Bible Strands
1 Samuel 24:9
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks to King Saul immediately after emerging from a cave where he had the opportunity to kill him but chose to spare him instead. He addresses Saul directly after bowing face down in reverence.
The words — The Hebrew תִּשְׁמַע (tish.Ma') translates literally as "do you listen to," paired with דִּבְרֵי (div.Rei) for "words of," directly framing David's question about Saul's reliance on external counsel.
The thread — This pattern of rejecting malicious counsel appears in Proverbs 29:12 regarding rulers who listen to lies, Ecclesiastes 7:21 on ignoring every spoken word, and Leviticus 19:16 which forbids spreading slander.
Why it lands — The text asks a reader to verify claims against direct experience rather than accepting unverified reports, requiring a deliberate rejection of hearsay that contradicts witnessed reality.
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
King James Version
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
Cross-references
- Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
- Ecclesiastes 7:21 Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.
- Leviticus 19:16 You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 26:19 Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
- Psalms 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
- Psalms 141:6 When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
- Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
- Proverbs 17:4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
- Proverbs 18:8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
- Proverbs 25:23 As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.