1 Samuel 26:23 kjv
The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.
1 Samuel 26:23 nkjv
May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed.
1 Samuel 26:23 niv
The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed.
1 Samuel 26:23 esv
The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD's anointed.
1 Samuel 26:23 nlt
The LORD gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the LORD placed you in my power, for you are the LORD's anointed one.
1 Samuel 26 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 62:12 | "...to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work." | God repays according to deeds. |
| Prov 24:12 | "...does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch...render to each man according to his work?" | God discerns and judges hearts. |
| Jer 32:19 | "...your eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, giving to each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds..." | God's all-seeing justice. |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will render to each one according to his works." | Universal principle of divine recompense. |
| Rev 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done." | Christ's future return and judgment. |
| Ps 18:20 | "The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me." | God rewards uprightness. |
| Isa 3:10 | "Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds." | Righteousness leads to positive outcome. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | "If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." | God's inherent faithfulness. |
| Heb 10:23 | "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." | God is faithful to His promises. |
| Ps 37:25 | "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." | God sustains the faithful. |
| Ps 105:15 | "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!" | Reverence for God's chosen ones. |
| 1 Chr 16:22 | "Saying, 'Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!'" | Echoes the sanctity of God's servants. |
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is mine, and recompense..." | God alone is the Avenger. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" | Personal revenge is forbidden. |
| Heb 10:30 | "For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.' And again, 'The Lord will judge his people.'" | Affirmation of divine vengeance. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's sovereignty over rulers. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." | God establishes authorities. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another." | God's role in establishing rulers. |
| Mt 5:44 | "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." | Principle of loving one's adversaries. |
| Lk 6:27-28 | "...love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." | Extend grace to persecutors. |
| Prov 25:21-22 | "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat... For by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." | Overcome evil with good. |
| Rom 12:20 | "...if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink... by doing this you will heap burning coals on his head." | Practicing goodness to enemies. |
| Acts 13:22 | "And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.’" | David's character aligns with God's will. |
1 Samuel 26 verses
1 Samuel 26 23 Meaning
1 Samuel 26:23 expresses David’s profound conviction in God’s absolute justice and His specific anointing of kings. David declares that the Lord will repay each person according to their righteousness and faithfulness. He applies this directly to his own situation, recognizing that God delivered King Saul into his power, yet steadfastly refusing to harm "the Lord's anointed." This demonstrates David's unwavering trust in God's sovereignty to administer justice and elevate or abase individuals according to His divine will and timing, rather than David seizing power through human violence or initiative. It is a testament to David’s integrity, patient reliance on God, and deep reverence for the sacredness of God's chosen instruments.
1 Samuel 26 23 Context
This verse is spoken by David to King Saul after David had once again spared Saul's life in the wilderness of Ziph (1 Sam 26). Saul, consumed by paranoia and jealousy, was relentlessly pursuing David to kill him. David, along with Abishai, infiltrated Saul’s camp at night and found Saul sleeping. Abishai urged David to kill Saul, stating that God had delivered him, but David refused. This act parallels an earlier occasion (1 Sam 24) where David also spared Saul in the cave of En Gedi. Both instances highlight David's commitment to respecting God's anointed, even when he had clear opportunities to secure the throne by his own hand. This setting reveals David's moral character, his deep trust in God's ultimate timing and justice, and his patient waiting for the Lord's hand to effect the transfer of power. It serves as a dramatic contrast to Saul's vengeful and disobedient spirit.
1 Samuel 26 23 Word analysis
- The Lord (YHWH - יהוה): This refers to the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing His personal involvement, power, and faithfulness to His people and promises. David specifically invokes God's sovereign authority as the ultimate Judge and Dispenser of justice.
- will render (shuv - שׁוּב): This Hebrew verb means "to return," "to restore," or "to repay." It conveys the certainty of divine retribution or reward. God's action is a reciprocal response to human conduct, ensuring that justice is unfailingly meted out.
