1 Samuel 24:11
New International Version
See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.

New Living Translation
Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

English Standard Version
See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.

Berean Standard Bible
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

King James Bible
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

New King James Version
Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

New American Standard Bible
So, my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life, to take it.

NASB 1995
“Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.

NASB 1977
“Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.

Amplified Bible
Look, my father! Indeed, see the hem of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the hem of your robe and did not kill you, know and understand [without question] that there is no evil or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait to take my life.

Christian Standard Bible
Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

American Standard Version
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And turn and see also the skirt of your robe in my hands, because when I cut off the skirt of your robe, I did not kill you! Know and see that there is no evil or folly in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, and you are hunting to take my life!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And behold, the skirt of thy mantle is in my hand, I cut off the skirt, and did not slay thee: know then and see to-day, there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou layest snares for my soul to take it.

Contemporary English Version
Your Majesty, look at what I'm holding. You can see that it's a piece of your robe. If I could cut off a piece of your robe, I could have killed you. But I let you live, and that should prove I'm not trying to harm you or to rebel. I haven't done anything to you, and yet you keep trying to ambush and kill me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Moreover see and know, O my father, the hem of thy robe in my hand, that when I cut, off the hem of thy robe, I would not put out my hand against thee. Reflect, and see, that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou liest in wait for my life, to take it away.

English Revised Version
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my soul to take it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! Since I cut off the border of your robe and didn't kill you, you should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I haven't sinned against you, but you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life.

Good News Translation
Look, my father, look at the piece of your robe I am holding! I could have killed you, but instead I only cut this off. This should convince you that I have no thought of rebelling against you or of harming you. You are hunting me down to kill me, even though I have not done you any wrong.

International Standard Version
Looke, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression—I haven't wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou layest wait for my soul to take it.

Literal Standard Version
And my father, see, indeed see the skirt of your upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of your upper robe, and I have not slain you, know and see that there is not evil and transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, and you are hunting my soul to take it!

Majority Standard Bible
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

New American Bible
Look here, my father. See the end of your robe which I hold. I cut off an end of your robe and did not kill you. Now see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life.

NET Bible
Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn't kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life.

New Revised Standard Version
See, my father, see the corner of your cloak in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the corner of your cloak, and did not kill you, you may know for certain that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting me to take my life.

New Heart English Bible
Moreover, my father, look, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.

Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover, my father, see, yes, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

World English Bible
Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.

Young's Literal Translation
'And, my father, see, yea see the skirt of thine upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of thy upper robe, and I have not slain thee, know and see that there is not in my hand evil and transgression, and I have not sinned against thee, and thou art hunting my soul to take it!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Spares Saul
10Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ 11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life. 12May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 23:14
And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.

1 Samuel 23:23
Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah."

1 Samuel 25:28
Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD's battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.

1 Samuel 26:18
And he continued, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

1 Samuel 26:20
So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."

2 Kings 5:13
Naaman's servants, however, approached him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'?"

Psalm 7:3
O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,


Treasury of Scripture

Moreover, my father, see, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and killed you not, know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul to take it.

my father

1 Samuel 18:27
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

2 Kings 5:13
And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

neither evil

1 Samuel 26:18
And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

Psalm 7:3,4
O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; …

Psalm 35:7
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

thou huntest

1 Samuel 23:14,23
And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand…

1 Samuel 26:20
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

Job 10:16
For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.

Jump to Previous
Cut Disobedience Evil Hand Hunt Indeed Kill Killed Life Moreover Robe Sinned Skirt Transgression Wait
Jump to Next
Cut Disobedience Evil Hand Hunt Indeed Kill Killed Life Moreover Robe Sinned Skirt Transgression Wait
1 Samuel 24
1. David, in a cave at En Gedi, spares his life
8. He shows thereby his innocence,
16. Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs.














(11) My father.--Not in the sense of "my father-in-law." The Princess Michal before this time probably had been given to Phalti. The time when this wicked act was carried out by Saul is left quite indefinite in the notice of 1Samuel 25:44; but the relations of David and Saul were evidently far more bitter before than after the En-gedi incident, hence the probability of Michal's being given to Phalti before this meeting is great. The expression "my father" is simply the reverence (pietas) of the young to the old--of the loyal subject to the sovereign. It is so used in the beautiful lines of Browning already quoted.

See the skirt of thy robe.--Doubtless at this juncture holding up the piece of the royal m'il he had so carefully cut off when the king was sleeping in fancied security. "See this, how near thou wast to death had I been pleased to take thy life when I cut this off."

Verses 11-13. - My father. David thus salutes Saul not because he was actually his father-in-law, but as a title indicative of the respect due from an inferior to his superior (2 Kings 5:13). So David calls himself Nabal's son (1 Samuel 25:8). In the rest of the verse he contrasts his refusal to slay Saul, when it might have seemed as if it were Providence that had put him into his power, with Saul's determined pursuit of him. Thou huntest my soul to take it. Thou perpetually usest every artifice and stratagem against me for the confessed purpose of killing me, and pursuest me as eagerly as the hunter pursues his game. Hence David commits his cause to Jehovah, in the sure confidence that he will avenge him, and with the firm determination never himself to raise his hand against one who, though his enemy, was also the king. In proof of the impossibility of his ever seeking the king's hurt, he quotes an ancient proverb, "From the wicked goeth out wickedness." Had David harboured evil intentions he would have executed them when so fair an opportunity offered, but as he has no such purposes "his hand will never be" upon Saul.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
See,
רְאֵ֔ה (rə·’êh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

my father,
וְאָבִ֣י (wə·’ā·ḇî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

look
רְאֵ֛ה (rə·’êh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

at the corner
כְּנַ֥ף (kə·nap̄)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

of your robe
מְעִילְךָ֖ (mə·‘î·lə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4598: A robe

in my hand.
בְּיָדִ֑י (bə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

For
כִּ֡י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I cut it
כְּנַ֨ף (kə·nap̄)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3671: An edge, extremity, a wing, a flap, a quarter, a pinnacle

off,
בְּכָרְתִי֩ (bə·ḵā·rə·ṯî)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

but I did not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

kill you.
הֲרַגְתִּ֗יךָ (hă·raḡ·tî·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

See
וּרְאֵה֙ (ū·rə·’êh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

and know
דַּ֤ע (da‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there is no
אֵ֨ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

evil
רָעָ֤ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

or rebellion
וָפֶ֙שַׁע֙ (wā·p̄e·ša‘)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6588: Transgression

in my hands.
בְּיָדִ֜י (bə·yā·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

I have not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

sinned
חָטָ֣אתִי (ḥā·ṭā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

against you,
לָ֔ךְ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 0: 0

even though you
וְאַתָּ֛ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are hunting me down
צֹדֶ֥ה (ṣō·ḏeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6658: To chase, to desolate

to take
לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃ (lə·qaḥ·tāh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

my life.
נַפְשִׁ֖י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


Links
1 Samuel 24:11 NIV
1 Samuel 24:11 NLT
1 Samuel 24:11 ESV
1 Samuel 24:11 NASB
1 Samuel 24:11 KJV

1 Samuel 24:11 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 24:11 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 24:11 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 24:11 French Bible
1 Samuel 24:11 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 24:11 Moreover my father behold yes see (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 24:10
Top of Page
Top of Page