The Meaning of 1 Samuel 26:23 Explained

1 Samuel 26:23

KJV: The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

YLT: and Jehovah doth turn back to each his righteousness and his faithfulness, in that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand, and I have not been willing to put forth my hand against the anointed of Jehovah,

Darby: And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for Jehovah gave thee into my hand this day, and I would not stretch forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.

ASV: And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; forasmuch as Jehovah delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  render  to every man  his righteousness  and his faithfulness:  for the LORD  delivered  thee into [my] hand  to day,  but I would  not stretch forth  mine hand  against the LORD'S  anointed. 

What does 1 Samuel 26:23 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 26:13-25 - Facing The Truth At Last
It is good to notice David's frequent references to the living Lord. See 1 Samuel 26:10; 1 Samuel 26:16; 1 Samuel 26:23. The fact is that he was always waiting on God. See Psalms 40:1-17, which may have emanated from this period in his life. David would take no mean advantage of his adversary. He would not retaliate nor avenge his wrongs. He refused to admit the specious argument that opportunity means permission, and license, liberty. He quieted the fever of his soul, resisted the subtle temptation of the adversary, and elected to wait for the slow unfolding of the divine purpose. Calm thyself; God is working out the plan of thy life! In His own time-the best time-he will give thee thy heart's desire!
When David gave such unmistakable evidences of his loyalty, innocence and affection, Saul was overcome with emotion, and confessed that he had played the fool. It is thus that we may win men still. The man who can watch with God shows that he is possessed of spiritual strength which others must acknowledge. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; trust in the Lord; delight in the Lord; roll the way of thy life on the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 26

1  Saul, by the discovery of the Ziphites, comes to Hachilah against David
4  David coming into the trench keeps Abishai from killing Saul,
11  but takes his spear and jug
13  David reproves Abner
17  and exhorts Saul
21  Saul acknowledges his sin

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 26:23 mean?

Yahweh May repay every man - [for] his righteousness and his faithfulness for delivered you Yahweh today into [my] hand but not I would stretch out my hand against anointed of Yahweh
וַֽיהוָה֙ יָשִׁ֣יב לָאִ֔ישׁ אֶת־ צִדְקָת֖וֹ וְאֶת־ אֱמֻנָת֑וֹ אֲשֶׁר֩ נְתָנְךָ֨ יְהוָ֤ה ׀ הַיּוֹם֙ בְּיָ֔ד וְלֹ֣א אָבִ֔יתִי לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ יָדִ֖י בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָֽה

וַֽיהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יָשִׁ֣יב  May  repay 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
לָאִ֔ישׁ  every  man 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
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.
צִדְקָת֖וֹ  [for]  his  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
אֱמֻנָת֑וֹ  his  faithfulness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱמוּנָה  
Sense: firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness.
נְתָנְךָ֨  delivered  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַיּוֹם֙  today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
בְּיָ֔ד  into  [my]  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אָבִ֔יתִי  I  would 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָבָה  
Sense: to be willing, consent.
לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ  stretch  out 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יָדִ֖י  my  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ  against  anointed 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: מָשִׁיחַ  
Sense: anointed, anointed one.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.