1 Samuel 21:11 But the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"

Bible > 1 Samuel > Chapter 21 > Verse 11

◄ 1 Samuel 21:11 ►

New International Version
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “’Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

New Living Translation
But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

English Standard Version
And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

Berean Standard Bible
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

King James Bible
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

New King James Version
And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

New American Standard Bible
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

NASB 1995
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands ‘?”

NASB 1977
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has struck his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

Amplified Bible
The servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing in praise of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”

Christian Standard Bible
But Achish’s servants said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Don’t they sing about him during their dances: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Achish’s servants said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Don’t they sing about him during their dances: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands?”

American Standard Version
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?

Contemporary English Version
The officers of King Achish were also there, and they asked Achish, "Isn't David a king back in his own country? Don't the Israelites dance and sing, 'Saul has killed a thousand enemies; David has killed ten thousand'?"

English Revised Version
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Achish's officers asked, "Isn't this David, the king of [his] country? He's the one they used to sing about in the dances: 'Saul has defeated thousands but David tens of thousands.'"

Good News Translation
The king's officials said to Achish, "Isn't this David, the king of his country? This is the man about whom the women sang, as they danced, 'Saul has killed thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands.'"

International Standard Version
The officials of Achish told him, "Isn't this David, king of the land? Isn't this the one about whom they sang as they danced, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands'?"

Majority Standard Bible
But the servants of Achish said to him, ?Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ?Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands???

NET Bible
The servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one that they sing about when they dance, saying, 'Saul struck down his thousands, But David his tens of thousands'?"

New Heart English Bible
The servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another about him in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

World English Bible
The servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David the king of the land? Didn’t they sing to one another about him in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and the servants of Achish say to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Is it not of this one [that] they sing in dances, saying, Saul struck among his thousands, and David among his myriads?”

Young's Literal Translation
and the servants of Achish say unto him, 'Is not this David king of the land? is it not of this one they sing in dances, saying, 'Saul smote among his thousands, and David among his myriads?'

Smith's Literal Translation
The original Julia E. Smith Bible records the following as a verse reference for 1 Sam 21:12 And the servants of Achish will say to him, Is not this David king of the land? will they not answer to this in dances, saying, Saul struck against his thousands and David against his ten thousands?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the servants of Achis, when they saw David, said to him: Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to him in their dances, saying: Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the servants of Achish, when they had seen David, said to him: “Is this not David, the king of the land? Were they not singing about him, while dancing, saying, ‘Saul has struck down a thousand, and David ten thousand?’ ”

New American Bible
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Is it not for him that during their dances they sing out, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands’?”

New Revised Standard Version
The servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David, the king of the land of Israel? Did not the daughters of Israel sing to one another of him in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David arose and fled on that day from before Shaul, and came to Akish, King of Gath

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the servants of Achish said unto him: 'Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying: Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the servants of Anchus said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did not the dancing women begin the son to him, saying, Saul has smitten his thousand, and David his ten thousands?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

David Flees to Gath
…10That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 12Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Psalm 56:1-13
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack. / My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me. / When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. ...

Psalm 34:1-22
Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. / My soul boasts in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice. / Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. ...

1 Samuel 18:7
And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

1 Samuel 29:5
Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

1 Samuel 18:6
As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

1 Samuel 17:45-47
But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 18:12-16
So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. / Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, / and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him. ...

1 Samuel 19:8
When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him.

1 Samuel 19:11
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”

1 Samuel 20:31
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”

2 Samuel 5:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

2 Samuel 7:8
Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.

2 Samuel 22:1
And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

1 Chronicles 14:17
And David’s fame went out into every land, and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.

Matthew 21:9
The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Treasury of Scripture

And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

the servants

Psalm 56:1
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

the king

1 Samuel 16:1
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

1 Samuel 18:7,8
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands…

1 Samuel 29:5
Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

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Achish A'chish Danced Dances David Death Myriads Saul Servants Sing Slain Smote Songs Ten Tens Thousands

1 Samuel 21

1. David at Nob obtains Ahimelech's hallowed bread
7. Doeg is present
8. David takes Goliath's sword
10. David at Gath feigns himself insane

Berean Study Bible

But the servants of Achish
The term "servants" here refers to the officials or attendants of Achish, the king of Gath. In the historical context, Gath was one of the five Philistine city-states, and Achish was a prominent leader. The Hebrew word for "servants" is "עֲבָדִים" (avadim), which can also mean slaves or subjects, indicating their role in serving the king. This highlights the political structure of Philistine society, where the king's attendants were keenly aware of regional events and figures, such as David.

said to him
This phrase indicates a direct communication to Achish, suggesting that the servants were bold enough to speak to their king about their concerns. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, speaking to a king required a certain level of confidence and urgency, reflecting the gravity of the situation they perceived with David's presence.

