Bible Strands
1 Samuel 27:11
David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records David’s actions while residing in Philistine territory under King Achish’s protection. David systematically kills every man and woman from raided settlements to prevent them from reporting his campaigns to Gath.
The words — The Hebrew יְחַיֶּ֣ה (ye.chai.Yeh) literally means “he let live,” combined with לֹֽא־ (lo'-) “not” to stress total annihilation. This phrasing highlights David’s deliberate choice to eliminate witnesses rather than spare captives.
The thread — This cycle of survival-driven deception mirrors David’s earlier awareness that Doeg would report his location to Saul (1 Samuel 22:22). The tension between human fear and reliance on God also appears in Proverbs 29:25, which warns that fearing man creates a snare.
Why it lands — The text states David’s custom of killing captives to maintain his cover, leaving the moral weight to the reader. It demands a clear-eyed look at how immediate danger can drive pragmatic choices that compromise long-term integrity.
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 saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 22:22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.
- Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
- Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.