Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.” Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” New Living Translation “Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.” English Standard Version David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” Berean Standard Bible David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.” King James Bible And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. New King James Version So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.” New American Standard Bible David said to Achish, “Very well, you will learn what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Then I will assuredly make you my bodyguard for life!” NASB 1995 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” NASB 1977 And David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” Legacy Standard Bible And David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” Amplified Bible David said to Achish, “All right, you shall know what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard for life.” Christian Standard Bible David replied to Achish, “Good, you will find out what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.” Holman Christian Standard Bible David replied to Achish, “Good, you will find out what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.” American Standard Version And David said to Achish, Therefore thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my head for ever. English Revised Version And David said to Achish, Therefore thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Very well," David responded to Achish, "you will then know what I can do." "Very well," Achish told David, "I will make you my bodyguard for life." Good News Translation "Of course," David answered. "I am your servant, and you will see for yourself what I can do." Achish said, "Good! I will make you my permanent bodyguard." International Standard Version David told Achish, "Very well, you will now see what your servant will do." Achish told David, "Very well, I'll appoint you as my permanent bodyguard." Majority Standard Bible David replied, ?Then you will come to know what your servant can do.? ?Very well,? said Achish. ?I will make you my bodyguard for life.? NET Bible David replied to Achish, "That being the case, you will come to know what your servant can do!" Achish said to David, "Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on." New Heart English Bible David said to Achish, "Therefore you shall know what your servant will do." Achish said to David, "therefore I will make you my bodyguard for ever." Webster's Bible Translation And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my head for ever. World English Bible David said to Achish, “Therefore you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd David says to Achish, “Therefore you know that which your servant does.” And Achish says to David, “Therefore I appoint you keeper of my head [for] all the days.” Young's Literal Translation And David saith unto Achish, 'Therefore -- thou dost know that which thy servant dost do.' And Achish saith unto David, 'Therefore -- keeper of my head I do appoint thee all the days.' Smith's Literal Translation And David will say to Achish, For this thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achish will say to David, For this I will set thee a watcher for my head all the days. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd David said to Achis: Now thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achis said to David: And I will appoint thee to guard my life for ever. Catholic Public Domain Version And David said to Achish, “You know now what your servant will do.” And Achish said to David, “And so, I will appoint you to guard my head for all days.” New American Bible David answered Achish, “Good! Now you shall learn what your servant can do.” Then Achish said to David, “I shall appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.” New Revised Standard Version David said to Achish, “Very well, then you shall know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd David said to Achish, Surely you shall know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And David said to Akish: “Therefore you shall know what your Servant will do!” And Akish said to David: “Therefore I will make you my Top Guard all the days!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And David said to Achish: 'Therefore thou shalt know what thy servant will do.' And Achish said to David: 'Therefore will I make thee keeper of my head for ever.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And David said to Anchus, Thus now thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Anchus said to David, So will I make thee captain of my body-guard continually. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Philistines Gather Against Israel1Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.” 2David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.” 3Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.… Cross References 1 Samuel 29:2-3 As the Philistine leaders marched out with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish. / Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.” 1 Samuel 27:12 So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.” 1 Samuel 29:6-9 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders. / Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.” / “But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” ... 1 Samuel 18:17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 1 Samuel 21:10-15 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. / 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’?” / Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. ... 1 Samuel 27:1 David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” 1 Samuel 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. 2 Samuel 15:34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’ 2 Samuel 16:19 Furthermore, whom should I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.” 2 Kings 8:13 “But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael. And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.” 1 Chronicles 12:19 Some from Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted and sent David away, saying, “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”) Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 26:25 Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.” Luke 22:48 But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” John 13:27-30 And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” / But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him. / Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. ... Treasury of Scripture And David said to Achish, Surely you shall know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make you keeper of my head for ever. Surely 1 Samuel 27:10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. 