1 Samuel 26:11

But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David speaks to Abishai during a nighttime infiltration of Saul’s camp, refusing to strike the sleeping king. He commands Abishai to take the spear and water jug by Saul’s head so they can withdraw.

The words — חָלִ֤ילָה (cha.Li.lah) translates literally as “far be it,” expressing absolute refusal. David attaches it to מֵֽ/יהוָ֔ה (me./Yah.weh) “from Yahweh” to locate his restraint in divine prohibition rather than personal hesitation.

The thread — The text repeats this boundary in 1 Samuel 24:6 and 1 Samuel 24:12, where David similarly declines to harm Saul. It stands in direct contrast to 2 Samuel 1:14, which records the condemned act of lifting a hand against the LORD’s anointed.

Why it lands — The verse records a concrete refusal to seize power or exact revenge while an enemy is defenseless. It requires the reader to submit personal opportunity to the timing and authority of God.

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

חָלִ֤ילָהcha.Li.lahfar be itלִּי֙l/ito <the>/ meמֵֽיהוָ֔הme./Yah.wehfrom/ Yahweh מִשְּׁלֹ֥חַmi./she.Lo.achfrom/ stretching out יָדִ֖יya.D/ihand/ my בִּמְשִׁ֣יחַbi/m.Shi.achon/ [the] [one] anointed of יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh וְ֠עַתָּהVe./'a.tahand/ now קַח־kach-take נָ֨אna'please אֶֽת־'et-<obj.>הַחֲנִ֜יתha./cha.Nitthe/ spear אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.Sherwhich מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יוme.ra.'a.sho.to/v[is the] place of head/ his וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>צַפַּ֥חַתtza.Pa.chat[the] jug of הַמַּ֖יִםha./Ma.yim<the>/ water וְנֵ֥לֲכָהve./Ne.la.khahand/ let us goלָּֽנוּ׃La./nufor <the>/ ourselves

King James Version

The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

Cross-references

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.”
1 Samuel 24:12 May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
2 Samuel 1:14 So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
2 Samuel 1:16 For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”