The Meaning of 1 Samuel 24:15 Explained

1 Samuel 24:15

KJV: The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

YLT: And Jehovah hath been for judge, and hath judged between me and thee, yea, he seeth and pleadeth my cause, and doth deliver me out of thy hand.'

Darby: Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice in delivering me out of thy hand.

ASV: Jehovah therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  therefore be judge,  and judge  between me and thee, and see,  and plead  my cause,  and deliver  me out of thine hand. 

What does 1 Samuel 24:15 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 24:1-15 - Returning Good For Evil
Engedi is situated on the western shore of the Dead Sea. As Saul entered the cave, a very insidious temptation presented itself to David. Why not rid the kingdom of this cruel and oppressive monarch? Would it not confer a public benefit? Had not Samuel promised David the kingdom? Even if he himself did not strike the blow, why not let his men, who were not so squeamish, do so!But the man of God must not yield to such suggestions. He insisted on waiting the Lord's own time. He would not anticipate, by a single hour, the fulfillment of the great word on which he had been taught to rest through these weary years. The sensitiveness of his conscience was indicated in his compunction at having cut off a piece of the royal robe.
Never forget that opportunity does not make a wrong thing right. That the ship was waiting to sail to Tarshish did not make it right for Jonah to take passage. Our actions must not be determined by the opening of the door of circumstance, but by conscience, faith, obedience, and the high sense of Christian honor. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 24

1  David, in a cave at En Gedi, spares his life
8  He shows thereby his innocence,
16  Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 24:15 mean?

Therefore let be Yahweh judge and judge between me and you and see and plead - my case and deliver me out of your hand -
וְהָיָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְדַיָּ֔ן וְשָׁפַ֖ט בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְיֵ֙רֶא֙ וְיָרֵ֣ב אֶת־ רִיבִ֔י וְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִי מִיָּדֶֽךָ פ

וְהָיָ֤ה  Therefore  let  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְדַיָּ֔ן  judge 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דַּיָּן  
Sense: a judge.
וְשָׁפַ֖ט  and  judge 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
בֵּינִ֣י  between  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
וְיֵ֙רֶא֙  and  see 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְיָרֵ֣ב  and  plead 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: רִיב  
Sense: to strive, contend.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רִיבִ֔י  my  case 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רִיב 
Sense: strife, controversy, dispute.
וְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִי  and  deliver  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
מִיָּדֶֽךָ  out  of  your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation