The Meaning of 1 Samuel 21:14 Explained

1 Samuel 21:14

KJV: Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

YLT: And Achish saith unto his servants, 'Lo, ye see a man acting as a madman; why do ye bring him in unto me?

Darby: And Achish said to his servants, Behold, ye see the man is mad: why did ye bring him to me?

ASV: Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad; wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then said  Achish  unto his servants,  Lo, ye see  the man  is mad:  wherefore [then] have ye brought  him to me? 

What does 1 Samuel 21:14 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 21:14 mean?

So he changed - his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands - scratched on the doors of the gate and let fall down his saliva on his beard
וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ אֶת־ טַעְמוֹ֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל בְּיָדָ֑ם [ויתו] (וַיְתָיו֙) עַל־ דַּלְת֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיּ֥וֹרֶד רִיר֖וֹ אֶל־ זְקָנֽוֹ

וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ  So  he  changed 
Parse:
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: to repeat, do again, change, alter.
אֶת־  - 
Parse:
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
טַעְמוֹ֙  his  behavior 
Parse:
Root: טַעַם  
Sense: taste, judgment.
בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם  before  them 
Parse:
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל  and  feigned  madness 
Parse:
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
בְּיָדָ֑ם  in  their  hands 
Parse:
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
[ויתו]  - 
Parse:
(וַיְתָיו֙)  scratched 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: תָּוָה  
Sense: to scrabble, limit, mark, make or set a mark.
דַּלְת֣וֹת  the  doors 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: דַּל 
Sense: door, gate.
הַשַּׁ֔עַר  of  the  gate 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
וַיּ֥וֹרֶד  and  let  fall  down 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
רִיר֖וֹ  his  saliva 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רִיר  
Sense: slime juice or liquid, spittle.
זְקָנֽוֹ  his  beard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָקָן  
Sense: beard, chin.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 21:14?

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