Key Verse Spotlight
1 Samuel 21:12 — Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing—and how to apply it today
King James Version
" And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. "
1 Samuel 21:12
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
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.
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
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From This Chapter
1 Samuel 21:1
"Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?"
1 Samuel 21:2
"And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place."
1 Samuel 21:3
"Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present."
1 Samuel 21:4
"And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women."
1 Samuel 21:5
"And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel."
1 Samuel 21:6
"So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away."
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