Bible Strands
1 Samuel 29:6
So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Achish summons David at the Philistine military assembly and declares his personal confidence in David's conduct. He delivers this statement after the Philistine commanders question David's loyalty and demand his dismissal from the campaign.
The words — חַי־ יְהוָה (chai-Yahweh) literally means "life of Yahweh" and functions as a binding oath formula. אֵלָי/ו ('elaiv) translates as "to him" or "before him," marking the direct address of Achish's declaration.
The thread — The tension between personal favor and leadership pressure runs through 2 Samuel 3:25, where Abner's motives are questioned, and 1 Samuel 20:3, where Jonathan's father acknowledges his knowledge of David's standing. The awareness of a person's daily movements and conduct is also noted in 2 Kings 19:27.
Why it lands — The text reports that institutional consensus can override individual judgment, forcing a leader to dismiss a loyal subordinate. It asks the reader to observe how political necessity is invoked to neutralize personal conviction without addressing the underlying merits of the case.
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
Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the Lord liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 3:25 Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”
- 2 Kings 19:27 But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me.
- 1 Samuel 20:3 But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”
- Psalms 121:8 The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
- Genesis 16:6 “Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.
- Numbers 27:17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
- Deuteronomy 10:20 You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
- Joshua 22:30 When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.
- 1 Samuel 27:8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.)
- 1 Samuel 28:10 Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”