1 Samuel 27 1

1 Samuel 27:1 kjv

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

1 Samuel 27:1 nkjv

And David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand."

1 Samuel 27:1 niv

But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand."

1 Samuel 27:1 esv

Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand."

1 Samuel 27:1 nlt

But David kept thinking to himself, "Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe."

1 Samuel 27 verses

1 Samuel 27 1 Meaning

David, in a moment of deep discouragement and fear, concluded that he would eventually be killed by King Saul. Due to this despair, he decided that his only recourse was to escape the territory of Israel and seek refuge among the Philistines, believing this would finally cause Saul to cease his relentless pursuit, thus preserving his life.

1 Samuel 27 1 Context

This verse follows a long period of intense persecution of David by King Saul. Chapters 19-26 vividly depict David's life as a fugitive, constantly fleeing from Saul's attempts to kill him. Just prior to this verse, in chapter 26, David had a second opportunity to kill Saul while he slept but chose to spare his life, leaving Saul humbled and promising to pursue David no more. However, despite this apparent reconciliation, David, through exhaustion, fear, or a sense of hopelessness regarding Saul's true change of heart, decided that Saul's relentless pursuit would never truly end. The Philistines were Israel's perennial enemies, having been recently defeated by David himself (e.g., Goliath in chapter 17), making his decision to flee to their land an act of desperation and strategic pragmatism over trust in God's ongoing protection within Israel's borders.

1 Samuel 27 1 Word analysis

• Then David said in his heart:
  • (וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל־לִבּוֹ - vayyō’mer dāwīd ’el-libbō): "Said to his heart" implies an internal monologue, a personal resolution, rather than consulting God through the ephod or prayer. This is a significant departure from David's typical practice of seeking divine counsel during crises. It indicates a decision born out of human fear and reasoning.
  • This phrase emphasizes that the thought process and decision were wholly internal, without external input or divine guidance sought.
• Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul:
  • (כִּי עַתָּה אֶסָּפֶה יּוֹם אֶחָד בְּיַד־שָׁאוּל - kî ‘attâ ’essāpeh yōm ’eḥāḏ bəyaḏ-šā’ûl):
  • "perish" (אֶסָּפֶה - es·sa·peh, from root saphah): Means "to be swept away," "to be consumed," "to be brought to an end." It conveys a strong sense of inevitability and final destruction. This reflects David's complete despair regarding his immediate future within Israel.
  • This expression indicates a complete loss of perspective, momentarily forgetting God's promises and previous deliverances. Despite all of God's miraculous protections, David falls prey to a human outlook of defeat.
• There is nothing better for me:
  • (אֵין־לִי טוֹב - ʾên-lî ṭōḇ): "There is no good for me," or "nothing beneficial for me." This is David's grim conclusion, seeing no viable option for survival if he stays. It reveals the depth of his exhaustion and feeling trapped.
• than to escape to the land of the Philistines:
  • (כִּי אִם־הִמָּלֵט אֶל־אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים - kî ʾim-himāṭṭ ʾel-ʾereṣ pəlišhtîm):
  • "escape" (הִמָּלֵט - himāṭṭ, from malat): To flee for refuge, to deliver oneself.
  • "land of the Philistines" (ʾereṣ pəlišhtîm): The territory of Israel's bitter and ancient enemies. David had previously been God's instrument against them (e.g., Goliath). This move represents a paradox – seeking safety with those he once fought, implying extreme desperation and a morally compromising situation. It also represents leaving the promised land, a place of God's direct covenant.
• And Saul will despair of seeking me any longer in all the territory of Israel:
  • (וְנוֹאַשׁ שָׁאוּל מִבַּקְשֵׁנִי עוֹד בְּכָל־גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל - wənōʾaš šāʾûl mibbaqšēnî ‘ôḏ bəḵāl-gəḇûl yisrāʾēl):
  • "despair" (וְנוֹאַשׁ - wənōʾaš, from yaash): To lose hope, to be given up as lost, to give up hope in the chase. David's strategy relies on Saul finally giving up once David is truly beyond his reach, outside the known borders.
  • "all the territory of Israel" (bəḵāl-gəḇûl yisrāʾēl): Emphasizes that Saul's pursuit has been exhaustive throughout the entire land, reinforcing David's feeling that nowhere in Israel is safe.
• and so I shall escape out of his hand:
  • (וְנִצַּלְתִּי מִיָּדוֹ - wəniṣṣaltî mîyāḏô):
  • "escape" (וְנִצַּלְתִּי - wəniṣṣaltî, from naṣal): To be delivered, to be snatched away. The goal is self-preservation by means of his own plan.

1 Samuel 27 1 Bonus section

This moment is considered a spiritual low point for David, often overlooked compared to his triumphs and later kingship. It is a period of "shadow" in David's life, demonstrating that faith is not a static state but a dynamic walk often challenged by circumstances. Though he relied on his wits, this period in Gath and Ziklag (following this verse) forced him into morally questionable acts of deception to survive, revealing the downstream consequences of a decision not guided by God. David's choice to abandon his reliance on the Lord here underscores the importance of trusting in God even when circumstances seem overwhelmingly dire. God remained faithful to David, even when David faltered in his faith, proving His steadfastness and commitment to His divine plan.

1 Samuel 27 1 Commentary

1 Samuel 27:1 captures a critical juncture in David's life, revealing a moment of human weakness and diminished faith amidst relentless pressure. Despite multiple divine deliverances from Saul's hand, and Saul's recent, seemingly repentant words, David succumbs to fear and fatigue, concluding he will "perish" at Saul's hand. His decision to "said in his heart" suggests a reliance on human reasoning rather than seeking God's counsel. Fleeing to the Philistine territory, a pagan land of Israel's enemies, was a drastic step; it represented seeking refuge outside God's promised land and his direct covenant protection, prioritizing self-preservation through strategic maneuver over divine trust. This act highlights David's humanity and illustrates that even strong figures of faith can experience profound moments of doubt and despair, leading to choices that depart from full reliance on God, ultimately leading to a complex and morally challenging period in his life (as seen in later chapters).