1 Samuel 24:11

9 and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?

10 Behold, 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.’

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.

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.

13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
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.
ASV
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.
DARBY
And see, my father, 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 and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it.
BLB
And my father, see, yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For by cutting off the skirt of your robe and not killing you, know and see that evil and rebellion [are] not in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, and you hunt my life to take it.
ÅB
Men se, min far, se, her er fliken av din kappe i min hånd! For når jeg skar fliken av din kappe og ikke drepte deg, så kan du vel skjønne og se at jeg ikke har hatt noe ondt eller noen misgjerning i sinne og ikke har forsyndet meg mot deg, enda du etterstreber meg og vil ta mitt liv.
OTB
Så, min far, se! Se kanten av din kappe i min hånd! For jeg skar av kanten på din kappe, men drepte deg ikke, vit og forstå at det ikke er noe ondt eller opprør i mine hender, og jeg har ikke syndet mot deg, selv om du er innstilt på å ta mitt liv.
B1930
Men se, min far, se, her er fliken av din kappe i min hånd! For når jeg skar fliken av din kappe og ikke drepte dig, så kan du vel skjønne og se at jeg ikke har hatt noget ondt eller nogen misgjerning i sinne og ikke har forsyndet mig mot dig, enda du efterstreber mig og vil ta mitt liv.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.”

    Read in context
  • 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.”

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 26:18

    And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

    Read in context
  • 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’?”

    Read in context
  • John 15:25

    But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’

    Read in context
  • Job 10:16

    Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.

    Read in context
  • Lamentations 4:18

    They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!

    Read in context