The Meaning of 1 Samuel 21:13 Explained

1 Samuel 21:13

KJV: And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

YLT: and changeth his behaviour before their eyes, and feigneth himself mad in their hand, and scribbleth on the doors of the gate, and letteth down his spittle unto his beard.

Darby: And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

ASV: And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he changed  his behaviour  before  them, and feigned himself mad  in their hands,  and scrabbled  on the doors  of the gate,  and let his spittle  fall down  upon his beard. 

What does 1 Samuel 21:13 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 21:1-15 - Food And Weapon: A Side Step
David fled to Nob, at the north of the Mount of Olives, where Ahimelech presided over the relics of the ancient sanctuary. His suspicions were removed by an evasion on David's part, which he must have regretted to the end of his life. If we are right with God and know ourselves to be on the predestined path, we need not resort to deceit nor subterfuge-if we adopt such means, the results are likely to be disastrous to ourselves and others, our innocent fellow-sufferers.
It was the Sabbath day, for the show-bread had just been removed from the table, Leviticus 24:8. This was the perquisite of the priest, but, in subordinating the ceremonial to the urgency of human need, Ahimelech acted in strict harmony with the spirit of the Mosaic legislation. This is the distinct teaching of Mark 2:25, and of our Lord's insistence on his right to heal on the Sabbath day. Read Psalms 34:1-22; Psalms 56:1-13 with the closing paragraph of 1 Samuel 21:1-15. David's behavior was unworthy, yet, in his heart, he was hiding in God. We must not judge by appearances, but with discerning judgment. There is a large measure of humanity in all God's saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 21

1  David at Nob obtains Ahimelech's hallowed bread
7  Doeg is present
8  David takes Goliath's sword
10  David at Gath feigns himself insane

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 21:13 mean?

now took David - words these to heart and was afraid very much of Achish the king of Gath
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בִּלְבָב֑וֹ וַיִּרָ֣א מְאֹ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֖י אָכִ֥ישׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־ גַּֽת

וַיָּ֧שֶׂם  now  took 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
דָּוִ֛ד  David 
Parse:
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse:
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדְּבָרִ֥ים  words 
Parse:
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הָאֵ֖לֶּה  these 
Parse:
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
בִּלְבָב֑וֹ  to  heart 
Parse:
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
וַיִּרָ֣א  and  was  afraid 
Parse:
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מְאֹ֔ד  very  much 
Parse:
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
אָכִ֥ישׁ  Achish 
Parse:
Root: אָכִישׁ  
Sense: Philistine king of Gath.
מֶֽלֶךְ־  the  king 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
גַּֽת  of  Gath 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גַּת  
Sense: one of the five royal or chief cities of the Philistines and the native city of Goliath.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 21:13?

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