1 Samuel 19 11

1 Samuel 19:11 kjv

Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

1 Samuel 19:11 nkjv

Saul also sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

1 Samuel 19:11 niv

Saul sent men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed."

1 Samuel 19:11 esv

Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

1 Samuel 19:11 nlt

Then Saul sent troops to watch David's house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't escape tonight, you will be dead by morning."

1 Samuel 19 verses

1 Samuel 19 11 Meaning

1 Samuel 19:11 describes King Saul's direct and imminent attempt to murder David. He sends messengers to surround David's home and guard it, intending to kill David the following morning. However, David's wife, Michal, who is Saul's daughter, secretly warns David of her father's murderous plot, urging him to flee immediately to save his life from the approaching danger. The verse encapsulates a moment of critical peril for David and the pivotal intervention of Michal that ensures his survival.

1 Samuel 19 11 Context

1 Samuel Chapter 19 details Saul's escalating and overt attempts to kill David, fueled by jealousy and demonic influence (1 Sam 18:10-12, 19:9). Prior to this verse, Saul had tried to pin David with a spear twice (1 Sam 18:10-11, 19:9-10). Jonathan, Saul's son and David's close friend, had interceded for David, reminding Saul of David's loyalty and valor, which momentarily appeased the king (1 Sam 19:1-7). However, David's continued success in battle against the Philistines reignites Saul's animosity, and another evil spirit afflicts him (1 Sam 19:8-9), leading to this direct assassination attempt. Verse 11 marks a crucial turning point, as Saul's malice shifts from impulsive, private attacks to a calculated, public display of lethal intent. The historical context includes a king whose heart is no longer with God, plotting against God's chosen successor. The scene reflects the stark contrast between God's preserving power and human wickedness.

1 Samuel 19 11 Word analysis

• Saul: שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul) - The current king of Israel, who is no longer walking in obedience to the Lord. His name, ironically, means "asked for" or "loaned," possibly reflecting Israel's demand for a king. Here, he acts against the Lord's chosen.
• also sent messengers: וַיִּשְׁלַח שָׁאוּל מַלְאָכִים (vayishlach Sha'ul mal'akhim) - The verb shalach (שלח) means "to send, stretch out, dismiss." Messengers (mal'akhim) often refer to angels, divine envoys, or human representatives. The phrase indicates Saul's direct, purposeful, and official action. This is not an impulsive act like the javelin throwing; it's a deliberate royal command.
• to David's house: אֶל־בֵּית דָּוִד ('el-bet Dawid) - Lit. "to the house of David." It signifies his dwelling place, highlighting that Saul's threat has penetrated the sanctity and security of David's private sphere.
• to watch him: לְשָׁמְרוֹ (le'shamro) - The root shamar (שמר) means "to watch, guard, keep, preserve." In this context, it carries a sinister nuance of surveillance and confinement, setting a trap rather than protecting. They are watching for David's demise, not his well-being.
• to kill him: וּלְהַמִיתוֹ (u'lehamito) - The causative form of mut (מות), "to die." It explicitly states the lethal intent: to cause him to die. This highlights Saul's bloodlust.
• in the morning: בַּבֹּקֶר (ba'boqer) - Lit. "in the morning." This temporal detail emphasizes the calculated nature of the plot. The "watch" through the night leads to the "kill" in the clear light of day, signaling a determined execution, possibly to avoid a struggle in the dark or to present it as a lawful execution (though it was unjust).
• But Michal: וּמִיכַל (u'Michal) - "But Michal," introduces a stark contrast to Saul's actions. Her name means "Who is like God?" or "What is God like?". Michal, despite being Saul's daughter, demonstrates a stronger loyalty to her husband and to divine providence over her earthly father's murderous will.
• David's wife: אֵשֶׁת דָּוִד ('eshet Dawid) - Emphasizes her marital relationship and therefore her primary loyalty. It contrasts her role as Saul's daughter (daughter vs. wife).
• told him, saying: וַתַּגֶּד לוֹ לֵאמֹר (vatagged lo lemor) - The verb nagad (נגד) means "to tell, declare." Her action is immediate and decisive, a warning.
• "If you do not save your life tonight": אִם־אֵינְךָ מְמַלֵּט אֶת־נַפְשְׁךָ הַלַּיְלָה ('im-'eyncha memalet 'et-nafshcha halaylah) - The verb malat (מלט) means "to escape, save oneself." It denotes urgent flight from danger. Nafshcha (your soul/life) emphasizes the absolute stakes. Halaylah (tonight) stresses the immediacy.
• "tomorrow you will be killed.": מָחָר אַתָּה מומָת (machar 'attah mumath) - Machar (tomorrow) reinforces the precise timeline of Saul's plan. Mumath is a passive verb, "you will be put to death," conveying the certainty of Saul's intent and David's impending fate if he does not act.

Words-Group analysis:

• "Saul also sent messengers...to kill him in the morning": This phrase describes Saul's calculated evil intent and methodical planning. It reflects the hardening of Saul's heart and his transition from fits of rage to deliberate assassination plots against God's anointed. The messengers signify official authority being abused for personal vendetta.
• "But Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, 'If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.'": This contrast highlights divine intervention and the pivotal role of loyalty. Michal's courageous warning underscores her agency and demonstrates a righteous act that defies patriarchal expectations and loyalty to family, prioritizing David's life. Her words are direct, urgent, and reveal the immediate, inescapable danger, setting the stage for David's miraculous escape. It emphasizes that salvation (or escape here) requires immediate action in response to a divine/human warning.

1 Samuel 19 11 Bonus section

The account in 1 Samuel 19:11 and Michal's subsequent actions (using an idol and a goat hair pillow to feign David's presence in bed, 1 Sam 19:13-16) highlight the desperate measures taken by those loyal to David to protect him from Saul's relentless pursuit. This detail involving the idol (תרפים, teraphim) also subtly reveals that while David was God's anointed, the practice of keeping household idols, likely for domestic or divinatory purposes, was present even in his immediate household, showcasing the cultural context and ongoing struggle against pagan influences among some Israelites, even within prominent families. This historical note is significant, as the Bible often records the realities of people's lives without necessarily condoning them, but focusing on the main narrative of God's work. It also emphasizes Michal's resourcefulness and the genuine peril David faced.

1 Samuel 19 11 Commentary

1 Samuel 19:11 serves as a stark illustration of human wickedness driven by jealousy, contrasted with God's providence and the courage of an unexpected ally. Saul, increasingly consumed by envy and an evil spirit, resorts to calculated murder, sending a detail of his soldiers to stake out David's house. His plan to kill David "in the morning" reflects a chilling determination to carry out the act publicly and decisively, showcasing the depth of his fall from divine favor. This specific threat represents the highest level of organized aggression from Saul yet, far exceeding his previous javelin throws.

Yet, Saul's meticulously planned evil is thwarted by Michal, his own daughter, and David's wife. Her loyalty to David, driven by affection and perhaps an awareness of the divine anointing on him, overrides her duty to her father. Her immediate, explicit warning—"If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed"—conveys the extreme urgency and dire consequence. This pivotal intervention not only saves David's life but also demonstrates how God works through human agents, even unlikely ones within the enemy's camp, to protect His chosen instruments. This episode sets in motion a significant period of David's life as a fugitive, highlighting God's faithfulness in preserving His covenant promises despite formidable human opposition. It reinforces the biblical theme that human plans, no matter how carefully laid or powerful, cannot ultimately frustrate the sovereign will of God.