1 Samuel 19 · Verse 11

1 Samuel 19:11

Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
1 Samuel 19:11, King James Version

1 Samuel 19:11 in other translations

BSBThen Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”
WEBSaul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you don’t save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”
ASVAnd Saul sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou wilt be slain.
YLTAnd Saul sendeth messengers unto the house of David to watch him, and to put him to death in the morning; and Michal his wife declareth to David, saying, ‘If thou art not delivering thy life to-night--tomorrow thou art put to death.'
DARBYAnd Saul sent messengers to David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning; and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou wilt be put to death.
BBEThen in that night Saul sent men to David's house to keep watch on him so as to put him to death in the morning: and David's wife Michal said to him, If you do not go away to a safe place tonight you will be put to death in the morning.
WebsterSaul also sent messengers to David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou dost not save thy life to-night, to-morrow thou wilt be slain.

What does 1 Samuel 19:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 19:11-12
11-12. Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him--The fear of causing a commotion in the town, or favoring his escape in the darkness, seemed to have influenced the king in ordering them to patrol till the morning. This infatuation was overruled by Providence to favor David's escape; for his wife, secretly apprised by Jonathan, who was aware of the design, or by spying persons in court livery watching the gate, let him down through a window (see on Jos 2:15).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 To slay him in the morning - When they might be able to distinguish between him and Michal his wife; for, had they attempted his life in the night season, there would have been some danger to Michal's life. Besides, Saul wished to represent him as a traitor; and consequently an attack upon him was justifiable at any time, even in the fullest daylight.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 19:11-24
Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a distance was allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not influenced by the same spirit of piety which had dictated Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. He met with little rest or satisfaction in Saul's court, therefore went to seek it in Samuel's church. What little pleasure is to be had in this world, those have who live a life of communion with God; to that David returned in the time of trouble. So impatient was Saul after David's blood, so restless against him, that although baffled by one providence after another, he could not see that David was under the special protection of God. And when God will take this way to protect David, even Saul prophesies. Many have great gifts, yet no grace; they may prophesy in Christ's name, yet are disowned by him. Let us daily seek for renewing grace, which shall be in us as a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Let us cleave to truth and holiness with full purpose of heart. In every danger and trouble, let us seek protection, comfort, and direction in God's ordinances.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Samuel 19:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩vai.yish.Lachand he sentH7971
שָׁא֨וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
מַלְאָכִ֜יםmal.'a.KhimmessengersH4397
אֶל\־'el-toH413
בֵּ֤יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
דָּוִד֙da.VidDavidH1732
לְשָׁמְר֔וֹle.sha.me.Roto watch for himH8104
וְלַהֲמִית֖וֹve.la.ha.mi.Toand to kill himH4191
בַּבֹּ֑קֶרba.Bo.kerin the morningH1242
וַתַּגֵּ֣דva.ta.Gedand she toldH5046
לְדָוִ֗דle.da.Vidto DavidH1732
מִיכַ֤לmi.KhalMichalH4324
אִשְׁתּוֹ֙'ish.Towife hisH802
לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
אִם\־'im-ifH518
אֵ֨ינְךָ֜'ei.ne.khanot youH369
מְמַלֵּ֤טme.ma.Let[are] deliveringH4422
אֶֽת\־'et-<obj.>H853
נַפְשְׁךָ֙naf.she.Khalife yourH5315
הַלַּ֔יְלָהha.Lay.lahthis nightH3915
מָחָ֖רma.ChartomorrowH4279
אַתָּ֥ה'a.TahyouH859
מוּמָֽת\׃mu.Mat[will be] put to deathH4191

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 19:11

  • Psalms 59:1-17

    To the chief Musician, Al–taschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. …

  • Judges 16:2

    And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
sent messengers.
Ps 59:1; *title
Ps 59:3,4,6,15,16
to watch him.
Jud 16:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 19:10

    And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

  • 1 Samuel 19:11

    Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

  • 1 Samuel 19:12

    So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

Read all of 1 Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Saúl envió luego mensajeros á casa de David para que lo guardasen, y lo matasen á la mañana. Mas Michâl su mujer lo descubrió á David, diciendo: Si no salvares tu vida esta noche, mañana serás muerto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Saül envoya des messagers à la maison de David, pour le surveiller et le faire mourir au matin. Et Mical, sa femme, en informa David, disant: Si tu ne sauves pas ta vie cette nuit, demain tu seras mis à mort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sandte Saul Boten in das Haus Davids, um ihn zu bewachen und ihn am Morgen zu töten. Aber Michal, sein Weib, tat es David kund und sprach: Wenn du nicht diese Nacht deine Seele rettest, so wirst du morgen getötet werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Misit ergo Saul satellites suos in domum David, ut custodirent eum, et interficeretur mane. Quod cum annuntiasset David Michol uxor sua, dicens: Nisi salvaveris te nocte hac, cras morieris: