1 Samuel 23:12
New International Version
Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will.”

New Living Translation
Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the LORD replied, “Yes, they will betray you.”

English Standard Version
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”

Berean Standard Bible
So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

King James Bible
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

New King James Version
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver you.

New American Standard Bible
Then David said, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will hand you over.”

NASB 1995
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”

NASB 1977
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And Yahweh said, “They will surrender you.”

Amplified Bible
Then David asked, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” The LORD said, “They will surrender you.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul? ” “They will,” the LORD responded.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” “They will,” the LORD responded.

American Standard Version
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul? And Jehovah said, They will deliver thee up.

Contemporary English Version
David asked, "Would the leaders of Keilah hand me and my soldiers over to Saul?" "Yes, they would," the LORD answered.

English Revised Version
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?" David asked. "They will hand you over," the LORD answered.

Good News Translation
"And will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?" David asked again. "They will," the LORD answered.

International Standard Version
Then David said, "Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?" The LORD said, "They'll hand you over."

Majority Standard Bible
So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

NET Bible
David asked, "Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me and my men into Saul's hand?" The LORD said, "They will deliver you over."

New Heart English Bible
Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" The LORD said, "They will deliver you up."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

World English Bible
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” Yahweh said, “They will deliver you up.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David says, “Do the possessors of Keilah shut up me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And YHWH says, “They shut [you] up.”

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith, 'Do the possessors of Keilah shut me up, and my men, into the hand of Saul?' And Jehovah saith, 'They shut thee up.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will say, Will the lords of Keilah shut me up and my men into the hand of Saul? And Jehovah will say, They will shut up.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said: Will the men of Ceila deliver me, and my men, into the hands of Saul? And the Lord said: They will deliver thee up.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me, and the men who are with me, into the hands of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”

New American Bible
David then asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The LORD answered: They will deliver you.

New Revised Standard Version
Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The LORD said, “They will surrender you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said, They will deliver you; arise and go out of the city.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Are the Lords of the city betraying me and the men who are with me into the hand of Shaul?” And LORD JEHOVAH said, “They are betraying you. Arise, go out from the city.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said David: 'Will the men of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul?' And the LORD said: 'They will deliver thee up.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Pursues David
11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. 12So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD. 13Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.…

Cross References
Psalm 54:3-4
For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah / Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.

Psalm 31:13-15
For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life. / But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” / My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. / In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 142:3-4
Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me. / Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

Psalm 18:4-6
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. / The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. / In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Psalm 59:1-3
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me. / Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed. / See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

Psalm 34:17-19
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. / The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. / Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Psalm 37:32-33
Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, / the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.

Psalm 41:5-9
My enemies say with malice: “When will he die and be forgotten?” / My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad. / All who hate me whisper against me; they imagine the worst for me: ...

Psalm 55:12-14
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. / But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. / We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

Matthew 10:23
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

John 11:53-54
So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. / As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.

Acts 9:23-25
After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, / but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. / One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

Acts 23:12-24
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...

2 Corinthians 11:32-33
In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me. / But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver you up.

deliver [heb] shut up

Psalm 31:8
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

They will

1 Samuel 23:7
And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

Psalm 62:1
To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

Psalm 118:8
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

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Citizens David Deliver Hand Keilah Kei'lah Possessors Saul Shut Surrender
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Citizens David Deliver Hand Keilah Kei'lah Possessors Saul Shut Surrender
1 Samuel 23
1. David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah
7. God showing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites,
13. he escapes from Keilah
14. In Ziph Jonathan comes and comforts him
19. The Ziphites discover him to Saul
25. At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines
29. He dwells at En Gedi














Then David asked
This phrase highlights David's consistent reliance on divine guidance. The Hebrew root for "asked" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which implies seeking counsel or inquiring earnestly. David's approach to God in prayer reflects his humility and recognition of God's sovereignty. In a historical context, David's life was marked by constant threats, and his dependence on God for direction was crucial for his survival and leadership.

Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men
The term "surrender" comes from the Hebrew "סָגַר" (sagar), meaning to close or deliver up. This reflects the precariousness of David's situation. Keilah, a fortified city, had just been saved by David from the Philistines, yet the loyalty of its citizens was uncertain. This phrase underscores the theme of human betrayal and the fickle nature of political alliances, which is a recurring theme in David's life.

into the hand of Saul?
The "hand" in Hebrew, "יָד" (yad), often symbolizes power or control. Saul, the reigning king, was in relentless pursuit of David, viewing him as a threat to his throne. This phrase captures the tension between David and Saul, a significant narrative in 1 Samuel, illustrating the struggle between God's anointed king and the people's choice.

And the LORD said
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication between God and David. The Hebrew "אָמַר" (amar) for "said" indicates a declaration or authoritative statement. It reflects the intimate relationship David had with God, where he received clear and direct answers to his inquiries. This divine interaction is a testament to God's involvement in the lives of those He chooses to lead His people.

They will surrender you
God's response is straightforward and prophetic. The certainty of the phrase, "They will surrender you," highlights God's omniscience and the inevitability of His will. Despite David's recent victory for Keilah, the citizens' decision to betray him serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human loyalty and the ultimate reliability of God's guidance. This moment foreshadows the trials David would face and the faith he would need to maintain in God's plan for his life.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So David
דָּוִ֔ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

asked,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Will the citizens
בַּעֲלֵ֧י (ba·‘ă·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner

of Keilah
קְעִילָ֛ה (qə·‘î·lāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7084: Keilah -- a city in Judah

surrender
הֲיַסְגִּ֜רוּ (hă·yas·gi·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

me
אֹתִ֥י (’ō·ṯî)
Direct object marker | first person common singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

my men
אֲנָשַׁ֖י (’ă·nā·šay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

into the hand
בְּיַד־ (bə·yaḏ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of Saul?”
שָׁא֑וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

“They will,”
יַסְגִּֽירוּ׃ (yas·gî·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

answered
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD.
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 1 Samuel 23:12 Then said David Will the men (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 23:11
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