Bible Strands
1 Samuel 29:9
Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Achish addresses David at the precise moment the Philistine commanders intervene to block David's participation in the campaign.
The words — The Hebrew יָדַ֕עְתִּי (ya.Da'.ti) translates literally as "I know," and ט֥וֹב (Tov) means "[are] good," forming Achish's direct statement of David's valued standing.
The thread — The phrase "angel of God" appears in 2 Samuel 14:17, 2 Samuel 14:20, and 2 Samuel 19:27, where it functions as a benchmark for royal discernment and wisdom.
Why it lands — The text records a commander's explicit prohibition overriding a king's personal favor, requiring the reader to accept that institutional authority can nullify individual protection regardless of stated loyalty.
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 Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 14:17 And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”
- 2 Samuel 14:20 Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”
- 2 Samuel 19:27 and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.
- Galatians 4:14 And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
- 1 Samuel 29:4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?