1 Samuel 23 · Verse 26

1 Samuel 23:26

And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
1 Samuel 23:26, King James Version

1 Samuel 23:26 in other translations

BSBSaul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
WEBSaul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
ASVAnd Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
YLTAnd Saul goeth on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David is hastened to go from the face of Saul, and Saul and his men are compassing David and his men, to catch them.
DARBYAnd Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away from Saul; and Saul and his men sought to surround David and his men to take them.
BBEAnd Saul and his men went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men went on the other: and David's purpose was to get away as quickly as possible, for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men were making a circle round David and his men in order to take them.
WebsterAnd Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men around to take them.

What does 1 Samuel 23:26 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 Saul went on this side of the mountain - Evidently not knowing that David and his men were on the other side.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:19-29

In the midst of his wickedness, Saul affected to speak the language of piety. Such expressions, without suitable effects, can only amuse or deceive those who hear, and those who use them. This mountain was an emblem of the Divine Providence coming between David and the destroyer. Let us not be dismayed at the prospect of future difficulties, but stay ourselves upon Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 23:19-29 →

1 Samuel 23:26 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.

וַיֵּ֨לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhand he wentH1980
שָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
מִצַּ֤דmi.Tzadfrom [the] side ofH6654
הָהָר֙ha.Harthe mountainH2022
מִזֶּ֔הmi.Zehfrom thisH2088
וְדָוִ֧דve.da.Vidand DavidH1732
וַאֲנָשָׁ֛יוva.'a.na.Shavand men hisH582
מִצַּ֥דmi.Tzad[were] from [the] side ofH6654
הָהָ֖רha.Harthe mountainH2022
מִזֶּ֑הmi.Zehfrom thisH2088
וַיְהִ֨יvay.Hiand he wasH1961
דָוִ֜דda.VidDavidH1732
נֶחְפָּ֤זnech.Pazhurrying awayH2648
לָלֶ֙כֶת֙la.Le.khetto goH1980
מִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.Neifrom beforeH6440
שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
וְשָׁא֣וּלve.sha.'Uland SaulH7586
וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יוva.'a.na.Shavand men hisH582
עֹֽטְרִ֛ים'o.te.Rim[were] surroundingH5849
אֶל\־'el-<to>H413
דָּוִ֥דda.VidDavidH1732
וְאֶל\־ve.'el-and <to>H413
אֲנָשָׁ֖יו'a.na.Shavmen hisH582
לְתָפְשָֽׂם\׃le.ta.fe.Samto catch themH8610

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 23:26

  • Psalms 17:9

    From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

  • Psalms 17:11

    They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

  • Psalms 22:12

    Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

  • Psalms 118:11-13

    They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.

  • 2 Samuel 15:14

    And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

  • Psalms 22:16

    For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

  • Psalms 31:22

    For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:12

    O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

  • Psalms 140:1-9

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. …

  • 2 Corinthians 1:8

    For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

  • 1 Samuel 19:12

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

  • 1 Samuel 20:38

    And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
David made haste.
19:12; 20:38; 2Sa 15:14; 17:21,22; Ps 31:22
away.
2Ch 20:12; Ps 17:9,11; 22:12,16; 118:11-13; 140:1-9; 2Co 1:8
Re 20:9

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

Context

  • 1 Samuel 23:25

    Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

  • 1 Samuel 23:26

    And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

  • 1 Samuel 23:27

    But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

Read all of 1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y Saúl iba por el un lado del monte, y David con los suyos por el otro lado del monte: y dábase priesa David para ir delante de Saúl; mas Saúl y los suyos habían encerrado á David y á su gente para tomarlos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Saül allait de ce côté-ci de la montagne, et David et ses hommes de l’autre côté de la montagne; et David fuyait en hâte pour échapper à Saül, et Saül et ses hommes cherchaient à environner David et ses hommes, pour les prendre.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Saul ging auf dieser Seite des Berges, David aber und seine Männer auf jener Seite des Berges. Und es geschah, als David eilte, Saul zu entgehen, und Saul und seine Männer David und seine Männer umringten, um sie zu fangen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et ibat Saul ad latus montis ex parte una: David autem et viri ejus erant in latere montis ex parte altera. Porro David desperabat se posse evadere a facie Saul: itaque Saul et viri ejus in modum coronæ cingebant David et viros ejus, ut caperent eos.