2 Samuel 1:14
New International Version
David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

New Living Translation
“Why were you not afraid to kill the LORD’s anointed one?” David asked.

English Standard Version
David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

Berean Standard Bible
So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

King James Bible
And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

New King James Version
So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

New American Standard Bible
And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to reach out with your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”

NASB 1995
Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”

NASB 1977
Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to send forth your hand to destroy the anointed of Yahweh?”

Amplified Bible
David said to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”

Christian Standard Bible
David questioned him, “How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David questioned him, “How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

American Standard Version
And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?

English Revised Version
And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David asked, "Why weren't you afraid to take it upon yourself to destroy the LORD's anointed king?"

Good News Translation
David asked him, "How is it that you dared kill the LORD's chosen king?"

International Standard Version
At this David asked him, "How is it that you weren't afraid to raise your hand to strike the LORD's anointed?"

Majority Standard Bible
So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

NET Bible
David replied to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"

New Heart English Bible
David said to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And David said to him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

World English Bible
David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David says to him, “How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the anointed of YHWH?”

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith unto him, 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of Jehovah?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will say to him, How, wert thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy Jehovah's Messiah?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill the Lord's anointed?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”

New American Bible
David said to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to desecrate the LORD’s anointed?”

New Revised Standard Version
David said to him, “Were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David said to him. How was it that you were not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David said to him: “How were you not afraid to stretch your hand to destroy the Anointed One of LORD JEHOVAH?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David said unto him: 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to him, How was it thou wast not afraid to lift thy hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Learns of Saul's Death
13And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.” 14So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” 15Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 24:6
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

1 Samuel 26:9-11
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” / David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. / But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

1 Chronicles 16:22
‘Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!’

Psalm 105:15
“Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!”

1 Samuel 31:4
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?

1 Samuel 12:3-5
Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” / “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.” / Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

1 Samuel 15:1
Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.

1 Samuel 16:13
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 26:23
May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed.

1 Kings 2:32
The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.

1 Kings 21:19
Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

2 Kings 1:10
Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

Matthew 26:52
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Romans 13:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.


Treasury of Scripture

And David said to him, How were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?

How

Numbers 12:8
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

1 Samuel 31:4
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

2 Peter 2:10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

stretch forth

1 Samuel 24:6
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

1 Samuel 26:9
And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

Psalm 105:15
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

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Afraid Anointed David Death Destroy Fear Forth Hand Holy Jehovah's LORD's Marked Oil Stretch Stretching Wast
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Afraid Anointed David Death Destroy Fear Forth Hand Holy Jehovah's LORD's Marked Oil Stretch Stretching Wast
2 Samuel 1
1. The Amalekite who accused himself of Saul's death is slain
17. David laments Saul and Jonathan with a song














Then David asked him
This phrase introduces David's direct confrontation with the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul. The Hebrew root for "asked" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which can also mean to inquire or demand. This indicates David's serious and probing nature in seeking the truth. David's leadership is marked by his commitment to justice and righteousness, reflecting his heart after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

Why were you not afraid
The word "afraid" comes from the Hebrew "יָרֵא" (yare), which implies a deep reverence or fear. In the context of ancient Israel, fear of the LORD was foundational to wisdom and obedience (Proverbs 9:10). David's question underscores the expectation that reverence for God should deter one from committing acts against His anointed. This reflects a broader biblical principle that fear of God should guide moral and ethical decisions.

to lift your hand
The phrase "lift your hand" is a Hebrew idiom for taking action, particularly in a violent or aggressive manner. In the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, raising one's hand against a king was seen as an act of rebellion and treason. This phrase highlights the gravity of the Amalekite's claim and the audacity of his actions against God's chosen leader.

to destroy
The Hebrew word for "destroy" is "שָׁחַת" (shachat), which can mean to ruin, corrupt, or annihilate. This term conveys the severity of the act against Saul, the LORD’s anointed. In biblical theology, destruction is often associated with divine judgment, yet here it is used to describe a human act against God’s appointed king, emphasizing the Amalekite's grave sin.

the LORD’s anointed
The term "anointed" is derived from the Hebrew "מָשִׁיחַ" (mashiach), meaning "Messiah" or "anointed one." In the Old Testament, kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil as a sign of being set apart for God’s service. Saul, despite his failures, was still the LORD’s anointed, and David consistently respected this divine appointment (1 Samuel 24:6). This respect for God’s anointed reflects a deep understanding of God’s sovereignty and the sacredness of His choices.

(14) How wast thou not afraid?--David now turns to the Amalekite. It does not matter whether he fully believed his story or not, the man must be judged by his own account of himself. (See 2Samuel 1:16.) Regicide was not in David's eyes merely a political crime; he had showed on more than one occasion of great temptation (1Samuel 24:6; 1Samuel 26:9; 1Samuel 26:11; 1Samuel 26:16) that he considered taking the life of "the Lord's anointed" as a religious offence of the greatest magnitude. It was an especially grievous thing for a foreigner and an Amalekite thus to smite him whom God had appointed as the monarch of Israel.



Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

him,
אֵלָ֖יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Why
אֵ֚יךְ (’êḵ)
Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

were you not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

afraid
יָרֵ֔אתָ (yā·rê·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

to lift
לִשְׁלֹ֙חַ֙ (liš·lō·aḥ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

your hand
יָֽדְךָ֔ (yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

to destroy
לְשַׁחֵ֖ת (lə·ša·ḥêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

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

anointed?”
מְשִׁ֥יחַ (mə·šî·aḥ)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4899: Anointed, a consecrated person, the Messiah


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OT History: 2 Samuel 1:14 David said to him How were you (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 1:13
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