1 Samuel 23:20 kjv
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
1 Samuel 23:20 nkjv
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand."
1 Samuel 23:20 niv
Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands."
1 Samuel 23:20 esv
Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand."
1 Samuel 23:20 nlt
Come down whenever you're ready, O king, and we will catch him and hand him over to you!"
1 Samuel 23 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 23:19 | Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding..." | First instance of Ziphite betrayal. |
| 1 Sam 24:1 | When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." The Ziphites came again. | Ziphites continue their betrayal. |
| 1 Sam 26:1 | Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding..." | Another similar instance of Ziphite betrayal. |
| Ps 54:1-7 | Save me, O God, by your name... for strangers have risen against me. God is my helper. | David's prayer against the Ziphites. |
| Ps 41:9 | Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. | General principle of betrayal. |
| Ps 35:15 | But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered themselves against me... | Malicious gathering against the righteous. |
| Ps 38:12 | Those who seek my life lay snares... | Enemies actively seeking to harm. |
| Jn 13:21 | Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. | The ultimate betrayal of God's Anointed. |
| Lk 9:44 | "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men." | Foretelling Jesus' surrender to human hands. |
| Mt 2:20 | "Arise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." | King (Herod) seeking to kill an innocent anointed. |
| Acts 13:50 | But the Jews incited the devout women... and stirred up persecution against Paul... | Persecution initiated by those of one's own people. |
| 1 Sam 18:9 | And Saul eyed David from that day forward. | Origin of Saul's malicious intent. |
| 1 Sam 20:31 | "For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established." | Saul's clear intention to kill David. |
| 1 Sam 23:14 | And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. | Saul's persistent, unsuccessful pursuit. |
| 1 Sam 23:25-28 | Saul went to find him in the wilderness of Maon. Saul's hand closes around David until Philistine invasion intervenes. | Divine intervention saving David from capture. |
| Ps 31:8 | And you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. | God's protection from enemy capture. |
| Ps 59:1-2 | Deliver me from my enemies, O my God... save me from bloodthirsty men. | Prayer for rescue from violent oppressors. |
| Prov 12:12 | The wicked desires the plunder of evil men... | Motivation for betrayal, selfish gain. |
| Prov 28:4 | Those who forsake the law praise the wicked... | Aligning with evil rulers. |
| Mic 7:3 | Both hands are skilled at doing evil... they twist it for good. | Depiction of those ready for evil acts. |
1 Samuel 23 verses
1 Samuel 23 20 Meaning
This verse captures the Ziphites' second unsolicited offer to King Saul to betray David, revealing his hiding place and committing themselves to assist in his capture. They explicitly invite Saul to descend from his base and assured him of their readiness to hand David over directly into his control, aligning with Saul's intense, personal desire to apprehend and eliminate David.
1 Samuel 23 20 Context
1 Samuel Chapter 23 describes David's ongoing flight from King Saul, who is relentlessly pursuing him to kill him. David has just delivered Keilah from the Philistines, yet learns its inhabitants might betray him to Saul, prompting his departure. He then retreats to the wilderness of Ziph. Verse 20 comes directly after the Ziphites approach Saul in Gibeah (v. 19), volunteering the information about David's whereabouts and expressing their willingness to cooperate fully with Saul's vengeful hunt. This act of betrayal by those from David's own tribe of Judah highlights the intense danger David faces and Saul's pervasive paranoia. Historically, David is a king-in-waiting, anointed by God, while Saul is the reigning king who has been rejected by God, demonstrating a profound conflict between divine will and human ambition.
1 Samuel 23 20 Word analysis
- Now therefore (וְעַתָּה, Ve'attah): A conjunction phrase indicating a logical consequence or a summation, prompting an action based on the preceding disclosure. Here, it suggests "since we've told you David's location, this is the next logical step."
- O king (הַמֶּלֶךְ, ha-melek): Direct address, indicating respect for Saul's office while simultaneously using that authority for their malevolent intent.
