1 Samuel 24 10

1 Samuel 24:10 kjv

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.

1 Samuel 24:10 nkjv

Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'

1 Samuel 24:10 niv

This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD's anointed.'

1 Samuel 24:10 esv

Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'

1 Samuel 24:10 nlt

This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn't true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, 'I will never harm the king ? he is the LORD's anointed one.'

1 Samuel 24 verses

1 Samuel 24 10 Meaning

1 Samuel 24:10 is a pivotal statement by David to King Saul, explaining his actions in the cave of Engedi. David declares that Saul himself witnessed the moment the Lord "gave" him into David's hand, signifying a divinely orchestrated opportunity for David to kill the king. Despite this direct opportunity and the urging of his men to end the pursuit by killing Saul, David made a deliberate choice to spare his life. This verse highlights David's reverence for God's anointed, his trust in God's timing for his eventual enthronement, and his refusal to take matters into his own hands, even when provoked and given what seemed like a clear pathway to power.

1 Samuel 24 10 Context

1 Samuel chapter 24 details an intense phase of Saul's relentless pursuit of David, whom he viewed as a threat to his kingship. After chasing David into the wilderness of Engedi, Saul unknowingly enters the very cave where David and his men were hiding. This situation presents David with a prime, unexpected opportunity to kill Saul and end his persecution. However, David's response reveals his profound reverence for God's anointed and his commitment to allowing God to determine the outcome. The verse comes immediately after David has cut off a corner of Saul's robe, regretting even that minor act against the king. David's words in verse 10 are part of his passionate appeal to Saul from a distance, seeking to prove his loyalty and innocence and to soften Saul's heart, hoping to end the senseless pursuit.

1 Samuel 24 10 Word analysis

• "Behold" (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hinneh): A dramatic interjection drawing immediate attention. It signifies that what follows is a verifiable, crucial, and self-evident truth, demanding Saul's full consideration.
• "this day": Emphasizes the recency and undeniable presence of the event, appealing directly to Saul's fresh memory and experience.
• "your eyes have seen": A direct, personal appeal to Saul's own testimony. It means Saul himself was a witness to his extreme vulnerability, making David's claim irrefutable.
• "how the LORD gave you" (Hebrew: יְהוָה נְתָנְךָ, YHWH nəṯānnəḵā): This is a crucial theological statement. David attributes the circumstance not to chance, but to divine providence. It wasn't an accidental encounter but God's deliberate act of putting Saul within David's power, allowing this test to unfold.
• "into my hand" (Hebrew: בְּיָדִי, bəyāḏî): Signifies complete control, power, and vulnerability. Saul was absolutely at David's mercy, signifying the total power David held over his life in that moment.
• "in the cave": The specific, confined, and isolated setting underscores the absolute nature of Saul's vulnerability and David's exclusive opportunity.
• "and some told me": Refers to David's men, his close and loyal companions, who saw the opportunity from a pragmatic human perspective. It highlights the external pressure and human inclination for revenge and self-preservation that David resisted.
• "to kill you" (Hebrew: לְהָרְגְךָ, ləhārəḡəḵā): Plainly states the counsel given to David. It shows that David faced a clear, unambiguous choice to eliminate his persecutor.
• "but I spared you" (Hebrew: וָאֶחֱסֶךְ, wa’eḥĕseḵ): Derived from a root (חָשַׂךְ, ḥāśak) meaning "to hold back," "withhold," or "show compassion." This is David's defining action. It emphasizes his deliberate choice of mercy and restraint, choosing righteousness over convenience or even justified self-defense from a human standpoint.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Behold, this day your eyes have seen": A direct, emphatic appeal to a recent, undeniable personal experience, making Saul confront the reality of what occurred from his own perspective.
• "how the LORD gave you into my hand in the cave": This phrase attributes the extraordinary vulnerability of Saul not to mere chance or David's tactical skill, but to divine providence. David frames it as God providing the test or the opportunity, thereby elevating the entire event to a spiritual significance.
• "and some told me to kill you": This acknowledges the strong counsel and temptation David faced from his own circle. It highlights the realistic and very human desire for retribution and an end to suffering, which David consciously chose to override.
• "but I spared you": This concise declaration forms the powerful counterpoint to the previous phrases. It is the core of David's moral stance, showcasing his act of mercy, his refusal to spill blood, and his submission to a higher principle than vengeance or ambition.

1 Samuel 24 10 Bonus section

• Theological Parallel to Christ: David's act of sparing his enemy, who sought his life despite having power to eliminate him, foreshadows Christ. Jesus, who held all authority and could have summoned legions of angels, willingly submitted to suffering and death at the hands of those who hated Him (Matt 26:53). Like David, He showed mercy to His persecutors, asking for their forgiveness (Luke 23:34), trusting in God the Father's ultimate plan and justice, rather than employing worldly power.
• Character Assessment: This act, and particularly this verse, significantly contributed to the divine assessment of David as "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). It demonstrated a commitment to God's standards and priorities even under extreme duress, illustrating faith that God would keep His promises without David needing to sin or force the issue.

1 Samuel 24 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 24:10 provides a powerful insight into David's spiritual maturity and unwavering faith in God's sovereignty. In a situation that presented a clear opportunity for personal vindication and ascent to the throne, David chose the path of righteous restraint. He perceived Saul's vulnerability as divinely orchestrated, a test of his own character and trust in the Lord. Despite the immense pressure from his men to eliminate his persistent adversary, David refused to touch God's anointed, demonstrating profound respect for divine authority and a refusal to hasten God's plan through violent, unrighteous means. His decision to "spare" Saul was not weakness but a radical act of mercy, relying on God's timing and justice. This scene stands as a testament to David's heart—a heart committed to God's will above personal gain or natural inclination, serving as an enduring example of trusting God's ultimate plan rather than manipulating circumstances for self-advantage.