1 Samuel 29:3

Authorized King James Version

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

Word-by-Word Analysis

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר

H559

Then said

to say (used with great latitude)

שָׂרֵ֣י

H8269

the princes

a head person (of any rank or class)

פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים

H6430

of the Philistines

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

מָ֖ה

H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

הָֽעִבְרִ֣ים

H5680

What do these Hebrews

an eberite (i.e., hebrew) or descendant of eber

הָאֵ֑לֶּה

H428

these or those

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר

H559

Then said

to say (used with great latitude)

אָכִ֜ישׁ

H397

here And Achish

akish, a philistine king

אֶל

H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

#10

שָׂרֵ֣י

H8269

the princes

a head person (of any rank or class)

#11

פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים

H6430

of the Philistines

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

#12

הֲלֽוֹא

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

#13

זֶ֨ה

H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

#14

דָוִ֜ד

H1732

Is not this David

david, the youngest son of jesse

#15

עֶ֣בֶד׀

H5650

the servant

a servant

#16

שָׁא֣וּל

H7586

of Saul

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

#17

מֶֽלֶךְ

H4428

the king

a king

#18

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל

H3478

of Israel

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

#19

אֲשֶׁ֨ר

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

#20

הָיָ֤ה

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

#21

אִתִּי֙

H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

#22

זֶ֤ה

H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

#23

הַיּ֥וֹם

H3117

in him since

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

#24

אוֹ

H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

#25

זֶ֣ה

H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

#26

שָׁנִ֔ים

H8141

or these years

a year (as a revolution of time)

#27

וְלֹֽא

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

#28

מָצָ֤אתִי

H4672

and I have found

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

#29

בוֹ֙

#30

מְא֔וּמָה

H3972

no fault

properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing

#31

הַיּ֥וֹם

H3117

in him since

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

#32

נָפְל֖וֹ

H5307

he fell

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

#33

עַד

H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

#34

הַיּ֥וֹם

H3117

in him since

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

#35

הַזֶּֽה׃

H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

How might the original audience's understanding of divine revelation differ from modern interpretations, and what bridges can be built between ancient meaning and contemporary application?
In what ways does understanding divine revelation in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about salvation?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from physical deliverance in the Old Testament to spiritual redemption in the New, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?

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