1 Samuel 18 12

1 Samuel 18:12 kjv

And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12 nkjv

Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12 niv

Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12 esv

Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12 nlt

Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul.

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 12 Meaning

Saul's fear of David stemmed not merely from human jealousy or political rivalry, but from a profound and tormenting recognition that the LORD God was actively present with David, bestowing success and favor, while the same divine presence and blessing had unequivocally departed from himself. This highlights a spiritual dread of the inevitable, where Saul perceived David's prosperity as a direct sign of God's rejection of his own reign.

1 Samuel 18 12 Context

1 Samuel 18 begins with David's popularity skyrocketing after his victory over Goliath, cementing his bond with Jonathan, Saul's son. David quickly became a celebrated war hero, given a high position in Saul's army. The pivotal point comes in verses 7-9, where the women sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." This direct comparison ignited a consuming jealousy in Saul. From that moment, Saul eyed David with suspicion and sought his harm. In the verses immediately preceding 1 Samuel 18:12, Saul attempts twice to pin David to the wall with a spear (1 Sam 18:10-11). The historical context is a kingdom in transition, with Saul, the first king, losing divine favor due to his disobedience (1 Sam 13, 15), while God has already chosen David, a man after His own heart, to replace him (1 Sam 16). This verse serves as a crucial explanation for Saul's irrational, murderous fear – it was not mere human emotion, but a stark, terrifying awareness of God's divine hand actively against him and decisively with David.

1 Samuel 18 12 Word analysis

• And Saul (וַיִּירָא שָׁאוּל, vayyira’ Sha'ul): The direct identification of the antagonist. Saul, the reigning king of Israel, divinely appointed but subsequently rejected due to disobedience, now confronts a divinely favored successor.
• was afraid (וַיִּירָא, vayyira’): This is from the root יָרֵא (yare’), which can mean physical fear, but often in the Hebrew Bible denotes a deep, respectful awe or dread. Here, it is a terror stemming from the realization of God's work, suggesting a spiritual awareness beyond simple political or personal intimidation. It’s a fear born of knowing divine judgment.
• of David (מִלִּפְנֵי דָוִד, milliphney Dawid): "Before David," indicating fear not merely of David as a person, but in the face of what David represented: God’s anointing and irresistible power.
• because (כִּי־, ki-): A crucial causal conjunction, directly attributing Saul's fear to the following divine circumstances.
• the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant God of Israel, the personal and holy name of God, highlighting that this situation is a direct outworking of divine will and covenant faithfulness (or lack thereof). His actions determine the course of events and the destiny of kings.
• was with him (הָיָה עִמּוֹ, hayah ‘immo): Signifies divine presence, favor, and empowering companionship. This is a foundational theological concept in the Bible, signifying blessing, success, wisdom, protection, and authority bestowed by God. It explained David's previous victories and continued triumphs, confirming his status as God's chosen.
• and was departed (וְהוּא סָר מֵעִמּוֹ, w'hu sar me'immo): Literally "and He [the LORD] had turned aside/departed from him [Saul]". This emphasizes a distinct and complete withdrawal of God's active favor, presence, and empowering Spirit from Saul, a consequence of Saul's repeated disobedience and rejection of God's command. This aligns with 1 Sam 16:14, where the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul.

Word-group Analysis:

• "Saul was afraid of David": This is a fear born of jealousy, yes, but fundamentally rooted in a recognition of David's divine empowerment versus Saul's spiritual impoverishment. Saul sees David as a divine threat to his kingdom and very life.
• "because the LORD was with him": This phrase directly establishes God's active participation as the primary reason for David's success and, by extension, Saul's fear. It elevates the conflict beyond a mere human rivalry to a theological struggle for legitimacy and power sanctioned by YHWH.
• "and was departed from Saul": This second clause acts as a powerful parallel and contrast, providing the complete picture of Saul's dilemma. God's presence with David is mirrored by His active departure from Saul, revealing Saul's isolated, divinely unsupported position, which directly fuels his terror and paranoia. The withdrawal of divine favor leads to insecurity and self-destructive behavior.

1 Samuel 18 12 Bonus section

The concept of God's "being with" someone is a significant theme throughout Scripture, signaling divine election, blessing, protection, and empowerment, often accompanying God's chosen leaders or His people during times of crucial transition or challenging missions. Conversely, the "departure of the LORD" or His Spirit signifies a profound judgment or withdrawal of favor, often tied to disobedience or unfaithfulness, leaving individuals or nations vulnerable and without divine guidance. Saul's state serves as a powerful contrast to Moses, Joshua, and later David, all of whom experienced God's manifest presence for leadership. This theological truth elevates David's success from mere human prowess to divine orchestration and frames Saul's increasing madness and ultimate downfall as a direct consequence of defying the Divine Will. The struggle is not David vs. Saul, but God's plan unfolding despite human resistance.

1 Samuel 18 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:12 is a concise yet profoundly impactful verse, revealing the spiritual core of the deteriorating relationship between King Saul and David. Saul's "fear" was not merely a psychological state of envy or political insecurity; it was a deeply spiritual dread stemming from a direct apprehension of divine activity. He recognized the undeniable presence of the LORD's favor and blessing upon David, manifesting as extraordinary success in all his undertakings, a presence Saul knew he no longer possessed.

This verse succinctly summarizes the theological drama at play: the legitimate transfer of divine favor from one chosen leader to another. Saul’s disobedience had caused the Spirit of the LORD to depart from him (1 Sam 16:14), leaving him vulnerable, troubled, and divinely unsupported. Conversely, the LORD was with David, a testament to David’s anointing and God's sovereign choice. This awareness filled Saul with a terrible certainty: God was now for David and against him. This realization explains the intense, almost pathological nature of Saul's subsequent attempts to eliminate David. His fear was an acknowledgement of God's judgment on his own life and reign, seeing in David the very instrument of his divine displacement.

Practical Examples:

• Loss of purpose: Someone once driven by passion, finds themselves without zeal, realizing they've drifted from divine calling, much like Saul after the LORD departed from him.
• Spiritual Insight: Recognizing when God's favor rests on someone else, not out of envy, but as a humble observation of His sovereign will at work.
• Consequence of disobedience: The verse serves as a powerful reminder that turning from God's word inevitably leads to a loss of His enabling presence and brings inner turmoil, illustrating that true prosperity comes from divine favor, not human efforts alone.