1 Samuel 24:6

So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David addresses his men in the cave immediately after cutting the corner of Saul’s robe. He speaks at the precise moment his companions urge him to seize the opportunity to kill the fleeing king.

The words — The Hebrew חָלִ֧ילָה (cha.Lilah) translates literally as “far be it,” functioning as an absolute prohibition. David anchors this refusal to the repeated designation “the LORD’s anointed,” establishing a boundary that overrides military advantage.

The thread — This refusal to strike the LORD’s anointed resurfaces when David questions the Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1:14 and when he stops Abishai in 1 Samuel 26:9. The same boundary against rejoicing in an enemy’s ruin appears in Job 31:29.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that political opportunity never justifies violating a divinely appointed boundary. It demands active restraint when vengeance is physically possible and politically expedient.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יוla./'a.na.Sha/vto/ men/ his חָלִ֧ילָהcha.Li.lahfar be itלִּ֣יl/ito <the>/ meמֵֽיהוָ֗הme./Yah.wehfrom/ Yahweh אִם־'im-if אֶעֱשֶׂה֩'e.'e.SehI will do אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַדָּבָ֨רha./da.Varthe/ thing הַזֶּ֤הha./Zeh<the>/ this לַֽאדֹנִי֙la./do.N/ito/ lord/ my לִמְשִׁ֣יחַli/m.Shi.achto/ [the] [one] anointed of יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh לִשְׁלֹ֥חַli/sh.Lo.achby/ stretching out יָדִ֖יya.D/ihand/ myבּ֑וֹb/oon <the>/ himכִּֽי־ki-for מְשִׁ֥יחַme.Shi.ach[is] [the] [one] anointed of יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh הֽוּא׃Hu'he

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 1:14 So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
1 Samuel 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”
Job 31:29 If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
1 Kings 21:3 But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.