especially prominent in Saul's personal arsenal and often in his hand, symbolizing his royal authority and warrior status (e.g., 1 Sam 19:9). Its use here for murder against a trusted servant highlights Saul's depravity and perversion of his kingly office.
• for he thought (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyō’mer): Literally, "and he said," or "he said in his heart/to himself." This reveals Saul's inner intent and malice, not merely a sudden outburst, but a directed thought behind the violent action. It was a conscious, albeit spirit-influenced, decision to kill.
• 'I will pin (אֲכֶּנּוּ, akkennu): From נָכָה (nâkâh), meaning "to strike," "to smite," often used in the context of violent death. Here, it carries the specific connotation of striking with the intent to affix or fasten firmly. The prefixed 'I' indicates Saul's personal, direct agency and murderous will.
• David (דָּוִיד, Dawid): Meaning "beloved" or "darling." The irony of the beloved youth being targeted by the very king who once esteemed him, further accentuates Saul's moral and spiritual downfall.
• to the wall (אֶל-הַקִּיר, ’el-haqqîr): Indicates a specific and gruesome intention to incapacitate David permanently and violently, demonstrating the depth of Saul's rage and desire for absolute termination of David's life, perhaps as a public display of power or elimination.
• But David (וְדָוִד, veDawid): The "but" ("waw" conjunction) signals a strong contrast and introduces David's providential escape, turning the focus from Saul's murderous intent to God's protection.
• eluded him (וַיִּסֹּב, vayyissōv): From סָבַב (sābaḇ), meaning "to turn around," "to circle," "to avoid," "to bypass." This verb suggests swift, decisive movement on David's part to get out of the way. It implies an agile evasion rather than just a lucky miss. This points to God's intervention allowing David the necessary speed or awareness.
• twice (פַּעֲמָיִם, pa’amayim): The numerical repetition emphasizes the persistent danger David faced and the consistent, repeated deliverance he experienced. It was not a fluke, but two distinct instances of life-threatening attack and two distinct acts of survival, highlighting both Saul's persistent evil and God's unwavering protection.

Words-group Analysis

• "And Saul threw the spear": This phrase details the aggressive, overt act of attempted murder by the reigning king. It is a moment of intense danger where Saul's simmering jealousy erupts into direct, physical violence. The king's authority, symbolized by the spear, is corrupted into an instrument of personal destruction.
• "for he thought, 'I will pin David to the wall.'": This clause reveals the venomous intention behind Saul's action. It was a calculated, deliberate desire not merely to injure, but to utterly destroy and immobolize David in a humiliating manner. The vivid imagery conveys Saul's deep-seated hatred and his mental state, influenced by the evil spirit, yet still manifesting personal malice.
• "But David eluded him twice.": This statement starkly contrasts Saul's malevolence with God's divine providence. David's ability to "elude" the spear twice points to God's active protection. It was not mere chance but God enabling David to avoid fatal harm on two separate occasions, demonstrating His faithful guardianship over His anointed servant against a king consumed by destructive jealousy.

1 Samuel 18 11 Bonus section

• Saul's repeated use of the spear against David (reiterated in 1 Sam 19:9-10) develops into a leitmotif of his obsessive pursuit. The spear becomes more than just a weapon; it is an extension of his irrational rage and an emblem of his kingship turned to tyranny, sharply contrasting with God's protective shield around David.
• The "evil spirit from God" implies not divine endorsement of evil, but God's sovereign allowance or use of such spirits to execute His judgment upon Saul (as indicated in 1 Sam 16:14 and 1 Sam 15:23 for his disobedience). This points to the absolute control of the One True God, even over dark spiritual forces, contrasting with pagan ideas where deities might be erratic or themselves embodiments of evil.
• David's agility and repeated escapes demonstrate his dependence on divine intervention rather than just physical prowess. The narrative portrays him as supernaturally guarded, indicating that no weapon formed against God's anointed will prosper, provided it is not His appointed time.
• This specific attack highlights the tension within the palace and reveals that even trusted inner circles are not immune to the corrupting influence of jealousy and spiritual darkness, compelling David to reconsider his safety in Saul's court.

1 Samuel 18 11 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:11 serves as a chilling depiction of a king's descent into madness and violence. Under the oppressive influence of an evil spirit (1 Sam 18:10), Saul's intense jealousy of David, stoked by David's immense popularity and success, transforms into an open, murderous assault. The act of the king hurling his spear, a symbol of his authority and a primary royal weapon, at his most loyal subject in the confines of his own palace underscores the profound disorder and malevolence gripping Saul's reign. The explicit intent "to pin David to the wall" reveals a desire not merely to kill, but to permanently affix and obliterate David's presence in a brutal and decisive manner, reflecting the depth of Saul's rage and perceived threat. The twice-repeated evasion highlights two crucial points: the persistence of Saul's deadly intent and, more significantly, the unwavering, providential protection of God over David's life. David's survival was not accidental but divinely enabled, confirming that God's hand was upon him, safeguarding him for His ultimate purposes. This incident also cements the stark spiritual and moral divide between the rejected king, Saul, and the ascending chosen king, David. Practically, this verse illustrates that even in the face of irrational and powerful malice, divine protection is a reality for those chosen by God, urging reliance on God rather than fear of the persecutor. It reminds believers that true authority misused can become a tool of destruction, and spiritual battles often manifest in physical threats.