Is this not David
The recognition of David by the Philistine servants underscores his fame and the widespread knowledge of his exploits. The Hebrew name "David" (דָּוִד) means "beloved," and his reputation had evidently spread beyond Israel's borders. This recognition also foreshadows the tension and fear that David's presence would cause among the Philistines.

the king of the land?
This phrase is intriguing because, at this point in the narrative, David is not yet the king of Israel. The servants' reference to him as "king" could be seen as an acknowledgment of his destined role or as a reflection of his leadership and military prowess. The Hebrew word for "king" is "מֶלֶךְ" (melech), which signifies authority and rule. This premature recognition of David's kingship highlights the divine anointing and future promise over his life.

Did they not sing about him
The act of singing about David indicates the cultural practice of celebrating heroes through song and dance. In ancient Israel, songs were a means of oral tradition, preserving history and heroic deeds. The Hebrew verb "sing" (שִׁיר) suggests a public proclamation of David's victories, which had become well-known even among the Philistines.

as they danced
Dancing was a common expression of joy and celebration in ancient Israelite culture. The Hebrew word "רָקַד" (raqad) means to leap or dance, often in a festive or religious context. This phrase paints a picture of the communal joy and national pride that David's victories inspired among the Israelites.

‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?
This quote is a reference to the popular song that celebrated David's military successes. The comparison between Saul and David highlights the shift in public favor from Saul to David, which is a recurring theme in the narrative. The numbers "thousands" and "tens of thousands" are hyperbolic expressions common in Hebrew poetry, emphasizing the magnitude of David's achievements. This phrase encapsulates the growing tension between Saul and David, as well as the divine favor that rested upon David, setting the stage for his eventual rise to kingship.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Is not this David?--Some expositors have supposed, but quite needlessly, that it was the sword of Goliath which betrayed the identity of the hero; but although David in his humility did not suspect how widely spread was his fame, he was evidently as well known in Philistia as in his own land. That popular lilt, the folk-song of the Israelitish maidens, which sang of the prowess of David, the son of Jesse, was no doubt current in frontier towns like Gath, and at once the fugitive was recognised. We hear of no attempt made upon his life, or even against his liberty. The feeling among his generous foes was rather pitiful admiration mingled with wonder at seeing the doer of such splendid achievements in poverty and in exile.

David the king.--Here, again, the title king is vaguely used. Neither the people of Gath nor his own countrymen--save, perhaps, a few chosen spirits--knew of the sacred anointing by Samuel at Bethlehem. The appellation simply means: Is not this the renowned warrior, the greatest man in Israel of whom the people sing? Saul, our sovereign, has been a valiant captain over us, and has slain his thousands; but this one is greater still, he has slain his ten thousands.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - David the king of the land. The servants of Achish use the title of king in a very general way. Thus Achish, though really a seren (see on 1 Samuel 5:11), is called king of Gath; and they meant nothing more as regards David than that he was Israel's great man, though in accepting Goliath's challenge he had undertaken what in old time was regarded as the king's especial duty. Did they not sing one to another of him in dances? The Hebrew method of singing was by choruses, who sang and danced in turns to the music of their tambours (see on 1 Samuel 18:7). David evidently had hoped not to be recognised, but to be admitted to serve as a soldier, or in some other capacity, without many questions being asked. As we find an Edomite in Saul's service, Cushites, Maachathites, and other foreigners in the employment of David, there was probably much of this desertion of one service for another, especially as kings in those days had absolute authority and their displeasure was death.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But the servants
עַבְדֵ֤י (‘aḇ·ḏê)
0
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

of Achish
אָכִישׁ֙ (’ā·ḵîš)
0
Strong's 397: Achish -- king of Gath

said
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
0
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to him,
אֵלָ֔יו (’ê·lāw)
0
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“[Is] this
זֶ֥ה (zeh)
0
Strong's 2088: This, that

not
הֲלוֹא־ (hă·lō·w-)
0
Strong's 3808: Not, no

David,
דָוִ֖ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
0
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

the king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
0
Strong's 4428: A king

of the land?
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
0
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Did they not
הֲל֣וֹא (hă·lō·w)
0
Strong's 3808: Not, no

sing
יַעֲנ֤וּ (ya·‘ă·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

about him
לָזֶ֗ה (lā·zeh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2088: This, that

in their dances,
בַמְּחֹלוֹת֙ (ḇam·mə·ḥō·lō·wṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4246: A dance

saying:
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Saul
שָׁאוּל֙ (šā·’ūl)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

has slain
הִכָּ֤ה (hik·kāh)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 5221: To strike

[his] thousands,
בַּאֲלָפָ֔יו (ba·’ă·lā·p̄āw)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

and David
וְדָוִ֖ד (wə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

[his] tens of thousands’?”
בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃ (bə·riḇ·ḇō·ṯāw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7233: Multitude, myriad, ten thousand

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OT History: 1 Samuel 21:11 The servants of Achish said to him (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)