1 Samuel 26:25 kjv
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
1 Samuel 26:25 nkjv
Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
1 Samuel 26:25 niv
Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph." So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
1 Samuel 26:25 esv
Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
1 Samuel 26:25 nlt
And Saul said to David, "Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed." Then David went away, and Saul returned home.
1 Samuel 26 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2-3 | "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you..." | God's blessing and making a name for His chosen |
| Deut 31:6 | "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified... for the Lord your God goes with you..." | God's promised presence and strength |
| Jos 1:5 | "No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life..." | Assurance of victory and invincibility |
| 1 Sam 24:20 | "Now I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands." | Saul's earlier recognition of David's kingship |
| 1 Sam 18:14 | "In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him." | David's ongoing success due to God's presence |
| 1 Sam 18:28 | "Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that Michal daughter of Saul loved him." | Saul's awareness of David's divine favor |
| Ps 1:3 | "Whatever he does prospers." | The prosperity of the righteous |
| Ps 20:4 | "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." | Prayer for success aligned with God's will |
| Ps 33:11 | "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." | God's unchanging and sovereign purpose |
| Ps 37:23-24 | "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him..." | God guides and sustains the righteous |
| Ps 75:6-7 | "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west... but God is the Judge." | God is the source of exaltation and downfall |
| Prov 16:9 | "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." | God's ultimate direction of human steps |
| Isa 41:10 | "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." | Divine reassurance of strength and presence |
| Jer 29:11 | "For I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you..." | God's sovereign plans for well-being |
| Zech 4:6 | "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." | Success through divine Spirit, not human strength |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." | God's good work in all circumstances |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | Assurance of ultimate victory with God's backing |
| 2 Cor 1:20 | "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ." | The certainty of God's promises in Christ |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." | Strength for accomplishments through Christ |
| Heb 13:5-6 | "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." | God's continuous presence and faithfulness |
| 1 Pet 3:13 | "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?" | Security when doing good and following God |
| John 14:12 | "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing..." | Believers enabled for great works by Christ |
1 Samuel 26 verses
1 Samuel 26 25 Meaning
This verse captures King Saul's spontaneous yet divinely-inspired acknowledgment of God's unwavering favor upon David. Saul declares David to be "blessed" by God and prophesies with absolute certainty that David "will certainly do mighty things" and "will surely prevail." It is a moment of prophetic clarity and recognition of David's inevitable rise and divinely ordained success, spoken by the very king who relentlessly seeks David's life.
1 Samuel 26 25 Context
1 Samuel 26 recounts the second time David, while being relentlessly pursued by King Saul, spares Saul's life. Having located Saul's camp, David and Abishai stealthily approach Saul's sleeping tent. Abishai offers to kill Saul, but David vehemently refuses, affirming the sanctity of God's anointed and trusting God for ultimate justice. Instead, David takes Saul's spear and water jug as proof of his proximity and forbearance. When David calls out to Saul from a distance, revealing the evidence of his loyal mercy, Saul, for a brief moment, experiences remorse and clarity. This verse encapsulates Saul's overwhelmed reaction, recognizing David's righteousness and the certain future that awaits him, contrasting sharply with Saul's own declining state and paranoia.
1 Samuel 26 25 Word analysis
- Then Saul said to David, This opening sets the scene for a significant verbal exchange. It immediately follows David's display of integrity and forbearance towards Saul, placing Saul's declaration as a direct response to David's character and actions.
- "Blessed be you" (Hebrew: baruch atta) - This is not a mere wish or a greeting but a declarative statement, recognizing or acknowledging someone as being under divine favor. Saul, in this moment of lucidity, recognizes that David is indeed blessed by God. This acknowledgment carries weight, coming from the very king whose throne David is destined to inherit, reflecting a prophetic realization despite his personal animosity.
- "my son David!" (Hebrew: beni David) - "My son" is a term of affection, authority, and perhaps even acknowledgment of succession. Despite years of relentless pursuit and murderous intent, Saul here reverts to an older, paternal mode of address, reminiscent of David's earlier time in Saul's court. This phrase suggests a temporary breakthrough from Saul's envy, acknowledging a familial or deeply personal connection, and potentially his spiritual predecessor, as the one whom God truly favors. It is tragically ironic given Saul's preceding and subsequent actions.
- "You will certainly do mighty things" (Hebrew: ‘asoh ta‘aseh) - This employs an infinitive absolute construction common in Hebrew (verb + infinitive form of the same verb), which functions to intensely emphasize the certainty, totality, or completeness of the action. It's a prophetic declaration of undeniable and great success in action and accomplishment. It foretells great exploits and a flourishing career for David, under God's hand.
- "and will surely prevail." (Hebrew: weyakhōl tukhal) - Another strong infinitive absolute construction (verb + infinitive form), meaning "being able you shall be able" or "you will indeed be capable." This signifies absolute triumph, undeniable victory, and success over all adversaries. Coupled with the preceding phrase, it creates an emphatic double affirmation of David's inevitable prosperity and power, an acknowledgment of divine anointing and destiny that even his persecutor could not deny.
1 Samuel 26 25 Bonus section
Saul's acknowledgment in this verse, while appearing genuine, proved to be fleeting, similar to his earlier declaration in 1 Samuel 24:16-20. This recurring pattern of momentary repentance followed by a return to paranoia and persecution highlights the hardening of Saul's heart and the destructive nature of unchecked envy and disobedience to God's will. It serves as a stark warning against resisting the Holy Spirit's conviction. David, conversely, continues to demonstrate enduring patience and a deep reverence for God’s anointing, even when it means suffering under unjust persecution. His actions here set a profound example for handling those who actively seek to harm God’s faithful. The ultimate outcome, where Saul prophesies David’s success and yet fails to change his own course, underscores the absolute certainty of God's plans for His chosen, which even an adversary must unwillingly declare.
1 Samuel 26 25 Commentary
In 1 Samuel 26:25, Saul's words represent a transient yet profound moment of spiritual insight and concession. Stripped bare of his power in the night, witnessing David's unwavering faithfulness and respect for God's anointed, Saul can no longer deny the truth: David is blessed by God, and his destiny is unalterable. Saul’s prophetic declaration of David’s inevitable "mighty deeds" and "prevalence" is a powerful testament to divine sovereignty overruling human malice. It highlights that God’s plan for David’s kingship cannot be thwarted by any earthly opposition, even that of the reigning monarch. It is an acknowledgment forced from Saul by God's manifest hand on David, showcasing David's righteous walk as vindicated by God Himself, even through the mouth of his greatest persecutor. This episode underscores the stark contrast between David's trust in God and Saul's reliance on human strength and escalating madness, foreshadowing David’s righteous reign versus Saul’s tragic end.