- come down (רְדָה, redah): An imperative verb meaning "descend" or "go down." It implies moving from the higher ground of Gibeah, Saul's residence, to the wilderness area of Ziph where David was hiding. It's an invitation for active engagement from Saul.
- according to all the desire (כְּכָל־אַוַּת, ke-ḵol-ʾaw·wat): The prefix ke means "according to," and ḵol means "all." 'Awah (אַוָּה) implies a deep longing, strong desire, even a craving or lust. It's a forceful term.
- of your soul (נַפְשֶׁךָ, naph·še·ḵāh): Nefesh often translated as "soul," "self," "life," "desire," or "inner being." Here, it points to the profound and consuming nature of Saul's obsession. It highlights that Saul's pursuit of David is not about justice or duty but a personal, destructive fixation fueled by jealousy and insecurity.
- and our part shall be (וַאֲנַחְנוּ, wa-ʾă·naḥ·nū): Literally, "and we" or "as for us." The Hebrew emphasizes "we" to stress their active and willing participation, signifying their commitment to the plan. It's a self-serving offer of partnership.
- to deliver him (לְהַסְגִּירֹו ה֛וּא, le-has-gî-rōw hū): Sagair (סָגַר) means "to shut up, to close, to surrender, to deliver up, to betray." The Hiphil causative form means "to cause to be delivered" or "to hand over." It conveys the act of actively entrapping and handing David over to the enemy. This is an explicit act of betrayal, designed to ensure David's capture and imprisonment or death.
- into the king's hand (בְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ, bə·yaḏ ham-me·leḵ): Yad (יָד) means "hand." To deliver someone "into the hand of" another implies giving them complete control, authority, and power over the person, to do with them as they please, often signifying imprisonment or execution.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Now therefore...according to all the desire of your soul": This phrase highlights the Ziphites' deep understanding and manipulation of Saul's personal vendetta against David. They appeal directly to his consumed passion, recognizing that capturing David is not just a royal duty but the singular obsession of his inner being. It underscores the corrupting nature of Saul's unchecked desires.
- "and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand": This constitutes the core promise of betrayal. It reveals their proactive role in assisting Saul, emphasizing their full commitment to securing David's capture and surrender. This goes beyond merely reporting; it’s an active offer to collaborate in trapping and delivering David to his intended executioner.
1 Samuel 23 20 Bonus section
- The Ziphites' actions contrast sharply with the covenant loyalty expected among fellow Judahites. Their betrayal underlines a pattern in Scripture where even one's "own people" can become antagonists (e.g., brothers against Joseph, Israelites against Jeremiah, fellow Jews against Jesus).
- David later wrote Psalm 54 in response to the Ziphites' betrayal, highlighting his trust in God as his Helper and vindicator against those who sought his life without cause. This provides a theological lens for understanding the verse, moving beyond just historical event to a lesson in faith amidst persecution.
- This verse showcases the extent to which a king, driven by irrational fear and personal vendetta, would command loyalty through coercion and fear, encouraging his subjects to become informers and traitors. It reflects the perversion of justice under Saul's failing reign.
1 Samuel 23 20 Commentary
1 Samuel 23:20 presents a stark picture of human treachery against God's anointed, yet also subtly affirms God's continued protective hand. The Ziphites' statement is not just an informative update; it's a voluntary pledge of active assistance, born likely from a desire to gain favor with the current reigning monarch, King Saul. Their phrase "according to all the desire of your soul" demonstrates a cynical awareness of Saul's all-consuming obsession with eliminating David, not out of justice, but out of paranoid jealousy and fear for his throne. The act of "delivering him into the king's hand" signifies a complete surrender to Saul's will, anticipating David's capture and certain death. This instance foreshadows countless betrayals in scripture, ultimately culminating in Judas Iscariot's handing over of Christ. However, as subsequent verses (1 Sam 23:26-28) quickly demonstrate, even with such elaborate betrayal schemes, God’s sovereign plan for David's life prevailed, reminding believers that divine protection is ultimately stronger than human malice.