1 Samuel 24 18

1 Samuel 24:18 kjv

And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

1 Samuel 24:18 nkjv

And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.

1 Samuel 24:18 niv

You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.

1 Samuel 24:18 esv

And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands.

1 Samuel 24:18 nlt

Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn't do it.

1 Samuel 24 verses

1 Samuel 24 18 Meaning

In this verse, David directly addresses Saul, asserting that Saul has acknowledged David's righteous conduct on that day. David points out that Saul himself is testifying to David's "good deed"—his choice not to kill Saul, even when the Lord had supernaturally delivered Saul into David's absolute power and vulnerability. This highlights David's integrity and reliance on God's timing for justice.

1 Samuel 24 18 Context

This verse is spoken by David to King Saul inside a cave in Engedi. David and his men were hiding from Saul, who was relentlessly pursuing David to kill him out of jealousy and fear that David would usurp his throne. Saul entered the very cave where David was hiding to relieve himself, unknowingly putting himself entirely in David's power. Despite his men's encouragement to seize the opportunity and kill Saul, David merely cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Afterwards, David revealed himself and, in a deeply respectful and heartfelt speech, explained his actions. Verse 18 is a pivotal part of this speech, where David calls Saul to recognize the exceptional nature of David's restraint, contrasting it with Saul's unjust pursuit. The broader context includes Saul's spiritual decline and David's growing demonstration of godly character, patience, and unwavering trust in God's sovereignty over events, even the darkest and most perilous. This event underscores David's belief that he should not take matters into his own hands, especially against God's anointed king.

1 Samuel 24 18 Word analysis

• "And" (וְ - v’): Connects this statement as a direct continuation or consequence of the preceding revelation of David's presence and actions.
• "you" (אַתָּה - ‘attah): Refers to King Saul. The singular direct address personalizes the accusation and appeal, making it intensely confrontational yet respectful.
• "have declared" (הִגַּדְתָּ - higgadta): From the root נגד (N-G-D), meaning to make known, tell, or declare. It implies a clear, open statement or acknowledgment. Here, it signifies that Saul's very actions or words have exposed and confirmed David's good treatment of him. This isn't merely David's assertion, but Saul's unwitting confession or demonstrated understanding.
• "this day" (הַיּוֹם - hayyôm): Emphasizes the immediacy and recency of the event within the cave. It underscores that the evidence of David's character is fresh and undeniable.
• "how" (כִּי - kî): A particle indicating "that," "because," or introducing a statement of fact, connecting Saul's declaration to the specific act of goodness.
• "you have dealt well" (הֵיטַבְתָּ - heitavta): From the root יטב (Y-T-B), meaning to be good, do good, act well, or make pleasant. Here, it refers to David's act, meaning "how I have dealt well." David is reflecting Saul's own assessment of the situation back to him, confirming Saul has just "dealt well" with David by acknowledging David's righteous action. Alternatively, and more directly given the subsequent clauses, this is a grammatical shift where the "you" refers to David's actions being perceived by Saul as good. The LXX (Septuagint) reads "you have done well" towards me, or some translations take "you" as David referring to himself as "your servant." The NASB, NIV, ESV render it "you yourself have declared how I dealt well with you." The Hebrew can be ambiguous here regarding "you dealt well" or "you declared I dealt well." The overall context favors David highlighting his own "good deed."
• "with me" (עִמָּדִי - ‘immaḏî): Directly refers to David, the subject of the "dealt well" action.
• "in that you did not kill me" (וְלֹא הֲרַגְתַּנִי - velo haraghtani): The explicit negative command/action, highlighting the precise act of mercy and restraint shown by David. The direct implication is that David had the power and opportunity to kill Saul but chose not to.
• "when the Lord gave me into your hand" (בְּהַסְגִּיר יְהוָה אֹתִי בְּיָדֶךָ - b’hassgîr YHWH ’oti b’yadekhā):
  • "when the Lord gave" (בְּהַסְגִּיר יְהוָה - b’hassgîr YHWH): Literally "when YHWH delivered/closed (him up)." The verb סגר (S-G-R) means to shut, close up, deliver over, surrender. It points to divine action and sovereign control. It was not chance or fortune, but YHWH who orchestrated Saul's vulnerability and David's opportunity. This absolves David of guilt in not striking Saul down for selfish gain and underscores his recognition of God's hand in all events.
  • "me" (אֹתִי - ’oti): Referring to Saul, who was delivered.
  • "into your hand" (בְּיָדֶךָ - b’yadekhā): "In your hand." This phrase signifies being completely within someone's power or control, vulnerable and subject to their will.

1 Samuel 24 18 Bonus section

The Hebrew word "הִגַּדְתָּ" (higgadta, "you have declared") in this verse is related to "haggadah" in later Jewish tradition, which refers to "telling" or "reciting" the story of the Exodus. This reinforces the idea of making something known clearly and emphatically. Saul's declaration here is almost a prophetic utterance, an involuntary testament to David's righteous character forced upon him by David's actions. It signifies not just an observation but an undeniable acknowledgment of a fact. David's profound statement about "the Lord gave me into your hand" (where "me" is Saul delivered into David's hands) emphasizes that divine sovereignty allowed this precarious moment. It implies a sense of stewardship—that even absolute power over an enemy is to be managed according to God's will, not human impulse. This distinguishes David from earthly rulers who typically abuse such power.

1 Samuel 24 18 Commentary

1 Samuel 24:18 captures a deeply significant moment of spiritual insight and moral integrity from David. By asserting, "And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord gave me into your hand," David is not merely reminding Saul of his mercy, but also framing it within a theological understanding.

The crucial phrase, "when the Lord gave me into your hand," is profoundly revelatory. David could have interpreted the opportunity to kill Saul as divine sanction for vengeance, yet he saw it differently: God's delivery of Saul into his power was a test, an opportunity to demonstrate character, not an invitation to execute premature judgment. This contrasts sharply with typical human reactions of retribution or self-preservation. David consistently refrained from raising his hand against the Lord's anointed, trusting God's timing and method for the transfer of kingship. This highlights David's extraordinary faith, refusing to take vengeance or usurp God's role as judge. It speaks to a deep conviction that true kingship is granted and executed by divine appointment, not human machination. His act of mercy also exposes Saul's hypocrisy, as Saul himself is forced to acknowledge David's righteousness while persisting in unrighteous persecution. This moment sets David apart as a "man after God's own heart" and a type of future Christ who would not wield power for selfish ends but for the divine will.