Bible/1 Samuel/28

1 Samuel 28:2

28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
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.

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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.”

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.

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. ¶

28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

What does 1 Samuel 28:2 mean?

1 Samuel 28:2 is a verse in the book of 1 Samuel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include דָּוִד (Dâvid), אָמַר (ʼâmar), אֲכִישׁ (ʼĂkîysh). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
DavidדָּוִדDâvid/daw-veed'/H1732David, the youngest son of Jesse
saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
to
Achish,אֲכִישׁʼĂkîysh/aw-keesh'/H397Akish, a Philistine king
Surelyכֵּןkên/kane/H3651properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)
thou
shalt
knowיָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
what
thy
servantעֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/H5650a servant
can
do.עָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
And
AchishאֲכִישׁʼĂkîysh/aw-keesh'/H397Akish, a Philistine king
saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
to
David,דָּוִדDâvid/daw-veed'/H1732David, the youngest son of Jesse
Therefore
will
I
makeשׂוּםsûwm/soom/H7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
thee
keeperשָׁמַרshâmar/shaw-mar'/H8104properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
of
mine
headרֹאשׁrôʼsh/roshe/H7218the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
for
ever.יוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a 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 associated term), (often used adverb)

Commentary on 1 Samuel 28:2

HENRY_FULL · 1 Samuel 28:2
"gen5704" David has now quite taken leave both of Saul's court and of his camp, has bidden farewell to his alter idem—his other self, the beloved Jonathan; and henceforward to the end of this book he is looked upon and treated as an outlaw and proclaimed a traitor. We still find him shifting from place to place for his own safety, and Saul pursuing him. His troubles are very particularly related in this and the following chapters, not only to be a key to the Psalms, but that he might be, as other prophets, an example to the saints in all ages, "of suffering affliction, and of patience," and especially that he might be a type of Christ, who, being anointed to the kingdom, humbled himself, and was therefore highly exalted. But the example of the suffering Jesus was a copy without a blot, that of David was not so; witness the records of this chapter, where we find David in his flight, I. Imposing upon Abimelech the priest, to get from him both victuals and arms, ver. 1-9 . II. Imposing upon Achish, king of Gath, by feigning himself mad, ver. 10-15 . Justly are troubles called temptations, for many are by them drawn into sin.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 27:20

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. to me: Heb. before me

Genesis 27:24

And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

1 Samuel 19:17

And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

1 Samuel 22:22

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.

1 Kings 13:18

He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

Galatians 2:12

For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

Colossians 3:9

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

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AchishPhilistines

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Samuel 28:2.

Genesis 4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Genesis 1:11

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. grass: Heb. tender grass

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:7

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

Genesis 18:5

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. comfort: Heb. stay are: Heb. you have passed

Genesis 2:18

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. meet: Heb. as before him

Genesis 24:14

And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

Genesis 24:2

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Samuel 28:2 say?

1 Samuel 28:2 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is 1 Samuel 28:2 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Samuel 28:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Samuel.

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As you read 1 Samuel 28:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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