1 Samuel 26:10

Authorized King James Version

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David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said H559
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 16
to say (used with great latitude)
דָּוִד֙ David H1732
דָּוִד֙ David
Strong's: H1732
Word #: 2 of 16
david, the youngest son of jesse
חַי liveth H2416
חַי liveth
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 3 of 16
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
יְהוָ֖ה furthermore As the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה furthermore As the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כִּ֥י H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 5 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 6 of 16
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יְהוָ֖ה furthermore As the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה furthermore As the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 7 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יִגָּפֶ֑נּוּ shall smite H5062
יִגָּפֶ֑נּוּ shall smite
Strong's: H5062
Word #: 8 of 16
to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease)
אֽוֹ H176
אֽוֹ
Strong's: H176
Word #: 9 of 16
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
יוֹמ֤וֹ him or his day H3117
יוֹמ֤וֹ him or his day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 10 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
יָבוֹא֙ shall come H935
יָבוֹא֙ shall come
Strong's: H935
Word #: 11 of 16
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וָמֵ֔ת to die H4191
וָמֵ֔ת to die
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 12 of 16
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
א֧וֹ H176
א֧וֹ
Strong's: H176
Word #: 13 of 16
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
בַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה into battle H4421
בַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה into battle
Strong's: H4421
Word #: 14 of 16
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
יֵרֵ֖ד or he shall descend H3381
יֵרֵ֖ד or he shall descend
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 15 of 16
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
וְנִסְפָּֽה׃ and perish H5595
וְנִסְפָּֽה׃ and perish
Strong's: H5595
Word #: 16 of 16
properly, to scrape (literally, to shave; but usually figuratively) together (i.e., to accumulate or increase) or away (i.e., to scatter, remove, or r

Analysis & Commentary

David articulates three possible ends for Saul, all originating from the LORD rather than human agency. The threefold possibility (divine smiting, natural death, or death in battle) places Saul's fate entirely in God's hands. The Hebrew oath formula 'chai-YHWH' (as the LORD lives) invokes divine witness to David's commitment. This declaration reveals David's mature theology of providence: God controls the timing and means of all things, and human impatience must not preempt divine timing.

Historical Context

The oath 'As the LORD liveth' was the most solemn affirmation available in Israelite culture, invoking God's own life as guarantee. David's willingness to wait for one of three natural outcomes demonstrates his confidence that God's justice would ultimately prevail without his intervention.

Questions for Reflection

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