1 Samuel 23 22

1 Samuel 23:22 kjv

Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.

1 Samuel 23:22 nkjv

Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty.

1 Samuel 23:22 niv

Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty.

1 Samuel 23:22 esv

Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning.

1 Samuel 23:22 nlt

Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him there, for I know that he is very crafty.

1 Samuel 23 verses

1 Samuel 23 22 Meaning

This verse captures King Saul's intense determination and meticulous strategy to capture David. Following reports from the Ziphites about David's whereabouts, Saul instructs his men to conduct a highly detailed and rigorous search, aiming to precisely pinpoint David's location and movements. He emphasizes the need for exact knowledge, observation, and witness identification, driven by his conviction that David is extremely cunning and adept at evasion.

1 Samuel 23 22 Context

First Samuel Chapter 23 describes a critical period in David's life, where he is continuously hunted by King Saul. Having recently saved the city of Keilah from the Philistines, David then wisely withdraws when he learns Saul intends to besiege the city to capture him (vv. 1-13). David then takes refuge in the wilderness strongholds. This specific verse (v. 22) follows the treacherous act of the Ziphites, who approach Saul and offer to betray David's hiding place in their territory. Enraged by David's perceived defiance and seeing him as a threat to his kingship, Saul welcomes the Ziphites' offer with enthusiasm, considering it a divine affirmation of his quest. Saul's command in verse 22 reveals his paranoid obsession and his determination to leave no stone unturned in cornering David, whom he regards as a clever and elusive adversary. Historically, Saul’s reliance on detailed intelligence gathering and military might reflects typical ancient Near Eastern kingship, yet his actions are consistently framed in contrast to David’s trust in divine providence.

1 Samuel 23 22 Word analysis

• Go (לְכוּ – leḵu): Hebrew imperative, plural. This isn't just a suggestion but a direct command to his men, implying urgency and active involvement.

• and make more sure (וְהָכִינוּ – vəhāḵînu): This verb means "prepare," "establish," "confirm," or "make ready." It denotes thoroughness and precision. Saul wants solid, verified intelligence, not mere rumors.

• and know and see (וּדְעוּ וּרְאוּ – uḏʿū urə’ū): This is a hendiadys, two verbs expressing one idea more emphatically: "thoroughly know through observation." Dêʿū (know) implies gaining understanding and confirmed intelligence, while re’ū (see) emphasizes visual evidence and scouting.

• his place where his foot is (אֶת־מְקוֹמוֹ אֲשֶׁר־תְּהִי רַגְלוֹ – ’et-məqôwmo ’ăšer-tihy râḡəlô): Literally "his place where his foot might be." This is an extremely specific demand, showing Saul’s desire for the exact and current location of David, implying he wants to know David's actual movements and temporary stopping points, not just general areas. It speaks to David's mobility and the elusive nature of his movements.

• and who hath seen him there (וּמִי רָאָהוּ שָׁם – ûmî ra’āhū šām): Saul wants to identify witnesses. This is for corroboration, confirming sightings, and potentially identifying those sympathetic to David or even those who might unwittingly reveal his patterns. It shows an almost modern intelligence-gathering approach.

• for it is told me (כִּי־נֶאֱמַר לִי – kî-ne’ěmar lî): This refers to the intelligence received from the Ziphites (v. 19). It grounds Saul's actions in what he believes is credible information.

• that he dealeth very subtilly (הוּא עָרוֹם יַעְרִים – hū‘ ‘ārôwm ya‘rîm): The root is ‘āram (עָרַם), meaning "to be shrewd, cunning, crafty." The repetition of the root word, "cunning he acts cunningly" (‘ārôm ya‘rîm), functions as a superlative, emphasizing that David is perceived as exceptionally astute and deceptive in his evasions. Saul sees David’s resourcefulness and evasion as "cunning" or "treachery," a significant misunderstanding of David's righteous conduct guided by God, highlighting Saul’s distorted perspective rooted in fear and paranoia. In Hebrew thought, "cunning" can be both negative (like the serpent in Gen 3:1) or positive (wisdom, shrewdness for good). Saul attributes the negative connotation here.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Go and make more sure; and know and see his place...": This entire phrase indicates a directive for intense, investigative action. It is not merely "find him," but "confirm, observe, understand, pinpoint." Saul’s strategy is comprehensive intelligence gathering.
  • "where his foot is, and who hath seen him there": This emphasizes the granularity of the information Saul desires. It’s about movement tracking and eyewitness accounts, demonstrating a desire for verifiable, precise, real-time data.
  • "for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly": This provides the justification and urgency for Saul’s detailed instructions. His perception of David as "very subtle" or "cunning" (rather than simply relying on divine protection and righteous escape) informs his extreme investigative measures. It underscores Saul’s fear of David’s strategic capabilities and his perceived elusive nature.

1 Samuel 23 22 Bonus section

The Ziphites, in betraying David (1 Sam 23:19), demonstrated a loyalty shift driven by fear of Saul or desire for favor. This episode of intense pursuit highlights the political fragility and moral ambiguity within Israel during Saul’s deteriorating reign. Saul's repeated use of the term "cunning" (‘ārôm) for David throughout 1 Samuel 23 (see v. 23 again) paints David not as God's anointed successor, but as a dangerous, crafty insurgent, confirming Saul’s complete spiritual detachment and his view of God's chosen king as his personal enemy to be meticulously hunted down. Despite Saul's meticulous planning and detailed commands, David would again escape, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in protecting His chosen leader from Saul's elaborate plots, much like a divine counter-espionage operation.

1 Samuel 23 22 Commentary

1 Samuel 23:22 lays bare Saul’s state of mind: obsessed, paranoid, and relying purely on human intelligence and military might to achieve his malicious goal. His command for precise, corroborated, on-the-ground intelligence reveals a meticulous, almost desperate, attempt to counter what he perceives as David's superior "cunning" or resourcefulness. Saul mistakenly attributes David's ability to evade capture not to divine protection or David's own prudence, but to sheer guile and trickery. This reflects Saul's spiritual blindness and his increasing alienation from God's will. The verse subtly highlights the contrast between Saul’s detailed human schemes (which will ultimately fail) and David's continued survival through God's miraculous providence. Saul's exhaustive efforts to secure David are ultimately thwarted, serving as a reminder that divine protection cannot be overcome by human diligence or cunning plots against God's anointed.