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1 Samuel 29:6

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 29:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As Jehovah 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 favor thee not.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As Jehovah 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 favor thee not.
1 Samuel 29:6 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 29

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3Then said the princes of the Philistines, What [do] these Hebrews [here]? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who hath been with me these days, or [rather] these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away [unto me] unto this day?
4But he princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us: for wherewith should this [fellow] reconcile himself unto his lord? should it not be with the heads of these men?
5Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?
6Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As Jehovah 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 favor thee not.
7Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been before thee unto this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
9And 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.
← 1 Samuel 29:51 Samuel 29:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then Achish called David, etc.] Being so near him, that he could call unto him himself, or he sent some person to him, to require his presence with him: and said unto him, surely, [as] the Lord liveth; or “Jehovah liveth”; an oath by the true God, of whom Achish might have some knowledge, as he also had of angels, from his conversation with David; though the Heathens had a notion of a supreme Being, and yet worshipped other gods, and whom they called Jove, from this name of Jehovah. Kimchi observes, that all confess a first cause; and therefore when he swore to David, he swore by him in whom David believed, perhaps out of complaisance to him, or that David might pay the greater regard to his…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“As the Lord liveth - The swearing by Yahweh seems strange in the mouth of a Philistine. But probably not the very words, but only the sense of this and such like speeches, is preserved. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“29:6 by the Lord: Achish used the unique name of Israel’s God to prove his own sincerity. • a trustworthy ally: This assertion was not completely true, though Achish did not realize it (27:8-12).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Lord: Sa1 20:3, Sa1 28:10; Deu 10:20; Isa 65:16; Jer 12:16 thou hast: Mat 5:16; Pe1 2:12, Pe1 3:16 thy going: Num 27:17; Sa2 3:25; Kg2 19:27; Psa 121:8 I have not: Sa1 29:3 the lords favour: etc. Heb. thou art not good in the eyes of the lords, Gen 16:6; Jos 22:30 \*marg. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 29:7”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“After this declaration on the part of the princes, Achish was obliged to send David back. Sa1 29:6-7 With a solemn assertion, - swearing by Jehovah to convince David all the more thoroughly of the sincerity of his declaration, - Achish said to him, "Thou art honourable, and good in my eyes (i.e., quite right in my estimation) are thy going out and coming in (i.e., all thy conduct) with me in the camp, for I have not found anything bad in thee; but in the eyes of the princes thou art not good (i.e., the princes do not think thee honourable, do not trust thee). Turn now, and go in peace, that thou mayest do nothing displeasing to the princes of the Philistines." Sa1 29:8-9 Partly for the sake…”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 29 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification