1 Samuel 26:10 kjv
David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
1 Samuel 26:10 nkjv
David said furthermore, "As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.
1 Samuel 26:10 niv
As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
1 Samuel 26:10 esv
And David said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.
1 Samuel 26:10 nlt
Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle.
1 Samuel 26 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time..." | Vengeance belongs to God. |
| Psa 94:1 | "O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs, O God, to whom vengeance belongs..." | God is the rightful Avenger. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | Believers are to leave vengeance to God. |
| Heb 10:30 | "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' says the Lord." | Reiteration of God's right to vengeance. |
| 1 Sam 24:6 | "...The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed..." | David's refusal to harm God's anointed. |
| 1 Sam 26:9 | "David said to Abishai, 'Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand...'" | Explicit refusal to harm God's anointed. |
| 1 Sam 26:11 | "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed..." | David's resolute position on Saul. |
| 2 Sam 1:14 | "And David said to him, 'How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand...'" | David condemns touching God's anointed. |
| Psa 37:7 | "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him..." | Trusting God's timing and justice. |
| Psa 37:9 | "...evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait on the LORD shall inherit..." | God will cut off the wicked in His time. |
| Prov 20:22 | "Do not say, 'I will recompense evil'; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you." | Waiting on God for justice. |
| Eccl 3:2 | "...a time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck..." | God appoints all times, including death. |
| Job 14:5 | "Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You..." | God ordains the length of life. |
| Psa 7:11-12 | "God is a righteous judge, and a God who shows indignation every day." | God's active role as a judge. |
| Psa 94:2 | "Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render recompense to the proud." | Plea for God's righteous judgment. |
| Nahum 1:2-3 | "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God...The LORD is slow to anger..." | God's attribute as an avenger and judge. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | "No king is saved by the multitude of an army...a horse is a vain hope..." | Salvation and outcome of battle from God. |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD." | God determines victory in battle. |
| Matt 26:52 | "Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword...'" | Principle of not taking matters into own hands. |
| Luke 18:7-8 | "And will not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry out to Him...?" | God assures justice for His elect. |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | "...He committed Himself to Him who judges righteously..." | Christ's example of trusting righteous judgment. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication..." | Trusting God replaces anxiety and enables patience. |
1 Samuel 26 verses
1 Samuel 26 10 Meaning
David's statement in 1 Samuel 26:10 is a declaration of unwavering faith in the Lord's ultimate sovereignty and justice. He proclaims with a solemn oath that God, and not David himself, will deal with King Saul. David offers two possible ways by which the Lord might execute this judgment: either by Saul reaching his divinely appointed time to die naturally, or by Saul falling in battle. This verse encapsulates David's commitment to respecting God's anointed and his profound trust in divine providence, rejecting the urge to take justice into his own hands despite severe provocation.
1 Samuel 26 10 Context
This verse occurs during the second instance where David had the opportunity to kill King Saul but refrained. Saul, driven by jealousy and fear, relentlessly pursued David, viewing him as a threat to his kingship. In this specific account, David, accompanied by Abishai, infiltrates Saul's camp at night and finds Saul asleep with his spear near his head. Abishai offers to kill Saul with a single stroke. However, David strongly rejects this, stating his unwavering respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed. His declaration in 1 Samuel 26:10 directly explains why he will not lift a hand against Saul: he trusts God alone to determine Saul's end, either through natural death or by a divinely appointed demise in battle. This episode profoundly illustrates David's remarkable self-restraint, faith, and his understanding of God's sovereignty over human life and royal authority, contrasting sharply with Saul's chaotic and presumptuous reign.
1 Samuel 26 10 Word analysis
- David also said: This marks a continuation of David's response to Abishai's suggestion to kill Saul. It shows David's consistency in his position, reflecting a deeply held conviction rather than a momentary decision.
- 'As the Lord lives,' (`Ḥay YHWH`): This is a solemn and weighty oath, common in ancient Israel. It asserts the living presence and absolute authority of God as the guarantee of the truth and certainty of the statement. By swearing by the Lord's life, David invokes divine endorsement and signifies that what he is about to say is profoundly true and assured by God's own being. It grounds his moral and theological stance in the very nature of God.
- 'the Lord will strike him, (`YHWH yiggepennu`):
- the Lord (`YHWH`): God's personal covenant name, often rendered "the LORD" in English translations. Its use here emphasizes that it is God Himself, the sovereign God of Israel, who will be the agent of judgment, not any human.
- will strike him (`yiggepennu`, from the root `nagaph`): This verb signifies a decisive and forceful blow, often with fatal consequences, and frequently associated with divine judgment or plague (e.g., God striking down the Philistines or disobedient Israelites). David unequivocally asserts that Saul's fate is in God's hands, specifically through an act of divine judgment. This prevents any human presumption of taking God's role as judge or executioner of the anointed.
- either his day will come to die,:
- his day will come to die: This refers to death by natural causes, as a result of old age, illness, or some other non-violent means. It reflects the understanding that the duration of a person's life is ultimately determined by God. This perspective aligns with the biblical teaching that every life has an appointed end. David trusts God to bring about Saul's end at the appointed time, just as He appoints life.
- or he will go down into battle and perish.':
- go down into battle: This signifies engagement in warfare. Death in battle was a common and often honorable end for kings and warriors in that era.
- and perish (`yapil`, from `naphal`, "fall"): Here it explicitly refers to a fatal collapse or demise in battle. The implication is not just random death, but a divinely ordained or allowed outcome of the conflict. This again places Saul's fate under God's control, whether by natural means or through the events of war. Both scenarios ultimately point to God as the orchestrator of all life and death.
1 Samuel 26 10 Bonus section
David's resolute stand in this verse underscores a foundational principle: the absolute sacredness of God's anointing. To raise a hand against 'the Lord's anointed,' even when that individual is persecuting you, is to transgress God's divine appointment and implicitly challenge His sovereignty. This perspective elevates God's king-making and king-unmaking authority above all human opinion or grievance. This commitment stands in stark contrast to Saul's own impetuous and often presumptuous actions against God's will (e.g., his offering sacrifices without waiting for Samuel). David models faithful obedience, trusting God's overarching plan even when it demands great personal cost and delayed vindication. This attitude paved the way for David to truly be "a man after God's own heart."
1 Samuel 26 10 Commentary
1 Samuel 26:10 powerfully articulates David's profound trust in divine providence and his unyielding commitment to God's sacred order. Despite having his adversary, Saul, literally within arm's reach for a second time, David refuses to take matters into his own hands. This demonstrates spiritual maturity and restraint, recognizing that vengeance belongs to God and that the end of Saul's life was exclusively God's prerogative. David's choice not only showcases his character but also underscores the biblical principle that human intervention to "help" God's plan can be presumption. He leaves the outcome of his enemy's life to God's two primary methods: either natural expiration at God's appointed time, or death in battle, also overseen by divine sovereignty. This declaration is a timeless lesson in patiently waiting for God's justice to unfold, even in the face of grave injustice and persecution.