- every man: Indicates the universality of God's principle of rendering justice; no one is exempt. It applies equally to King Saul, David, and all people.
- his righteousness (tzedakah - צְדָקָה): More than just legal innocence, this refers to right conduct, integrity, and adherence to God's covenant and will. David appeals to his own consistent pattern of moral uprightness in his dealings with Saul, standing in contrast to Saul's actions. It implies divine vindication.
- and his faithfulness (emunah - אֱמוּנָה): Signifies steadfastness, reliability, fidelity, and trustworthiness. David is referring to his faithful adherence to God's commands and his unwavering trust in God’s plan and timing, particularly his faithfulness in refusing to harm the Lord’s anointed king. This reflects David’s unswerving belief that God would make him king at the right time.
- for: This conjunction indicates a causal relationship, connecting God’s just recompense to the preceding divine action and David's specific moral choice.
- the Lord delivered you into my hand today: David acknowledges God’s sovereign control over circumstances. This was not a chance encounter but a divinely ordained opportunity. David sees God as the one orchestrating events, providing him with a choice.
- but I would not stretch out my hand: This is David’s deliberate act of restraint, demonstrating a profound spiritual discipline and submission to divine will. It emphasizes that while he had the power to act, he chose not to.
- against the Lord's anointed (meshiach Yahweh - מְשִׁיחַ יְהָוָה): This refers to King Saul, whom God had set apart by anointing through the prophet Samuel (1 Sam 10:1). Despite Saul's sinful disobedience and persecution of David, David understood that Saul's office, as God-ordained, retained a sanctity that commanded respect and protection from human harm. This respect for God’s anointing is a foundational aspect of David's character, setting him apart as a king "after God's own heart." This concept also prefigures the ultimate Messiah, the Anointed One, Jesus Christ.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "The Lord will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness": This foundational principle asserts God as the ultimate and just judge. It establishes a divine covenant order where character and conduct are certainly evaluated and rewarded/repaid. David declares his faith in this system, choosing not to take vengeance himself.
- "for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed": This phrase connects divine providence with human moral responsibility. God gave David the opportunity, testing his character. David's response—refusal to harm God's anointed—demonstrated his integrity and reliance on divine timing and justice rather than seizing power prematurely or through an act of rebellion against God's designated authority. It highlights his faith over human expedience.
1 Samuel 26 23 Bonus section
David’s actions in 1 Samuel 26 stand as a powerful ethical and spiritual instruction. It teaches that true power lies not in asserting one's own will or exacting revenge, but in humble submission to God’s timing and methods, particularly in areas of leadership and authority that God himself has established. Even when the "anointed" leader is grievously flawed, violating personal ethics or divine command, David did not take matters into his own hands for the sake of the office itself, reserving final judgment for God. This resonates deeply within Christian theology, particularly concerning the call to respect governing authorities (Rom 13) and the principle that vengeance belongs to God (Rom 12). Furthermore, David's recognition that the opportunity to harm Saul came from "the Lord" itself points to God's testing and refining of David's character, preparing him for the weighty responsibilities of kingship by demonstrating true submission.
1 Samuel 26 23 Commentary
1 Samuel 26:23 encapsulates the essence of David's kingly character and his deep spiritual understanding. Faced with multiple opportunities to eliminate Saul, David consistently deferred judgment and vengeance to God, relying on His perfect justice and timing. His respect for "the Lord's anointed," even when that anointed person was actively seeking his life, sets him apart as a man of extraordinary faith and integrity. This was not passivity but an active demonstration of trust in God’s sovereign power to establish kings and tear them down, to vindicate the righteous, and to deal with the wicked. David's choice exemplified righteousness and faithfulness in action, knowing that God himself would ultimately "render" or repay each individual according to their deeds. This patient endurance, fueled by unwavering faith, became a hallmark of David's life, foreshadowing a truly godly kingship centered on submission to divine authority.