1 Samuel 26:21

Sin Repentance Guilt and conscience Conflict and reconciliation

¹⁹ Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

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.”

Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it.

²³ May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
KJV: Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
WEB: Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
ASV: Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
DARBY: And Saul said, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have acted foolishly, and have erred exceedingly.
BLB: And Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will harm you no more, upon that my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and erred exceedingly greatly.”

ÅB: Da sa Saul: Jeg har syndet; kom tilbake, min sønn David! Jeg vil ikke gjøre deg noe ondt mere, siden mitt liv var så dyrt i dine øyne idag. Jeg har virkelig båret meg at som en dåre og faret storlig vill.
OTB: Da sa Saul, “Jeg har syndet. Kom tilbake, min sønn David, for jeg vil ikke skade deg igjen, fordi mitt liv var dyrebart i dine øyne i dag. Se, jeg har handlet som en dåre og gjort en fryktelig feil.”
B1930: Da sa Saul: Jeg har syndet; kom tilbake, min sønn David! Jeg vil ikke gjøre dig noget ondt mere, siden mitt liv var så dyrt i dine øine idag. Jeg har virkelig båret mig at som en dåre og faret storlig vill.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 24:17
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:24
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
Read in context
Exodus 9:27
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:30
“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”
Read in context
Matthew 27:4
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:24
As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 27:4
And when Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
Read in context
Numbers 22:34
“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
Read in context