2 Samuel 16:16-19 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king… Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Jump to Previous Achish A'chish Appoint Bodyguard David Head Keeper Life Servant Surely TherebyJump to Next Achish A'chish Appoint Bodyguard David Head Keeper Life Servant Surely Thereby1 Samuel 28 1. Achish puts confidence in David3. Saul having destroyed the witches 4. and now in his fear forsaken of God 7. has recourse to a witch 8. who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel 15. Saul hearing his ruin, faints 21. The woman and his servants refresh him with meat David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” David's response to Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, reflects his cunning and strategic thinking. At this point, David is living among the Philistines to escape King Saul's pursuit. His statement is intentionally ambiguous, allowing him to maintain his loyalty to Israel while appearing to serve Achish. This duality in David's actions is a recurring theme in his life, showcasing his wisdom and ability to navigate complex political situations. The phrase "your servant" is significant, as it reflects David's humility and willingness to serve, a characteristic that aligns with his later role as a servant-leader in Israel. This moment foreshadows David's future as a king who is both a warrior and a diplomat. “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.” Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel, who is currently living among the Philistines to escape King Saul's pursuit. 2. Achish The king of Gath, a Philistine city, who has given refuge to David and his men. Achish trusts David, believing he has become a loyal servant. 3. Philistines A group of people who were enemies of Israel. David is living among them, which creates a complex situation given his future role as king of Israel. 4. Gath A Philistine city where Achish reigns and where David seeks refuge. 5. Saul The current king of Israel, who is not directly mentioned in this verse but is a significant figure in the surrounding account. His pursuit of David is the reason David is in Philistine territory. Teaching Points Trust in God's SovereigntyDespite David's precarious situation, God is in control. Believers can trust that God is working through their circumstances, even when they seem dire. Integrity in Difficult Situations David's response to Achish shows a level of diplomacy and wisdom. Christians are called to maintain integrity and wisdom, even when navigating complex relationships or environments. God's Protection and Provision David's survival and eventual kingship demonstrate God's protection and provision. Believers can be assured that God will provide for their needs and guide them through challenges. The Danger of Compromise Living among the Philistines put David in a position where his loyalties could be questioned. Christians should be cautious of compromising situations that may challenge their faithfulness to God.(2) And David said to Achish.--Sorely perplexed, David temporises. He dares not refuse; and yet, the idea of commanding a Philistine division in a war with Israel was to him a terrible alternative. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.--The King of Gath, like so many others with whom the winning son of Jesse came in contact in his career, seems to have been completely won by his loveable, generous character, and would not see any ambiguity in David's reply, but at once offers him in the coming campaign a most distinguished appointment in the army of Gath--the command of the body-guard: for this is what Ewald understands the offer of King Achish to signify. But, as we shall see, the blind confidence of the king was not fully shared in by the Philistine chieftains; jealousy of the distinguished stranger captain opened their eyes to David's real feelings. (See 1Samuel 29:3; 1Samuel 29:11.) It is also quite conceivable, too, that whispers respecting David s expeditions during the past year were current in some Philistine quarters. The eyes of the king, thought these more far-seeing nobles, were blinded by his partiality for his military vassal. (See Note on 1Samuel 29:3.) Verse 2. - Surely thou shalt know. Hebrew, "Therefore thou shalt know," i.e. if the case be so, thou shalt know, etc. The rendering of the A.V. makes David repeat the words of Achish, which literally are, "knowing thou shalt know," the Hebrew way of making a strong affirmation. David's reply is really ambiguous, but is understood by Achish as a boastful assent, and he thereupon promises, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head, i.e. captain of my bodyguard, forever. Therefore is exactly the same word as that used by David, and has just the same meaning, namely, "If the case be so, if thou provest thy valour, then I, etc. SAUL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR (vers. 3-25).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Davidדָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse replied, וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Then לָכֵן֙ (lā·ḵên) Adverb Strong's 3651: So -- thus you אַתָּ֣ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you will come to know תֵדַ֔ע (ṯê·ḏa‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3045: To know what אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that your servant עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (‘aḇ·de·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant can do.” יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (ya·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make “Very well,” לָכֵ֗ן (lā·ḵên) Adverb Strong's 3651: So -- thus said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say Achish. אָכִישׁ֙ (’ā·ḵîš) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 397: Achish -- king of Gath “I will make you אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֖ (’ă·śî·mə·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set my bodyguard שֹׁמֵ֧ר (šō·mêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to for life.” הַיָּמִֽים׃ (hay·yā·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day Links 1 Samuel 28:2 NIV1 Samuel 28:2 NLT 1 Samuel 28:2 ESV 1 Samuel 28:2 NASB 1 Samuel 28:2 KJV 1 Samuel 28:2 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 28:2 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 28:2 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 28:2 French Bible 1 Samuel 28:2 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 28:2 David said to Achish Therefore you shall (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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