1 Samuel 24:8 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.”

1 Samuel 24:8

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he {is} the anointed of the LORD.

So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on {his} way. {stayed: Heb. cut off}

David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and {some} bade {me} kill thee: but {mine eye} spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he {is} the LORD'S anointed.

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1 Samuel 24:1

"And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David {is} in the wilderness of Engedi. {following: Heb. after}"

1 Samuel 24:2

"Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats."

1 Samuel 24:3

"And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where {was} a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave."

1 Samuel 24:4

"And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. {Saul's...: Heb. the robe which was Saul's}"

1 Samuel 24:5

"And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt."

1 Samuel 24:6

"And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he {is} the anointed of the LORD."

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